debugging field crop production

Insect trapping season is here!  We are still looking for cooperators to monitor both black cutworm and true armyworm traps in April and May. These early spring storms have already brought black cutworm moths north. We’d love to get some more traps out and are especially needing cooperators in southern and northern Illinois. Traps and lures are provided. Requirements for trapping:

• Set up traps provided.
• Check traps regularly. Ideally, we’d like traps to be checked every other day to help accurately identify significant moth flights,

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Our last full week of March had very March-like weather, with average temperatures ranging from the high 30s in far northern Illinois to the low 50s in far southern Illinois, right around normal for this time of the year. March to date average temperatures have been 3 to 6 degrees warmer than normal; a top 10 warmest March on record so far for much of northern Illinois. Another round of storms brought modest precipitation totals across the state this week,…

The first week of March and climatological spring was decidedly spring-like. Average temperatures ranged from the mid-30s in northern Illinois to the high 40s in southern Illinois, between 3 and 8 degrees above normal. High temperatures reached into the 60s and 70s early in the week before crashing back to the 30s and 40s. February ended 2 to 4 degrees below normal statewide, wrapping up a climatological winter season that was within 1 degree of normal statewide.…

Illinois Extension has released two updated publications on corn and soybean management in Illinois. These publications offer guidance to assist producers, crop consultants, and agronomists on how to manage Illinois corn and soybean crops in the most efficient and profitable manner. The recommendations provide guidelines and should be adjusted to suit the specific conditions of each producer’s cropping systems. The publications are designed as a quick reference and provide research-based, current information on:

• Variety/hybrid selection
• Planting practices
• Nutrient management
• Weed management
• Insect management
• Disease management

The publications can be found linked on the Illinois Extension Crops website under Publications/Fact Sheets,…