Issue # 6, July 13, 2000

• European Corn Borer Moths Emerging
• White Mold In Dry Beans Reminder
• Carrington R/E Center Field Days, July 19th, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
      Morning Session
      Afternoon Session

European Corn Borer Moths Emerging

    European corn borer moth activity had been relatively low based on blacklight captures.  That is now beginning to change. Moths are being captured more regularly and at higher numbers throughout the southeast areas of ND. In emergence cages holding infested stalks from last year, moth emergence has been very consistent beginning with the past weekend.  It is time to begin monitoring corn for first signs of egg laying and early larval feeding.  
    For more information on identifying, monitoring or determining thresholds, goto the NDSU publication "European Corn Borer Management",  Or goto the European Corn Borer Home Page which is at Iowa State University.

White Mold in Dry Beans Reminder

    Recent rains have increased the possibility of white mold problems in dry beans. Crop protection decisions must be made now as the dry beans are about to begin flowering. The two fungicides registered for white mold control on dry beans are Benlate and Topsin M.. Research work at NDSU has shown increased disease control by using a split application. The first application at first bloom followed by a second application 5 to 7 days later or at peak bloom. Under current moisture conditions and the frequency of rains, one application might be the only one possible. Both products are effective when good coverage is achieved. The most economical and effective ways of application is to use a directed spray with drop nozzles between the rows, and a nozzle over the top. This provides maximum coverage, especially if nozzle pressures are 150 psi or greater.  Aerial applications have been effective when larger water volumes are used. 
    In the trials that have been conducted over Griggs, Traill and Steele Counties for two years, we have been testing the effectiveness of calcium plus the use of a fungicide at lower rates. Up to this point we have had some success with the calcium addition. But these trials were not under heavy white mold pressure. With the conditions that we have this year, I would be more comfortable depending on the fungicide rather than the calcium alone. This year's trials will evaluate the calcium treatments verses fungicide treatments and try and find the most economical treatment for this disease problem.

Carrington R/E Center Field Days
Wednesday, July 19th
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sponsored Noon Lunch

    The Carrington R/E Center will be holding their Plant Science and Livestock Field Days starting at 9:00 am until 3:45 pm with a sponsored lunch at noon. There will be three separate tours in the morning and the afternoon. The agenda for each tour is as follows:

Morning Sessions 9:30 am to Noon (Only Attend One)

Livestock Production Review

• Annual Forage Review
• Bison Nutrition
• Fly-ash as an Alternative to Concrete and a possible low-cost method to create hard surfaces in feedlots.
• Potato Waste for Beef Cows and Steers
• Identifying Fast Growing Calves
• Tempering Barley with a Yeast Enzyme Cocktail
• Barley Processing Methods
• Managing High and Low Profit Beef Cow Herds
• Short Topics/Updates - research on feeding barley malt sprouts, sunflower screenings, and crambe as a commercial range cake.

Crop Variety & Production Review

• Inspect and compare many new variety releases from the last few year - Alsen HRSW, New Barley releases being considered for malting, Oat, Durum, Soybean Drybean, Canola, Grain Sorghum and other alternative crops with renewed interest.

Soil and Water Management

• Soil Productivity and Crop Water Use - soil pits will be used to discuss soil and water management.
• Cropping Systems Study Highlights - includes impact of tillage, fertility and rotations on crop yield
• Soil Water Management
• CREC Irrigation Research/Potato Research - review water and nitrogen management.

Afternoon Sessions 1:00 to 3:45 (attend 2 of 3)

Weed Management

• Corn Herbicide Options
• Small Grain Weed Control
• Oilseed Weed Control - weed control strategies for canola, flax and sunflower
• Grain Legume Weed Control - weed control strategies for soybean, dry bean and field peas.

Insect and Disease Management

• Sclerotinia Management - discussion of fungicides and management to combat this major disease
• Review of Season Insect Concerns
• Cereal Disease Management - methods to minimize fusarium head blight and leaf disease problems.
• Broadleaf Crop Diseases - review other disease problems besides sclerotinia.

Crop Management

• Dormant-planted Crops - research results and ideas for those considering fall dormant seeding.
• Optimum Crop Populations - review the latest on plant densities for cereals, sunflower, legumes, and others.
• Crop Problem Diagnosis - view demonstration plots to discuss miscellaneous crop production challenges.

Please Contact Our Office For Additional Information
E-mail: griggs@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Go to the 2000 AgAlert Index Page