2009 Winter Wheat Workshops

/0 Comments/in /by

New for 2009! Please plan to join us in March as we offer for the first time winter wheat workshops in Wisconsin. Workshops are planned for March 5 in Janesville, March 6 in Fond du Lac, and March 12 in Waldo. Registration is $15 and includes handouts and lunch. These workshops are designed to improve your overall understanding and management of winter wheat production in Wisconsin. These workshops will include hands-on material and computer material (no computers required). Continuing education credit is also being requested in Crop and Pest Management.

Topics to be covered include: (i) winter wheat growth staging, (ii) nitrogen and herbicide management, (iii) disease diagnostics and foliar fungicides, (iv) effects of bin run seed and fungicide seed treatments, and (v) insect diagnostics. Workshop presenters include both Shawn and Paul as well as Dr. Eileen Cullen, UW-Extension Entomologist.

For further and to download a brochure, please click here.

New Field Crops Plant Pathology Webpage

/2 Comments/in /by

Recently, we went live with a new Field Crops Plant Pathology webpage that can be found at the following address:

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/croppathology

At this website, we will have updated information regarding diseases of wheat, corn, alfalfa, and soybean. Specifically, it is our long range goal to have one page fact sheets for the major diseases of each crop. This will be a work in progress, so please excuse the construction.

We also link to “CoolBean.info”, “Soyhealth”, and “Forage Resources” to provide the most comprehensive information on diseases affecting field, small grain, and forage crops for producers in Wisconsin and elsewhere.

Some of the key components of the new Field Crops Plant Pathology webpage include the ability to ask specific questions about diseases affecting field, small grain, and forage crops. This can be found under the link, “Ask about Crop Diseases”.

We will continually work to update this webpage and will keep people notified of changes on the main page. We also welcome any feedback about this site via the “Contact” link.

On-Farm Research Conference in Iowa in December

/0 Comments/in /by

On-Farm Research Conference – Designing Scientifically Valid Crop Production Research

Dec. 18-19, Knapp-Storms Dining Complex, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

If you are interested in learning more about conducting scientifically valid in-farm research, I will be participating in a conference on December 18 and 19 in Ames, IA. This workshop includes topics on the following:

1. Introduction to on-farm research
2. Data Collection for agronomic, plant disease, insect, and soil and plant fertility
3. Statistics for on-farm research
4. Breakout sessions on: technology for collecting data, what to do with the results, how does economics fit in research, and a consulting session

Speakers include a diverse mix from the fields of plant pathology, statistics, agronomy, meteorology, and economics. Continuing education credit is offered for this workshop.

For more information, please contact me via email at pde@plantpath.wisc.edu, or see the website for more information.

Preliminary Soybean Yields

/1 Comment/in /by

The 2008 soybean harvest is just getting under way. For most of the growing season, the soybean crop has been about 150 to 200 GDU’s behind the 5-year average. Fortunately for WI soybean growers, the unseasonably warm weather we have been enjoying over the last 10 days has quickly advanced our crop towards maturity. However, unfortunately for our growers, preliminary yield estimates are variable. Most of the soybeans that were harvested over the weekend were early maturity group soybeans that were adversely affected by the dry conditions we experienced in August. As growers begin to harvest their later maturity group soybeans, yields will likely be higher due to the late rainfalls that aided seed-fill and the higher yield potential that full season soybeans generally exhibit. The preliminary yield reports from Jefferson (Joe Bollman), Iowa (Rhonda Gildersleeve), Dodge (Matt Hanson), and Green Lake (Carla Hargrave) counties show soybean yields ranging from the low 20’s to about 50 bu per acre. Yields generally improve as we move from west to east (Iowa to Dodge County). Regardless of yield variability, if you saw a combine rolling this weekend you likely also saw a drill nearby as growers try to get their wheat crop planted in time to take full advantage of the warm weather and any crop insurance restrictions.

Check Combine Settings to Minimize Soybean Harvest Loss

/0 Comments/in /by
Growers should take extraordinary precautions this year to check combine settings throughout the harvest day especially if they switch soybean maturity groups. Much of the rainfall that occurred in the dry areas of WI occurred too late to aid early maturity group soybeans (these soybeans were physiologically mature-R7 growth stage prior to rain); however many late maturity group varieties were still in the R6 (grain-fill) growth stage and may have benefited from the late August/early September rainfall. As growers proceed in harvest a quick in-field estimate can be preformed to assess where yield losses are occurring. The three areas of concern are pre-harvest loss (standing soybean), header loss (harvested swath in front of combine), and machine loss (harvested swath behind combine) (Images 1). In each area of interest count the number of beans per 10 ft2. Remember 40 seeds per 10 ft2 equal ~1 bushel per acre yield loss (Image 2).

For more information please see the following article.

Image 1. Fall volunteer soybean in winter wheat caused by machine loss.

Image 2. Two bushel per acre yield loss

Charcoal Rot Showing up in Drought Stressed Beans

/0 Comments/in /by

Phytophthora root rot is being blamed for much of the late season death we are experiencing in our soybean fields. However if you have experienced any droughty conditions charcoal rot may be the culprit. Charcoal rot is caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina and is root disease of soybean. The development of charcoal rot this year has coincided with the very dry conditions we have seen since flowering. An early indicator of charcoal rot could have been seen around flowering with any premature yellowing of the upper canopy (i.e., yellowing of the top leaves) with eventual leaf drop of those leaves. This can often be mistaken for normal plant senescence. Also, at this point in the growing season, a diagnostic sign of the pathogen can be seen on the lower stem or root tissue of soybean and this is termed microsclerotia (Images 1 and 2). These are tiny, dark fungal structures that can seen with the naked eye after scraping the outer tissues. In terms of yield, the plants in the driest part of field may have unfilled upper pods and low plant vigor. The charcoal rot pathogen survives as these microsclerotia in the soil and in plant tissue and can be long-lived. At this point in the season, management for charcoal rot is not an option. Management for charcoal rot includes the following: (i) reduction of plant stress, (ii) variety selection, and (iii) rotation.

Images 1 and 2. Charcoal rot microsclerotia on lower soybean stems.

Stress on R6 Soybean

/0 Comments/in /by

I have logged many miles across Southern WI the past week and have noticed several pockets of soybean that could use some rain. The U.S. Drought Monitor service verifies my wind shield scouting as it places most of southern WI in the abnormally dry category (Image 1). Across southern and central WI the average soybean field I have been in is at the R5.5 to R6 growth stage (full seed). In WI the R6 growth stage on average lasts ~18 days but will range from 9 to 30 days depending upon the weather. Soybean in this stage use about 1/4 to 1/3 inches of water per day. Lack of sufficient water during this growth stage can cause young pods and developing seed to abort reducing the number of seeds per plant (Images 2 &3).

Image 1.

Images 2 & 3. Stress induced seed and pod abortion at R6 soybean.



Soybean plants can reduce the size of their leaf pore openings to reduce the loss of water vapor. This also reduces the intake of carbon dioxide and the manufacturing of photosynthates which slows plant growth. When normal soil moisture returns, normal growth is resumed. This ability to reduce metabolic activity allows plants to tolerate dry spells without dying or harming their ability to resume growth when normal moisture returns.

If stress has severely affected pod set and seed fill, and if livestock feed is needed, soybeans can be harvested as a forage for ensiling. Highest protein and yields are obtained from soybean harvested at the R6 to R7 growth stage. Harvesting soybeans for forage between the R1 and R5 stage will result in a very high quality silage, but dry matter yields will be reduced significantly. Forage quality will be reduced from R5 soybean forward if a conditioning process is used during harvest. Conditioning will cause significant seed shattering.

Sun Scald, White Mold, and Drought Stress

/0 Comments/in /by

A survey of our central, north central, and northern soybean variety trial locations was conducted on 8/12/08 and 8/13/08. The soybean crop ranged between the R4 and R5 growth stages. Across most of WI we still remain ~150 gdu’s behind the five year average.

Soybean aphids were present at all trial locations. We have been monitoring our Galesville location for several weeks and yesterday reached the economic threshold of >250 aphids per plant. In a normal year our soybean crop would be developmentally far enough enough along that an application this late would likely not be warranted, however based on growth stage, building aphid numbers, and gdu’s an application was deemed necessary at this location.

Though much of the state has received timely rainfall the central part of WI has not been as fortunate. Several fields are beginning to show drought stress. Drought stress symptoms include a shortened soybean crop, lack of full canopy closure, and flipped soybean leaves (Image 1).

Image 1. Drought stress to soybean.

Sun scald was common across several of our locations. Sun scald or sun burn can be confused with Cercospora. Sun scald symptoms mostly appear on the underside of soybean leaves and often have a distinct line between the healthy and affected areas (Image 2). This line is caused by another leaf shadowing the affected leaf and limiting sun exposure.

Image 2. Sun scald on soybean.


In our irrigated white mold trial we are just starting to see symptoms showing up. Image 3 is an example of early white mold symptoms in the field.

Image 3. White mold.


Lastly, the most obvious weed detected across the state in my windshield survey was volunteer corn. Not only will this weed cause yield loss but also remember that if weed populations are great enough dockage will occur at harvest.

Phytophthora and Stem Canker of Soybean

/0 Comments/in /by

As we move into the latter part of the soybean season, we have been receiving lots of questions and reports of Phytophthora root rot in soybean, including reports where the Rps1k gene has not been performing well. The weather we experienced this past spring into early summer increased the favorability for Phytophthora. While we have also seen reports about Rhizoctonia root rots, the main other stem disease that can often be confused with Phytophthora is stem canker (Figs. 1 and 2). There are some key differences between the two when scouting fields:

Phytophthora root rot: (i) infected plants are often easy to pull from the ground due to the root rot during the early infection, (ii) stem lesions are the key diagnostic symptom later in the season and include a brown discoloration that progresses 6 to 12 inches from the soil line, (iii) diseased roots are smaller than healthy plants and the taproot and lower stem are internally discolored, and (iv) this can lead to an open areas of the canopy.

Soybean stem canker symptoms: (i) first appear during early reproductive stages as reddish-brown lesions at the base of branches or petioles and are first noted after the petiole has dropped, (ii) as the lesion elongates, it will become dark brown to black forming a canker that is sunken in appearance and the stem often becomes girdled, (iii) foliar symptoms can include an interveinal chlorosis and necrosis due to the production of a toxin, (iv) above and below the site of the canker, the tissue remains green and while the leaves may wither, they will remain attached, and (v) unlike Phytophthora, stem canker does not cause a root rot, and this will also differentiate stem canker from diseases like sudden death syndrome.

In 2007, there were numerous reports of soybean stem canker in Wisconsin and a summary of information can be found in a Wisconsin Crop Manager article published on December 15 (Volume 14, Number 31). We are interested in learning about locations where Phytophthora root rot has occurred and if possible, the source of resistance in the soybean variety being grown. Please feel to contact either Paul or Shawn with reports in your respective areas.

Fig. 1. Phytophthora root rot of soybean (Photo Credit: C. Grau, UW-Madison).

Fig. 2. Soybean stem canker (Photo Credit: C. Grau, UW-Madison).

Soybean Growth Stage Does Not Matter: Soybean Aphid Threshold Should Remain at 250 Aphids per Plant

/0 Comments/in /by

High commodity prices coupled with receding flood waters have some growers pushing their soybean planting dates well into late July. As these soybeans emerge and develop they will be greeted by an increasing population of soybean aphids. Dr. Eileen Cullen UW Field Crops Entolomogist suggests the following plan of action to manage the soybean aphid on late planted soybean.

From Dr. Eileen Cullen:

For vegetative stage soybeans, if aphids are colonizing, do not treat the soybeans below 250 aphids/plant. Data from yield loss experiments in WI and throughout the North Central region show that there is no yield benefit to decreasing the threshold, even on small soybeans (Journal of Economic Entomology 100: 1258-1267). Keep in mind also that 250 aphids/plant is not the Economic Injury Level (EIL). The EIL is the number of aphids that need to be present for the value of the lost yield to equal the costs of control. There is lead time of 7 days to reach that +/- 674 aphids per plant EIL.

Now that the market value for soybeans has risen, a lowered EIL can be calculated. David Ragsdale, the lead author on the paper describing the existing EIL for soybean aphids, calculated a new EIL for soybeans selling at $15 per bushel, with $8 per acre control cost, and an anticipated yield of 50 bushels per acre. With these values the EIL is lowered to 452 aphids per plant. However, this doe not lead to a decrease in the Economic Threshold of 250 aphids/plant.

Entomological research in six states (including WI) from 19 yield-loss experiments conducted over a 3-yr. period found no detectable yield differences attributed to treating soybean aphids at numbers below the Economic Threshold of 250/plant. Additionally, treating soybean aphids below the ET of 250 aphids/plant increases risk to producers by treating an aphid population that is growing too slowly to exceed the Economic Injury Level, eliminates generalist predator insects, and exposes a larger portion of the soybean aphid population to selection by insecticides, which could lead to development of insecticide resistance.

If the ET of 250 is reached/exceeded on vegetative stage soybeans, treatment is warranted on the double-cropped beans, due to winged soybean aphid dispersal flights and potential outbreak.conditions in affected areas such as Western Wisconsin. Continue to scout soybeans following treatment to watch for recolonization and soybean aphid resurgence.

Economic threshold is being exceeded in many fields in Western Wisconsin. Winged soybean aphids are dispersing from southern MN and westerly, northwesterly winds have the potential to move dispersal flights toward WI. (This is largely happening in parts of Western WI now). For full information on Soybean Aphid Scouting and management recommendations, please vist the Wisconsin Crop Manager Newsletter article “Soybean Aphid Increasing and Variable – Scout Fields Now” at http://ipcm.wisc.edu/WCMNews/tabid/53/EntryID/606/Default.aspx

Image 1. Winged soybean aphid colonizing V2 soybean plant.Image 2. Soybean aphids feeding on V2 soybean plant.
Photos by John Gaska