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Insect Trap Counts, June 16, 2011 Updated

🕔16:35, 17.Jun 2011

Pheromone catches of bollworm (corn earworm) came down slightly this week while tobacco budworm and beet armyworm catches are increasing, especially in Central MS. Southwestern corn borer traps indicate that the sewcond generation has begun. Most traps are still fairly

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Cotton Damage from POST Applied Residual Herbicides Updated

🕔14:59, 17.Jun 2011

2011 is quickly shaping up to be the year in which nothing comes easy.  Weather conditions are continuing to cause issues with the 2011 cotton crop.  Scattered hail damage from storms over the past couple of days has been reported

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Spider Mite Update and Recommendations Updated

🕔08:28, 17.Jun 2011

Spider mites have been becoming more widespread over the last two weeks. Currently we have quite a few acres that have required treatment for spider mites and several that have already received 2 applications. The hot dry weather we have been dealing with for the last couple weeks is making the problem worse, and the numerous thrips applications this year has further led to the increased problems with spider mites by removing beneficial insects early.

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Rice Water Weevil and Rice Stink Bug Update Updated

🕔07:00, 17.Jun 2011

Rice water weevil densities appear to be very high at some locations in Mississippi this year. I looked at two fields over the last week where adult feeding was actually affecting plants. Adult numbers were running as high as 4-5 weevils per plant.

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Mississippi Agricultural Industry Council Meeting July 26-30, 2011 Updated

🕔09:06, 16.Jun 2011

The 2011 Mississippi Agricultural Industry Council and Mississippi Seedsmen’s Association convention will be held again at beautiful Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama, on July 26-July 30, 2011 The Registration Packet is enclosed and can also be found on

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Tarnished Plant Bugs Starting Off Big in 2011 Updated

🕔07:48, 16.Jun 2011

This is certainly starting off like a “big” plant bug year. Most everyone is reporting threshold to 3 and 4 X thresholds of adult plant bugs moving into cotton that is squaring. Most people are also reporting unusually high numbers of plant bugs in group IV flowering soybeans compared to most years and I had one report the other day of a corn field 4-8 nymph plant bugs per ear on purple silk corn.

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Corn Foliar Disease Update: June 15, 2011 Updated

🕔22:14, 15.Jun 2011

At present, low levels of foliar disease continue to be reported from some corn fields throughout the Delta.  Over the past week more common rust has been identified throughout the corn canopy.  I’ve received several telephone calls questioning whether or

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Cotton Growth and Early Season Irrigation Updated

🕔17:22, 10.Jun 2011

2011 is shaping up to be one of the more challenging years we have faced in some time.  While no year can be considered normal, difficult weather conditions have tested the mettle of many this year.  Flooding, delaying planting, and

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Insect Trap Counts, June 9, 2011 Updated

🕔11:44, 10.Jun 2011

Pheromone trap counts for the week ending on 6-9-2011 show higher tobacco budworm and beet armyworm counts from the previous week. Corn earworm counts were similar to last week. All three of these insects are at levels where treatable larval populations

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After the Flood: Row Crop Replanting Updated

🕔01:49, 10.Jun 2011

MSU Extension Service and MAFES researchers have compiled the following suggestions and information regarding replanting and managing row crops after the flood. Also included is post-flood crop insurance information.

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General Corn Foliar Disease Update: June 8, 2011 Updated

🕔23:06, 8.Jun 2011

At present, and generally due to the hot and dry conditions, little if any foliar disease is present in the Mississippi corn crop.  On Friday (June 3) I scouted fields in the Tchula/Thornton area.  The particular fields were dryland corn

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Proper Use of A Sweep Net Updated

🕔07:19, 7.Jun 2011

Variability between people using sweep nets can be huge.  Assume four people go to the field and take 100 sweeps each.  I would almost guarantee you that each will come back with 4 different counts even if the insects are perfectly uniform. 

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Monitoring Square Retention Critical for Migrating Plant Bugs Updated

🕔06:01, 7.Jun 2011

Square retention is a critical component of early season plant bug management. I would strongly encourage you to take square retention counts along with your sweep net counts prior to bloom. Not only does this help in the decision making process of treating plant bugs, but it also helps you to get a better idea of how the products you are applying are working.

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Soybean Seedling Disease and Fungicide Seed Treatment Issues to Consider Following Flooded Soils Updated

🕔14:52, 4.Jun 2011

Pythium seedling diseases and fungicide seed treatments Little if any information seems to exist regarding the specific fungicide seed treatment suggestions that would follow extended periods of soil flooding.  In the past, most of the published research has been conducted

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Mississippi Soybean Sentinel Plot Update and Regional Soybean Rust Situation Updated

🕔07:13, 4.Jun 2011

Funding has been secured to monitor for soybean rust from the United Soybean Board and to conduct a general soybean disease monitoring program through funding from the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board.  As in the past, soybean sentinel plots were planted

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Insect Trap Counts, June 2, 2011 Updated

🕔16:04, 3.Jun 2011

Corn earworm (bollworm) pheromone trap counts were higher this week, so larvae should be expected in vulnerable crops shortly. Tobacco budworm counts were also higher except in the Delta where none were caught this week. Southwestern corn borer counts are

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Some Poultry Litter Can Be Moved in Mississippi Updated

🕔10:03, 3.Jun 2011

Litter can be hauled in Mississippi: with permits only! However in Wayne, Jones, Jasper, Perry, and Forrest counties, it may only be hauled from place to place within the county. Litter may be moved out from other production counties. Permits

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With Dry Weather Watch for False Chinch Bug Outbreaks Updated

🕔17:09, 2.Jun 2011

False chinch bugs can be a major problem in cotton and soybean when they reach outbreak levels.  Every few years in MS we see some fields with extremely high numbers.  They are commonly found in dry years and seem to

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County Maps of Herbicide Resistance in Palmer Amaranth from Mississippi Updated

🕔13:03, 2.Jun 2011

In an effort to aid Mississippi producers in their decision making process a statewide survey was conducted to determine where glyphosate and/or ALS-resistant Palmer amaranth was present in the state.

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Scout for Stink Bugs in Corn During Ear Shoot Development Updated

🕔11:54, 2.Jun 2011

While we have quite a few corn fields beginning to tassel, many more are have a little ways to go.  There is a period of about 10-14 days when ears shoots become visible or begin to bulge on the side

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Threecornered Alfalfa Hoppers Heavy in Some MS Cotton and Soybean Fields Updated

🕔11:23, 2.Jun 2011

Based on calls I have received over the last week and what I am seeing in my own research plots, this is shaping up to be a big year for threecornered alfalfa hoppers

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The corn fungicide dilemma: when should a fungicide be applied? Part V of V, preventing yield loss from foliar disease Updated

🕔16:15, 29.May 2011

Over the past 4 updates I’ve attempted to present data that suggests the best time to apply a fungicide is in response to a foliar disease that could potentially reduce yield.  In many situations particular fungicide products are being touted

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The corn fungicide dilemma: when should a fungicide be applied? Part IV of V, standability/lodging Updated

🕔11:05, 28.May 2011

Much has been made of the ability of strobilurin fungicides to prevent corn from lodging, typically towards the end of the season.  Since 2007 I have received countless calls that have gone something like “we sprayed a field with fungicide

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The corn fungicide dilemma: when should a fungicide be applied? Part III of V, green leaf material as measured by percent chlorophyll Updated

🕔15:09, 27.May 2011

Since 2007, fungicide products containing a strobilurin active ingredient have been suggested to increase plant “greenness” or allow the plants to stay greener longer in the field following a tassel (VT) application.  Increased green plant tissue has been stated to

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It’s complicated . . . Poultry Litter Quarantine Update, May 27 Updated

🕔10:43, 27.May 2011

The quarantine on poultry litter movement in Mississippi continues, however there are new, very specific guidelines for various locations in the poultry production area. Call the Mississippi Board of Animal Health at 601-359-1170 or 888-646-8731 to determine the guidelines for

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