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Volume
2 Issue
2 May
25, 2005
The Silver
Lining
Every cloud has one, and the the silver lining to our, so
far, unseasonably cool weather is its effect on insect
populations. Cool temperatures
and bugs generally don’t mix. The populations of many of
our insect pests here in northern MN and ND develop best
under warm, dry conditions through the spring. Cooler
temperatures decrease feeding activity and reproductive
potential in the insects and favors the development of
entomopathogenic (means “insect killing”) fungal diseases.
Foliar-Applied
Fungicides for Application on Small Grain Crops in
Minnesota -- May 2005
A Section 18 application allowing Minnesota
wheat and barley producers to apply Folicur for Fusarium
head blight control was submitted to the EPA earlier this
year. The agency recently approved Section 18 applications
for Montana and South Dakota, but has requested additional
information from extension plant pathologists in
Minnesota, North Dakota, and Michigan.
Comparing
Soybean Production Techniques with
Plant Disease Development in the Red River Valley
Soil-borne disease issues continue to plague soybeans
across Minnesota. Routinely, heavy soils and wet fields
promote root disease development. Generally, an initial
period of low disease pressure is expected when growing a
newly introduced crop in a region. The objective of this
research conducted in 2004 was to determine if specific
production practices, such as rotation (number of times
soybeans were grown from 1997-2004), or weed management
system (Roundup Ready, conventional herbicides, and
organic) contributed to disease development.
When
Weather Takes Center Stage
Stormy periods like the events of Friday, May 20 get
everyone talking about the weather. Where did it hail? How
much rain fell at your farm or lake home? Many times the
real time weather is the information needed.
Here are some useful internet
sites that can provide current,
historical, and predictive weather information related to
successful farm production.
Cut The
Cutworms!!
There have been multiple reports of cutworms in sugarbeet
in the last week, and even with
the unseasonably cold temperatures earlier in the month,
they’re appearing pretty much on schedule.
May is the Month to Spray Pastures
for Biennial Thistles
Treat pastures for biennial thistles now, not during
bolting or flowering. Minnesota has nearly one million
acres in pastureland providing forage to livestock
throughout the growing season. Some of the more
problematic weeds for NW Minnesota pastures are plumeless,
musk, and bull thistle.
Soybean Stand Evaluation
Under normal planting conditions and soil temperatures
soybean seedlings should emerge five to nine days
following planting. This year many acres were planted in
early May, creating some concern because cool soil
temperatures will slow down germination and emergence
allowing diseases and insects more time to harm seed and
reduce stand.
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