AgAlerts 2007 From Griggs County
By John Swenson, Griggs County Extension Agent


Issue # 4, June 15, 2007


Cereal Aphids Found

    Cereal aphids have been found in small numbers in Griggs County.  The recent southerly storms have helped move these aphids up from the winter wheat growing areas.  Reports from neighboring states indicate high populations of aphids carrying the barley yellow dwarf virus.  Jan Knodel, NDSU Extension Entomologist, recommends the following scouting and thresholds for aphids.

When to Scout: Field scouting should begin at stem elongation and continue up to the heading stage of wheat.

Thresholds for Small Grain Aphids: English Grain, Bird Cherry Oat, Greenbug

To protect small grains from yield loss due to aphid feeding, three different treatment thresholds are available:

85% stems with at least one aphid present, prior to complete heading.

12-15 aphids per stem prior to complete heading

100 aphid days prior to complete heading (=0.6 bu/acre yield loss)

If you averaged 10 aphids per stem and had 12 days to reach heading, you would have 120 aphid days (10 aphids x 12 days). This is above the 100 aphid day threshold and an insecticide should be applied to prevent yield loss. On the other hand, if you averaged only one aphid per stem and had 12 days to reach heading, you would only have 12 aphids days (1 aphids x 12 days). Thus, no control action would be necessary.

Tan Spot and Leaf Rust 

    The wet, favorable weather conditions, has triggered tan spot and rust to occur in small grains.  All these diseases can be controlled with the use of fungicides. 
Tan Spot: Typical symptoms are 1/8" to 1/4" diameter tan spots on the leaves surrounded by a yellow halo.  Under favorable weather conditions, these spots will spread and join together.  Under cool weather conditions, the spots may have a purplish halo.  For more information and pictures click on the following link.  Tan Spot 
Leaf Rust:  Leafy rust pustules are nearly round and are much smaller than those of stem rust.  They are yellowish red and may be so closely spaced on heavily rusted plants that they give the leaves an orange-red appearance.  As the plants ripen, the rust pustules darken and may appear black.  The dark color is caused by the formation of thick-walled, dark brown, overwintering teliospores.
Stripe Rust:  Infection and sporulation require cool night temperatures.  Stripe rust produces yellow pustules on the heads and leaves.  Pustules on leaves are elongate and often extend the entire length of the leaf blade.

Wildlife Services' Cattail Management Program

    I know several areas were treated in Griggs County in 2003 through this program.  The Wildlife Services (WS) is currently taking applications for the 2007 cattail management program.  The cattail management program is a cost-free program to producers.  The presence of sunflower next to wetlands is not required for the program.  If you know of anyone that might be interested in the program, please have them contact Wildlife Services at 1-866-487-3297.  I Or contact the Griggs County Extension Office, 797-3312 or the Griggs County NRCS, 797-2240, for applications for enrollment.  To be eligible for spraying, each wetland must meet certain requirements:

Side-Dressing Corn

    Corn can be side-dressed with anhydrous ammonia with no adverse effect.  Anhydrous ammonia is knifed between corn rows at any reasonable rate.  Once corn has emerged, wait until the corn is about 5-leaf stage to apply.  For full yield potential, side-dress should be made by the 8 to10  leaf-stage.  Other options are 28% applied with a shallow knife application, 28% or urea cultivated in (dribbled between the rows, not broadcast to avoid having urea dropped in the whorl where it can cause burning of leaf tissue).  If all options are exhausted, dribbling on liquid N between the rows and allowing rain to move it into the soil.

Extension During The WWII Years

    Annual report by George B. Simons for 1942-1943

Crop Production Increased

    Griggs County Farmers have responded well to the nation's call for increased production of farm crops.  Wheat acreage was increased 7 percent over previous year; barley, 36 percent; oats, 7 percent; flax, 90 percent; and corn 21 percent.  The acreage of feed crops such as millet and corn were also increased.  Because of the shortage of labor and weather conditions, thousands of tons of hay was left uncut.
    Farmers who increased their barley  and oat crop acreage realized an excellent income as these crops yielded exceptionally high and prices for barley varied from $.90 to $1.15 per bushel while oats sold for $.60 to $.75 a bushel.
    Over 50 farmers received new varieties of oats last spring.  Yields on the new varieties such as Tama, Vicland and Boone were superior to standard varieties.

Soybeans Tried Again

    Several farmers in the county planted soybeans again this year in an effort to determine the value as a cash crop.  Because of the early frost and late maturing ability of soybeans, yields were 10 bushels and less per acre.
    Farmers who tried soybeans found it quite difficult to keep weeds down as these plants furnished no competition for weed growth.  The opinion is somewhat divided as to whether or not soybeans will be grown another year.  However, some will plant them on an experimental basis.  Those who planted soybeans this year sold them in Fargo for $1.80 a bushel.
    Australian winter peas were seeded on the Torger Soma, Alf Overby, and Herlof Huso farms this year for the first time.  Yields were small and growers experienced some difficulty in harvesting them.

Corn Hybrid Variety Trials

    Three corn hybrid variety trials were conducted on the Perry Haaland farm north of Hannaford, Harry Kolpin farm southwest of Sutton and Harry Dramstad farm southwest of Cooperstown.
    The varieties of corn included in the trials were Nodakybrid 202, Kingscrost KE-2, Wisconsin 279, and Minhybrid 701.  These varieties were checked several times during the summer.
    Harry Kolpin had the outstanding plot.  Nodakhybrid 202, Kingscrost KE-2, and Wisconsin 279 matured very well under our conditions whereas Minhybrid 701 failed to mature.
    Last spring extra effort was expanded in an attempt to secure seed corn for farmers.  55 bushes of Wisconsin 255 were purchased from a Wisconsin grower and matured well under our conditions.  Its maturity is comparable to the three mature varieties mentioned above.
    Hybrid trials showed very good growth, had strength of stalk, and more ears per plant than did the regular open pollen varieties.
    Efforts will be continued next year on early hybrid varieties that were included in these trials.

 

 

 


Please Contact Our Office For Additional Information
E-mail: john.swenson@ndsu.edu
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