Monroe County Agriculture: First cutting of hay almost completed
Weather: Jeff Andresen of MSU says that degree day totals are running slightly ahead of the average. The short-term trend of June 13-17 is calling for a warming trend. Beth Hall of Purdue says above-normal temperatures are favored for the June-July-August period with equal chances of having above- or near-normal precipitation amounts. Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien agrees that there is some uncertainty due the current La Niňa event weakening in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Jim Noel of Ohio State expects temperatures to switch from slightly cooler than normal in early June to above normal temperatures for the second half of the month. His outlook for July is for a warmer month with rainfall near normal and for the warmer weather to continue into August with a trend toward normal or below normal rainfall. Right now his early indications for harvest season are for a warmer and drier than average weather pattern with low chances for early freeze.
Alfalfa: With the first cutting of hay finishing up, now is a good time to apply some Potash. For established stands, add two pounds of actual Boron per acre. With warmer temperatures, farmers should be on the lookout for Potatoe leafhoppers, with the piercing-sucking mouthparts and characteristic V-shaped yellowing on the upper leaves.
Corn: Lightning bugs (firefly beetles) are out, which means that corn rootworm eggs are hatching. A warmer than normal summer will mean more insect activity. Corn approaching “knee high” will be too big for wireworms, seedcorn maggot, seedcorn beetles, black cutworms or grubs. Corn rootworm larvae and European corn borers are some insects to watch for. Ohio State’s insect trapping network has low black cutworm, true armyworm and European corn borer moth catches. Asiatic Garden beetle grub feeding damage would be most apparent on sandy soils in fields rotated with soybeans. For insect management recommendations, see soybeans below about the new 2022 MSU/OSU Field Guide.
Soybeans: Newly emerging soybeans can quickly become overcome by bean leaf beetles. Chris DiFonzo of MSU and Kelley Tilmon of Ohio State have collaborated on a new 2022 Field Crops Insect Pest Management Guide. This free guide covers dry beans, field corn, forages, small grains, soybeans and sugar beets. Interested persons can download a free copy at: www.canr.msu.edu/field_crops/insect-guides.
Wheat: The Michigan Wheat Program has partnered with the Michigan State University Plant Diagnostic Laboratory which allows wheat farmers to submit samples free of charge to the lab. The lab will diagnose wheat plants for general crop health, culture fungal and bacterial pathogens, tests or viruses, analyze for nematodes and detect and identify insect pests. Simply google: Michigan Wheat Program, then click on farmer perks to download the necessary forms.
Commercial Vegetables: The Michigan vegetable crop report for June 8, 2022 gives crop updates for asparagus, scouting for aster leafhoppers in carrots, imported cabbage worms and diamondback moth caterpillars in cole crops, cabbage maggot in cabbage and striped cucumber beetles. Pre-bloom is a time to use Bt products without hurting bees. The downy mildew spore trap monitoring system is up and running and can be accessed at: https://veggies.msu.edu/downy-mildew-news/. Colorado potatoe beetles have been found in potatoes and the overwintering generation of European corn borer moths are being trapped in sweet corn.
MCCC Student Ag Farm: About 2 inches of rain from June 4-8 has stalled planting at the farm. Weeds seem to thrive in about any weather! This year so far thanks to Jack’s Lawn Service for donating 20 yards of finished compost, Eric Salenbien for donating 30 yards of topsoil, Ida Coop for donating 200 pounds of starter fertilizer and Morgan Composting for donating 4 yards of Veggie Doo.
Homeowner sprays: This week homeowners have been spraying for insects and weeds. When using a ready-to-use trigger spray container, simply get the foliage wet and not drenched. Do not have spray dripping off the plant and possibly getting into desirable plants. Drowning the insect pest is not necessary though you may feel better.
Ned Birkey is MSU Extension Educator Emeritus and a regular contributor to The Monroe News.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County Agriculture: First cutting of hay almost completed
