Early Planted Soybeans Starting to Bloom

I spotted my first soybean flower yesterday at the Janesville, WI variety trial site which was planted May 4th. As we enter the soybean reproductive growth phase there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is that soybean will produce flowers for ~3 to five weeks, depending upon planting date and environment. Soybean will abort anywhere from 20 to 80% of the flowers that they produce. Generally it is the first and last flush of flowers produced that are most likely to be aborted.

Second of all the timing window for our glyphosate applications in soybean are quickly closing.

“Monsanto has clarified the definition of “throughout flowering” in regard to the latest stage that glyphosate can be applied to glyphosate-resistant soybean. Soybean flowering is defined as the R2 growth stage. The R3 growth stage begins when one of the four top nodes with a fully developed leaf has a 3/16 inch long pod. With this definition, glyphosate can be applied through the R2 growth stage, but not after the R3 stage begins. Applications made after the R3 stage are off-label applications.”

On average it takes ~ 4 days to move from R1 (beginning flower) to R2 (full flower) and ~10 days from R2 to the start of R3 (beginning pod). That means we have ~2 weeks for glyphosate applications to occur.

Next, wheel track damage made from ground applications may start to reduce yield. Sprayer wheel traffic from first flower (R1) through harvest can damage soybean plants and reduce yield (Hanna et al. 2008). Our research suggests that an adequate soybean stand (more than 100,000 plants per acre) planted in late April though mid-May can compensate for wheel tracks made when a field is sprayed at R1. Yield loss can occur, however, when wheel tracks are made at R1 or later in thin soybean stands (less than 100,000 plants per acre) or late planted soybeans. Regardless of stand, plants could not compensate for wheel tracks made at R3 (early pod development) or R5 (early seed development). The average yield loss per acre is based on sprayer boom width (distance between wheel track passes). In our trials yield losses averaged 2.5, 1.9, and 1.3% when sprayer boom widths measured 60, 90, and 120 foot, respectively. Multiple trips along the same wheel tracks did not increase yield loss over the first trip.

Lastly, for white mold questions please refer to the following information: White Mold in Soybean in 2010: Factors to Consider

Image 1. Soybean crop beginning to bloom.

Do Foliar Applications of Sugar Improve Soybean Yield

High commodity prices have led growers to consider many novel soybean inputs. One input that has garnered considerable attention is the foliar application of sugar products to increase soybean yield. The objective of this research was to evaluate soybean yield in response to various sources of foliar-applied sugar across four states in the Midwest. Field research studies were conducted at Arlington, Wisconsin; Urbana, Illinois; St. Paul, Minnesota; and West Lafayette, Indiana in 2010.The four sources of sugar evaluated in this study were:

  1. granulated cane sugar
  2. high fructose corn syrup
  3. molasses
  4. blackstrap molasses.

All treatments were applied at the equivalent rate of 3 lb sugar a-1 and applied at 15 to 20 gal a-1. The treatments consisted of an untreated check, all four sources of sugar applied at V4, granulated cane sugar and blackstrap molasses applied at R1, granulated cane sugar applied at V4 and R1, and blackstrap molasses applied at V4 and R1.

No positive or negative (phytotoxic) effects were visually observed on the soybean foliage at any location within 10 days following foliar applications (data not shown). Furthermore, sugar did not increase soybean yield within location (data no shown) or across locations [P = 0.60 (Figure 1)], regardless of source. While this study cannot conclusively prove foliar applications of sugar will not increase soybean yield, the authors conclude that other management strategies to improve soybean yield should take precedence over applying sugar.


The source of this data is:

Furseth, B. J., Davis, V., Naeve, S., Casteel, S., and Conley, S. P. 2011. Soybean Seed Yield Was Not Influenced by Foliar Applications of Sugar. Crop Management. Accepted: 6/1/11.

Please visit:
http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/cm/brief/2011/sugar/
to view the entire manuscript.

Fusarium Head Blight Update – June 13, 2011

While most of the wheat in Wisconsin has flowered, there are still areas where flowering will occur over the next few days to week. I just spoke with Mike Ballweg in Sheboygan County and wheat closest to the lake is in the Feekes 10.2 to 10.4 range, meaning 1/4 to 3/4 of the inflorescence are visible. A check of the Fusarium head blight forecast from June 12 indicated that there were a few pockets around the state where the risk was higher than we have seen earlier in the week. In particular, along Lake Michigan, there is a moderate to high risk and this risk remains moderate to high over the next 24-48 hours. Forecast temperatures indicate cool conditions in this area and there are scattered chances of rain over the next few days. Another factor to consider is that in this part of the state over the past few years, we have heard many reports of dockage or rejection of grain due to Fusarium head blight. This is an area where much of the wheat has followed corn silage, so noting what your previous crop was can also help determine if the risk of infection may be higher. Make sure, however, to check closely the wheat growth stage before making a decision to apply a foliar fungicide since timing is critical for suppression of the FHB and fields may vary greatly in terms of flowering especially as you move inland from the lake. Please see our earlier postings and articles about different foliar fungicides for suppression of FHB as well as pre-harvest intervals based on products.

New Seed Treatment Poster for Corn and Soybean

With an increase in the number of seed treatments registered for corn and soybean in Wisconsin, it can be a bit daunting to understand what the different products are, and what pest they are targeting or if they are marketed to improve seedling health. Richard Proost and I recently finished a new poster entitled, “What is on your seed” to help take some of the confusion about seed treatments away. This poster provides a current list of seed treatments that are registered in Wisconsin. Products are listed by the number of active ingredients, treatment type, and then alphabetically by product trade name. The list is not provided based on efficacy data nor is an endorsement or criticism of one product over another, rather the list is meant as a general guide. As always, consult current label directions for using any pesticide.

Fusarium Head Blight Risk – June 6, 2011

Currently, wheat in many areas of Wisconsin is starting to flowering or will be over the next few days. The current risk for Fusarium head blight is low based on the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center. Rainfall has been rather light the past 7 days, although some locations received rainfalls upwards of 0.30 inches or more this morning (6/6) in thunderstorms that are passing through the state. The next 2-3 days will be extremely hot with temperatures in the low to mid 90s. From the National Weather Service, it looks like the next chance for rain is Wednesday into Thursday, when air temperatures are also suppose to cool off. Based on these factors, the recommendation for using a foliar fungicide for suppression of FHB is not recommended. We will continue to monitor conditions as the week progresses and provide any updates as necessary.

Fusarium Head Blight – Foliar Fungicides

As we move into flowering in the wheat, in addition to determining if conditions for Fusarium head blight warrant the application of a foliar fungicide (currently, the risk for FHB is low around the state), it is important to pay attention to fungicide product labels since not all products labeled for wheat suppress FHB and many have tight restrictions based on growth stage or pre-harvest interval. Each year, the North Central Regional Committee on Management of Small Grain Diseases (NCERA-184) updates a fungicide efficacy chart. Ratings are based on field testing of products across locations and years and ranged from “poor” to “excellent”.

Focusing here on suppression of FHB, I will break things down first by efficacy and then by harvest restrictions. The best suppression occurs with the well-timed application of triazole-based products, although they are not all equal. A strobilurin-based compound would not be recommended, as there is evidence to suggest that there can be an increase in the mycotoxin contamination.

In the triazole group, the following products are rated as “good”: Caramba 0.75 SL, Prosaro 421SC, Proline 480SC. The following products are rated as “fair”: Folicur 3.6 F (also includes generic compounds). Products containing propiconazole (e.g., Tilt 3.6 EC or equivalent generics) are rated as “poor”. All of these products have a 30-day preharvest restriction, while Tilt has a harvest restriction based on growth stage (Feekes 10.5).

Lancaster and Janesville Winter Wheat May 31 2011

Finishing the two-day trip to check on our wheat studies, today I visited the Lancaster and Janesville locations. Wheat at both of these locations is rapidly advancing, with Lancaster being at a very solid Feekes 10.5 (inflorescence completely emerged), while at Janesville, the growth stage ranged from Feekes 10.1 (first inflorescence spikelet visible) to 10.5 (inflorescence completely emerged).

With where the wheat growth stages are in the southern part of the state, this means we should be paying critical attention to the weather and risk of Fusarium head blight infection. A check of the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center today for the southern third of Wisconsin indicated that the risk of FHB infection was low, except for a few pockets along the Illinois border that were in the moderate range. However, looking at the one to three day forecast, the risk of FHB infection is predicted to be low. A foliar fungicide would not be recommended at the current moment. We will continue to monitor conditions during this week as well as over the next couple of weeks to provide updates for the risk of FHB as well as management recommendations. For information regarding products that can be effective at suppressing FHB (with well-timed applications), please check here. Pay close attention to individual fungicide labels especially in regards to the latest growth stage that a product can be applied as well as any pre-harvest intervals for applications.

What about other diseases? As I scouted at both locations today, there were three main diseases noted including BYDV, Septoria lead blotch, and powdery mildew. Across the four locations assessed the past two days, the BYDV at Lancaster had the highest incidence and the incidence of this disease at Janesville was similar to what we observed at Arlington yesterday. Powdery mildew also appeared to be slightly more severe at Lancaster than at the other locations, although symptoms were still mostly in the lower canopy to the flag-3 or flag-2 leaf, depending on variety. The two videos below provide some pictorial evidence of what was being seen for both diseases at Lancaster.

Chilton and Arlington Winter Wheat May 30, 2011

Over the next two days, I will be traveling to all of our wheat plots around the state. For each blog posting, I will also be embedding some short videos that I take at each site showing how the stand looks and also anything that looks a little interesting. Today, we start with Chilton and Arlington.

Chilton:

On my drive up to Chilton this morning, I couldn’t help but notice lots of wheel tracks in the majority of winter wheat fields! At Chilton, the Winter Wheat Performance Tests looks very good. The growth stage is Feekes 8 (flag leaf emerging) to Feekes 9 (flag leaf ligule and collar visible). The wheat head is right around the nodal area for the flag-2 leaf. From a disease perspective, things look really clean. There is a a little bit of BYDV, some Septoria leaf blotch and also powdery mildew. The key observation for Septoria and powdery mildew is that the symptoms are really only around the base of the plants. Right now, a foliar fungicide would not be warranted here at the Chilton performance tests.

Arlington:

At Arlington, the wheat is looking great. Similar to Chilton, the main diseases noted included BYDV, Septoria leaf blotch, and powdery mildew. Outside of BYDV in the upper canopy, the symptoms and/or signs of Septoria and powdery mildew are in the lower canopy near the base. Wheat ranges from Feekes 8-9 (flag leaf emergence) to the boot stage (Feekes 10) to some early heading depending on the wheat variety. In addition to monitoring for foliar diseases, this also means we need to turn our attention to monitoring the risk of Fusarium head blight. While we are probably a few days off from early flowering for some of the varieties, a current check of the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center indicates that the risk of FHB is low throughout the state. The one to three day prediction’s are also indicating a low risk of FHB around the state.

Wheat Scouting Update and Disease Thresholds

With some warmer weather last week, wheat growth stages moved along from what we had seen in previous weeks. A check of some of our research studies found that the wheat was at the Feekes 6 and 7 growth stages (first and second nodes ). 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. While we have received a few questions about powdery mildew and also noted a little bit of Septoria leaf blotch in some of our trials, we have not had widespread reports of wheat diseases so far this growing season.

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.

Planting reminder for 2011 Soybean Yield Contest Announcement

The Wisconsin Soybean Program has announced the 2011 WI Soybean Yield Contest. This contest encourages growers to challenge themselves to produce higher yields and to be rewarded for their efforts. Top growers will be recognized for achieving high yields while using sound, environmentally friendly production practices that are profitable as well.

Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place winners in each of two contest classes: non-irrigated and irrigated. The winner is the entry that has the highest soybean yield based on bushels per acre at 13 percent moisture.

Contest brochures, rules and entry forms can be found at www.coolbean.info.

For more information feel free to contact Shawn Conley at 608-262-7975