While the record will show that planting progress for both corn and soybean crops in Illinois was close to normal in 2020, heavy rainfall in May and again in early June in some places this year led to some replanting, and some ponded areas don’t have a stand. Stands are mostly good otherwise, but crop condition ratings in Illinois have been mediocre so far, with percent good + excellent percentage in the low 60s for both crops in early July.…
Spider mites often show up when it’s hot and dry outside. Given our current weather (and the promise of more heat to come), it’s a good time to review our scouting and management recommendations. Spider mites feed on a wide variety of plants, and usually enter soybean fields from grassy edges – especially right after the edges have been mowed, which causes the mites to seek out a new food source. (If you have the option,…
Wheat harvest marks the end of one cropping cycle and the beginning of a second. In parts of central and southern Illinois, farmers frequently opt to plant double-crop soybean following wheat harvest, with hopes that the first “killing” frost will be late enough to allow the soybean to reach maturity. Wheat stubble fields not planted with a second crop often become populated with a “crop” of summer annual (and sometimes perennial) weed species. Unlike double-crop soybean,…
We have several articles on the Illinois Field Crop Disease Hub that have some timely information for you. First, a discussion on bacterial leaf streak of corn, which was detected last week in Illinois. Next, part one of our series on corn nematodes. Finally an update on corn tar spot and what to keep in mind with that disease this season.
the articles can be found by clicking this link. If interested,…
The Illinois Department of Agriculture recently issued a document containing guidance “to help pesticide dealers, commercial pesticide applicators and farmers understand the U.S. EPA order and the State of Illinois extension of the cut-off date for application.” The document includes many frequently asked questions and how the Department interprets the guidelines from U.S. EPA for the continued use of existing stocks of these products whose registrations were vacated by a ruling of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.…
On June 3, 2020, in National Family Farm Coalition vs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Case No. 19-70115, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling immediately vacating the registrations of Xtendimax, FeXapan and Engenia, all of which contain the herbicide dicamba. On June 8, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final cancellation order for these three dicamba products. The final cancellation order can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-06/documents/final_cancellation_order_for_three_dicamba_products.pdf.
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On June 3, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling immediately vacating the registrations of Xtendimax, FeXapan and Engenia. The Ninth Circuit ruled that USEPA’s registrations of those products violated The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Pursuant to FIFRA, all pesticides sold, used, or distributed in the United States must be registered with the USEPA. Therefore, effective June 3, 2020, based on the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, Xtendimax,…
The recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to vacate the registrations of XtendiMax, Engenia and FeXapan has generated many questions about herbicide options to control weeds in dicamba-resistant soybean. Tavium, a premixture of dicamba and S-metoachlor, remains in the marketplace and may be applied to dicamba-resisant soybean. Keep in mind all restrictions with respect to application timing on the federal Tavium label (i.e., within 45 days of planting) and the Illinois 24 (c) label (i.e.,…
On June 3, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued their decision that effectively vacated the registrations of the dicamba-containing products XtendiMax, Engenia and FeXapan. Since this ruling many questions have arisen, including the fate of these products already in the commercial channel. During a recent conversation with officials at the Illinois Department of Agriculture, officials presented their interpretation of the court ruling as follows:
It is the current interpretation of the Illinois Department of Agriculture that the dicamba-containing products XtendiMax,…
Replanting soybean fields or areas of fields likely will occur after soybean stand loss to recent cold temperatures or saturated soil conditions. The following are general reminders about dicamba application timings and restrictions for Illinois soybean.
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