Pests

Allen County Crop Scouting Update – Late July

Clint Schroeder – OSU Extension

As both corn and soybeans have entered the reproductive phase of the crop cycle it is an important time to be scouting for disease and insect issues. One of the most important parts of integrated pest management (IPM) is crop scouting. When done properly it can help farmers obtain higher yields and increased profit per acre. When heading to the field don’t forget your copy of the Corn, Soybean, Wheat, and Forages Field Guide to help determine identification and threshold levels for each disease or pest. The field guide can be purchased at the extension office if you do not already have a copy.

Corn

OSU Extension conducts weekly monitoring of Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) pheromone traps throughout the state and published the data in the weekly in the C.O.R.N. Newsletter. Those results can be found here. Trap numbers have remained low for Allen County, but there has been an uptick in surrounding counties. Now is the time to scout for egg masses on the upper leaves. Select 20 consecutive plants in 5 locations of the field. If over 5% of those plants have egg masses an insecticide application is warranted. Continue reading →

Soybean Cyst Nematode Testing Available

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) was first identified in Ohio in 1981, and has now been found in 72 of Ohio’s 88 counties, including Allen. SCN is a small roundworm parasite that damages soybeans by feeding on roots, robbing the plants of nutrients, and providing wound sites for root rotting fungi to enter. The severity of symptoms and yield losses are dependent on several factors including: the number of nematodes present in the field at planting, the soybean variety, tillage practices, soil texture, fertility, pH, and environmental conditions during the growing season. Seed producers worked to breed varieties with resistance to SCN initially, but now certain populations are becoming resistant to the resistance.

The SCN Coalition was developed with funding from the soybean checkoff to raise awareness among farmers. The goal of this group is to decrease SCN populations and increase yield potential for soybean farmers. As part of this effort OSU Extension in Allen County is looking for producers who will allow their fields to be sampled by extension personnel. There is no cost to the farmer for this program and all data will be kept confidential. If you are interested in having your fields sampled please call 419-879-9108 or e-mail Clint Schroeder at schroeder.307@osu.edu

Pesticide/Fertilizer Recertification

Do you still need pesticide recertification for 2020 or 2021? Private and fertilizer applicators whose licenses expired in March 2020 or will expire in March 2021 now have until July 1, 2021 to recertify. Commercial applicators who expired in 2020 now have until July 1, 2021. The deadline for commercial applicators expiring in September 2021 has not changed.

Pesticide recertification options have expanded for 2021.  Please note that there will be additional programs in neighboring counties as well. Currently, your options for 2021 are:

1. IN-PERSON. There will be three opportunities to attend an in-person recertification program in Allen County in 2021. The in-person events will be held in the Youth Activities Building on the Allen County Fairgrounds on the following dates and times. The cost to attend an in-person event is $10 for fertilizer recertification and $35 for pesticide recertification. Seating is limited to 50 people for each event. Pre-registration is mandatory. Continue reading →

Lookout for Spider Mites.

With continued dry weather, spider mites are one of the main pests to remain vigilant about in field crops.  They will often show up in field borders first as they move in from other habitats, for example if nearby ditches have been mowed.  Spider mites are difficult to see.  Look for injury signs — yellow spotting or stippling on the upper side of leaves.  In soybean this damage usually begins in the lower canopy and progresses upward as the mite population increases.  Heavily infested leaves may also have light webbing similar to spider webs.

Soybean leaves showing speckling.

There are no number-based thresholds available for mites, in part because counting them is not practical in a scouting context.  During drought populations can increase rapidly so scouting every 4 to 5 days in recommended during drought conditions.  Walk a broad pattern in the field and examine at least two plants in each of 20 locations.  Use the following scale developed by the University of Minnesota to evaluate spider mite damage in soybean, with treatment recommended at level 3.  There are relatively few products available for the treatment of two-spotted spider mites and some pyrethroid insecticides may actually “flare” spider mite populations, making them worse. Continue reading →

ODA’s Clean Sweep Program Set for August 19 in Findlay

ODA has selected three sites across Ohio for their annual Clean Sweep collection of agricultural pesticides in August. These locations are:

August 18: Fayette County 9 am – 3 pm

Fayette County Airport
2770 Old Rt 38 NE.
Washington Courthouse, Ohio 43160

August 19: Hancock County 9 am – 3 pm

Hancock County Fairgrounds
1017 E. Sandusky Street
Findlay, Ohio 45840

August 25: Lake County 9 am – 3 pm

Perry Coal and Feed
4204 Main Street
Perry, Ohio 44081

Unused, unwanted, and unlabeled pesticides pose many health and safety risks to you and those on your farm. Luckily, farmers in Putnam County don’t have to travel too far to dispose of these pesticides and pesticide containers this year. Between now and August 19, I encourage everyone to collect pesticides and pesticide containers that may be in your sheds, shops, chemical cabinets, etc. that you no longer use or plan to use. The disposal is free and there is no cost to you. Continue reading →

Scout Alfalfa NOW For Potato Leafhopper

By Christian Krupke and John Obermeyer Purdue University

Potato leafhopper populations were noticeably higher after last week’s tropical storm remnants blew through, and now the warmer temperature will drive further increases. Potato leafhoppers won’t mind this heat, and alfalfa pest managers should begin sampling their alfalfa shortly after cutting.

Potato leafhoppers are small, wedge-shaped, yellowish-green insects that remove plant sap with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Leafhopper feeding will often cause the characteristic wedge-shaped yellow area at the leaf tip, which is referred to as “hopper burn.” Widespread feeding damage can cause a field to appear yellow throughout. Leafhopper damage reduces yield and forage quality due to a loss of protein. If left uncontrolled for several cuttings, potato leafhoppers can also significantly reduce stands.

Management of potato leafhopper was needed weeks before this hopper burn.

Continue reading →

Wheat Harvest Preparation: Grain Bin Edition

By Clint Schroeder OSU Extension

The 2020 Ohio wheat harvest is rapidly approaching. Now is the time to prepare for a successful harvest. Before the combine goes to the field, a key component will be to have grain handling and storage facilities adequately sanitized. Taking the proper steps now should help eliminate insect infestations that can significantly reduce grain quality or salability.

The majority of insect infestations that occur in stored grains are a result of migration into the bin. These insect populations will be present in piles of spilled grain from the previous year, livestock feed in the area, litter, and weed growth. Newly harvested wheat can also be contaminated when it comes in contact with infested grain that was not cleaned from the combine, trucks, wagons, augers, dump pits, or grain leg buckets. Another source of contamination can be carryover grain in a bin that was not correctly emptied. Continue reading →

Bagworm Season Begins

By Joe Boggs OSU Extension
Overwintered common bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) eggs are hatching in southwest Ohio.  Look closely when inspecting plants.  The 1st instar caterpillars are very small with their bags measuring around 1/8″ in length.
Bagworm
The tiny 1st instar bags are constructed with pieces of tan to reddish-brown sawdust-like frass (excrement) stuck to the outside of silk and look like “dunce caps.”  As the caterpillars mature, they begin weaving host plant debris into the silk which provides structural stability and helps to camouflage the caterpillar bag-abodes.

Continue reading →

Pesticide and Fertilizer Private Applicator Update

With the signing of House Bill 197, Ohio’s COVID-19 emergency response legislation, the March 31, 2020 deadline for private pesticide applicators (farmers) and the May 31, 2020 deadline for agricultural fertilizer certificate holders to renew their license and get training has been extended.

The deadline is now 90 days after the state of emergency Executive Order ends or December 1, 2020, whichever comes first.

All in-person OSUE events are cancelled or postponed through at least May 15. Applicators that still are in need of training are encouraged to visit pested.osu.edu for more information when classes resume.

If you have not received your updated applicator card please be aware that ODA is working diligently with a reduced on-site staff to get cards out. Your pink (or yellow) copy of the re-certification sheet (the triplicate from the re-certification class or conference that you attended) is your temporary certification until you get your card.

2020 Western Bean Cutworm Monitoring Program: Farmer Participation Needed

By Clint Schroeder – OSU Extension Allen County

OSU Extension will be monitoring for Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) moths again during the 2020 growing season. Western bean cutworm moths overwinter in the soil and emerge as adults in late June or early July. Adults then mate and lay eggs in clusters on the top surface of the upper third of a corn plant. The eggs require five to seven days to develop, during which time the egg color changes to tan and then to purple immediately before hatching. As the eggs hatch the larvae will look to feed on the exposed tassels and then make their way into the husks to feed on the developing corn ear. Scouting is critical as larvae that hatch prior to tasseling have a low survival rate, and larvae that have entered the husk will be protected from insecticide applications.

Western Bean Cutworm Moth

Continue reading →