Wheat Pete’s Word, June 22: Leafhopper Alert, “Troweled In” Corn and Foliar Fungicide in Soybeans

Leafhoppers out the ying-yang, fertility issues, double cropping soybeans, fungicide questions — it’s all in this week’s Word, as Peter Johnson, resident agronomist for RealAgriculture, shares his advice and answers your questions in this update for the week of June 22, 2016.

Have a question for Wheat Pete? Call 1-888-746-3311, send him a tweet (@wheatpete), or email him at [email protected].

Highlights

Leafhoppers

• Potato leafhoppers out the ying-yang in alfalfa — spread across much more of Ontario than normal, beyond areas that grow resistant alfalfa. Need to do a better job with scouting.
• Get the Pest Manager App to help with ID and information on thresholds. Threshold depends on crop size.
• Edible bean growers should be paying attention.

Dry conditions

• Corn that was “troweled in” (credit: Ken Currah) is starting to look bad as it moves into its high water demand phase with poor roots.
• 3-4 inch cracks in wheat fields — way too dry for wheat in Essex County. Could lose 10 percent yield in kernel size.
• Soybean and edible bean stands are variable

Fertility

• Lots of sulphur deficiency in corn.
• Potash deficiency showing up in soybeans — can broadcast it and have rain bring it to plant.
• Timing of second N application on wheat — five leaf versus second node.

Double-crop Soybeans

• Five things to consider if thinking about it — find out more in these two Soybean School episodes with Eric Richter:
  • Soybean School: Will Double Crop Soys Fit Your Farm?
  • Soybean School: Five Keys to Double Crop Success

Insects

• Starting to see some armyworms, but Peter says the jetstream hasn’t been ideal for big numbers.
• Cereal leaf beetles looking orange — it’s being parasitized and probably doesn’t need spraying.

Fungicides

• Do we need foliar fungicides in soybeans this year? It’s dry, so lower pressure, likely less chance of response, but worth paying attention as weather can change quickly.

Spray Tech

• Pulse AIM Command, Turbo floodjet nozzles for fusarium control?

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | All Podcasts