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Continued warm, wet weather and the lack of cooler temperatures this winter increases the potential for tough weed and insect management.

Karol Osborne

February 14, 2020

3 Min Read
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LSU AgCenter entomologist Sebe Brown speaks to farmers about managing insects on their crops at the AgCenter Northeast Louisiana Crops Forum held Feb. 6 in Delhi, Louisiana.Karol Osborne/LSU AgCenter

Amid concerns the 2020 growing season is setting up for a repeat of last year’s challenges, LSU AgCenter experts emphasized early-season management strategies at the Northeast Louisiana Crops Forum held in Delhi, La.

“This meeting is important and timely because it provides updates on crop production and protection as growers are beginning to make those critical planting decisions now,” said AgCenter associate vice president Rogers Leonard.

Continued warm, wet weather conditions in the region, worsened by the lack of cooler temperatures this winter, increases the potential for tough weed and insect management situations moving forward, he said.

“We haven’t been cold enough, so prepare for red-banded stinkbugs if you are growing soybeans,” AgCenter entomologist Sebe Brown said.

Louisiana has experienced the second year in a row with no real winter, and Brown predicts large populations of redbanded stink bugs and other species of plant bugs overwintering and finding plenty of alternative host plants in the fields on which to feed.

Brown urged growers to use high-quality seed treatments in all agronomic crops to boost yield and preserve quality.

“Over time, these insecticides do pay for themselves and are a good investment,” he said.

In on-station trials designed to mimic worst-case scenarios faced by producers, increased yields are common when seed treatments are used, Brown said.

Related:Keep cotton clean with tillage, cover crops and herbicides

A new technology in Deltapine cotton could potentially eliminate the need for a seed treatment against thrips once it becomes available in the next few years, he said.

“Thrips are the No. 1 early-season pest issue in Louisiana for cotton, and where this product excels is in thrips control,” he said.

While no silver bullet, the new cotton variety called ThryvOn will offer good activity on plant bugs and help by cutting down the number of insecticide applications needed through the growing season, he said.

Brown said a robust ear protection for corn earworms is not needed in the Mid-South, citing the importance of protecting cotton production.

“It is a recipe for disaster,” he said.

Brown said 95% of corn earworms will funnel through corn first before moving into cotton, and using the same viptera genetic traits in both crops increases exposure of corn earworms to the technology.

AgCenter weed scientist Donnie Miller said planning burndown timing at four to six weeks before planting is optimum to allow time for weeds to die, reduce weed regrowth and remove food sources from overwintering insect pests that can move in and damage emerging crops.

Related:Tennessee soybean yield winner values early planting

Miller recommended producers add a residual mode of action herbicide for burndown at six weeks or more from planting to prevent weed emergence, provided 30% or less ground cover from winter weeds exists in the field for maximum results.

For growers able to get in the field for early-stage corn planting in late February to mid-March, yield can be maximized with only one postemergence herbicide application beginning at V2 or V4 growth stage, he said.

“When we start delaying things, and with higher soil temperatures signaling earlier weed emergence to compete with the emerging crop, you’ll have to have both pre- and post-applications out there,” Miller said.

Miller urged growers to always include a residual herbicide in each application, including burndown, to increase long-range effectiveness and aid in weed resistance mitigation, regardless of what weed management technology is used.

“Never let your opponent get off the mat — that’s what we want to do with these resistant weeds,” he said.

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