Archive for category: Uncategorized

A check of our research studies found that the wheat crop is at the Feekes 6 and 7 growth stages (first and second nodes) across the state. This is an important time to be out in the wheat and scouting to determine if the use of a foliar fungicide will be needed as we move into flag leaf emergence (Feekes 8). The flag leaf is the most important leaf, accounting for upwards of 50% or more of the final yield and a goal with the use of a foliar fungicide is to protect this leaf. Most of the questions to date have been about powdery mildew. Susceptible varieties are showing significant disease pressure as warm March temperatures contributed to lush vegetative growth and in some cases pre-jointing lodging.

Looking ahead, there exist some thresholds as you scout at Feekes 7 and 8 to determine if a foliar fungicide may be warranted.

At Feekes 7, the thresholds are:

Powdery mildew: check the uppermost leaf – the threshold is an average of five pustules per leaf.

Wheat leaf rust: check any leaf – the threshold is an average of one pustule per leaf.

Septoria leaf blotch: check the uppermost leaf – the threshold is 25% of the leaves having expanding blotches

At Feekes 8, the thresholds are:

Powdery mildew: check from the flag-2 leaf (2nd leaf below the flag leaf) and upward – the threshold is an average of five pustules per leaf on the flag-2 leaf.

Wheat leaf rust: check from the flag-3 (3rd leaf below the flag leaf) and upward – the threshold is an average of one pustule per leaf on the flag-3 leaf.

Septoria leaf blotch: check from the flag-2 and upward – the threshold is 25% of the leaves having blotches

If you note disease in the lower canopy but not on any of the leaves discussed above, consider increasing the frequency of your scouting to determine if there is evidence of new pustules or blotches moving into the upper canopy.

For further information regarding factors to consider for determining the need for a foliar fungicide recommendation, please check here.

For information regarding the efficacy of several foliar fungicides against different wheat diseases, please check here.

Results across our different studies the past few years have indicated that the best response to a foliar fungicide application has occurred when powdery mildew was the target and the wheat variety was susceptible. When the wheat variety was resistant to powdery mildew, we have not seen a consistent response, if at all.

NOTE: THIS OFFER IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!

As part of its tech transfer efforts, the United Soybean Board purchased 500 one-year subscriptions to the Plant Management Network (PMN) for soybean growers and the consultants who work for them. These subscriptions are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and they are intended for individuals who did not subscribe during USB’s 500-subscription promotion last fall.

This subscription includes access to PMN’s entire collection of “Focus on Soybeans” webcasts. More than 50 soybean webcasts have been produced to date, and they feature actionable crop management information from experts who work in the field. PMN subscriptions also include access to nearly 8,000 fungicide, nematicide, insecticide, and biological control trials; more than 1,000 applied crop management research articles; nearly 3,000 crop management news articles; about 5,000 images; tens of thousands of extension documents, and other information useful for growers and consultants. All this information is located through in one central website and searchable by keyword.

You can sign up for a free one-year subscription to all the Plant Management Network’s content through the signup form at the following short link: http://bit.ly/GFDCzj.

Just enter the required contact information, scroll down toward the bottom of the page, enter your preferred username and password, and click “submit”. Make sure to record your username and password on paper for safekeeping.

Once you subscribe, you’ll get article alerts once a month in the form of PMN’s Update newsletter. Click through to whatever content you like. If it’s subscriber-only content, you’ll be prompted to fill in your username and password.

Here’s a listing of PMN’s soybean-inclusive resources, all of which can be accessed through Focus on Soybean http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/subscriptions/details/soybean.asp

There are only 500 subscriptions, and they went quick the last time this was done. So please fill out the signup form as soon as possible!

Unconfirmed reports of wheat that is approaching jointing near the WI/IL border prompted an unexpected field trip to the Arlington Research Station today to confirm crop growth stage. Our inspection of the wheat crop found that the wheat head is right at the soil surface and nearly at the Pseudostem erection crop growth stage (Zadoks 30; Feekes 4-5; Image 1). As a point of reference we normally do not reach this crop growth stage until May 1st. As we move forward over the next few weeks it is imperative that retailers and growers properly identify the wheat crop growth stage before applying dicamba or 2,4-D. When wheat has a visible joint (Feekes 6), wheat can be very sensitive to dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides. If we remember back to 2009 we had several reports of 80 bushel wheat dropping to 20 bushel wheat when dicamba was applied at Feekes 6. After jointing there are several other herbicides that can be safely used. Please refer to Pest Management in WI Field Crops Bulletin A3646 for these options.

Please click to view a YouTube video on Identifying the Hollow Stem and Jointing Growth Stages in Wheat

2011 was another great year to be a soybean producer in Wisconsin. Even with the production challenges growers faced across the state the average yield was 47 bu/ acre (NASS, 2011) which ranked third nationwide. We also saw a significant increase in the number of entries into the 2011 WSA/WSMB Soybean Yield Contest. The top three entries in the non-irrigated class (in no particular order) were: RnK Devoe Farms, Monroe (planted Pioneer 92Y51), Zenz Farms, Lancaster (planted Asgrow 2403), and S+W Farms LLC, Platteville (planted Dairyland DSR2770/RR). The top two entries in the irrigated class (in no particular order) were: AB Farms, Dallas (planted Pioneer 91M10) and Badgerland Grain Farms LLC, Edgerton (planted Asgrow 2330). The final ranking and awards will be presented at the 2012 Corn Soy Expo to be held at the Kalahari Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells on Thursday February 2nd. The contest is sponsored by the WI Soybean Program and organized to encourage the development of new and innovative management practices and to show the importance of using sound cultural practices in WI soybean production.