Ramsey County Ag Column

By Bill Hodous

June 9, 2008

Howdy!!!

The rain we had this past week was just what the doctor ordered, but what we need now is sun and warmer temperatures.  We are running about 90 GGD behind the norm and with another week of unseasonably cool weather ahead of us, is starting to put us in a pickle with corn.  Sounds like more rain in the forecast for the rest of the week.  It would really be nice to see something normal for a summer. 

There has been a new cutworm species found in North Dakota.  The winter cutworm, Noctua pronuba, was recently found doing damage on crops in McKenzie County and has been reported in Divide county, Cass county and Richland county.  NDSU entomologists believe the cutworm is distributed across the state.  This cutworm is native to Europe and was found in U.S. in sometime in the early 80’s.  This moth is a strong flyer and very active at night.  It is called winter cutworm, because it is very cold tolerant and often emerges to feed during warm periods in the winter.  It has a wide range of host’s to include agricultural crops and gardening crops.  At present there is not specific thresholds developed for winter cutworm, NDSU recommends that you follow the guidelines developed for cutworm management.  Winter cutworm is a large cutworm, with moths having a 3 inch wingspan and a bright orange-yellow hindwing with a black sub-terminal band.  Caterpillars are up to 2.5 to 3 inches long when mature.

Driving around the country it does not take rocket scientist to see how our saline areas are growing.  It really is time to start managing those areas or we are only enhancing the expansion of those areas.  With high input costs, why would we want to plant crops in those areas where the return is non-profitable.  The general comment, from producers is, “we need to get something growing in those areas”.  This very true but why not plant grass and help lower the salt level and after a period of years the salt content may have been lowered enough that crops like Barley and Sunflowers could show a return.  There are areas in the county that even side hills are showing signs of salt.  We really need to be looking at an alternative at those areas and maybe grass for either hay production or CRP contracts or other programs available to help you with your strategies.  There are grasses that actually grow pretty decent in those areas to include most Wheatgrasses.

Please note the date set for the Ramsey County plot tour, below.

June 17 North Dakota Stockmans Assoc. feedlot tour (Carrington and New Rockford)     

June 22             Tolna Garden Tour (Only room for 25 people)

June 30-           Canola Day, Minot North Central Research Extension Center

 July 8- North Central Research Extension Center Pulse Day,

July 17-            Langdon field days

July 15-            Carrington field day

July 16             Minot field day

July 24             Ramsey County Crop Tour

524 4th Ave #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu