cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

Remain Vigilant for Palmer Amaranth

  • September 10, 2014

Accurate identification of weedy Amaranthus species during early vegetative stages can be difficult.  However, identification of the various species becomes much more reliable when reproductive structures are present (Figure 1).
Before harvest begins, consider taking a few minutes to scout fields; at this time of year it is much easier to differentiate between Palmer amaranth (Figure 2) and waterhemp plants (Figure 3).
Similar to waterhemp, Palmer amaranth plants are either male or female; male plants produce only pollen while female plants produce only seed. …

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Dates and Locations for the 2015 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classics

  • September 8, 2014

The dates and locations for the January 2015 University of Illinois Corn & Soybean Classics are set.  Our next series of meetings marks the 18th year of the Classics and will continue the program’s tradition of providing our clientele with the most current and timely information related to crop production, marketing and pest management.
The dates and meeting locations for the 2015 Corn & Soybean Classics are:
▸ January 7 (Wednesday): Peoria Par-A-Dice Hotel
▸ January 8 (Thursday): Moline i wireless Center
▸ January 9 (Friday): Malta Kishwaukee College
▸ January 12 (Monday): Springfield Crowne Plaza
▸ January 13 (Tuesday): Champaign I Hotel and Conference Center
▸ January 14 (Wednesday): Mt.…

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ALERT: Fall Armyworms May Reach Damaging Levels in Pastures Across Southern Illinois

  • September 6, 2014

Doug Johnson, University of Kentucky Extension Entomologist, has received reports of large densities of fall armyworms in pastures from central Kentucky to the Mississippi River. These infestations follow some large flights of these moths as reported recently by Professor Johnson. The fall armyworm is a tropical insect and the moths migrate to northern states during the late summer and early months of fall. Gulf Coast storms may increase the late summer flights northward. As female moths find grassy or pastured areas,…

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Destructive diseases of soybean – sudden death syndrome and white mold – observed in the state

  • August 27, 2014

Signs and symptoms of a few soybean diseases have begun to show up in the last few weeks in some areas of the state.  Two of these diseases, sudden death syndrome (SDS) and Sclerotinia stem rot (a.k.a. white mold) certainly are going to cause economic losses in some growers’ fields this year.
Symptoms of SDS that currently are being observed are interveinal chlorosis and necrosis of the leaves (veins remain green while the tissues between the veins turn yellow and then brown). …

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Preliminary Corn Rootworm Injury Evaluation Results from Illinois’ Trials, 2014

  • August 21, 2014

In late July, the annual University of Illinois root “digs” and corn rootworm product evaluation trials were completed. Each experiment was established on plots that had been planted to a trap crop (late-planted corn interplanted with pumpkins) in 2013. The results for three of these studies are presented in the following bar graphs. The charts are arranged with the soil insecticide only treatments appearing in light blue, Bt hybrid only products shaded in orange, Bt hybrids combined with soil insecticides represented by the darker blue color,…

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2014 Ewing Demonstration Center Fall Field Day

  • August 19, 2014

2014 Ewing Demonstration Center Fall Field Day
The University of Illinois Extension will host its annual Ewing Demonstration Center Fall Field Day on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 9 a.m.  The Ewing Demonstration Center at is located at 16132 N. Ewing Rd; Ewing IL 62836, on the north edge of the village of Ewing, north of the Ewing Grade School on north Ewing Road.  Watch for signs.
The ongoing research plots this year consist of a soybean cover crops trial,…

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Did We Miss the Boat on Corn Plant Population in 2014?

  • August 16, 2014

One of the speakers at the UI Agronomy Day at Urbana this past week was quoted as saying that corn producers had not planted enough plants this year to take advantage of the good growing conditions. The assertion was that 45,000 plants would have been more appropriate than 32,000 plants. Most produces are planting more than 32,000 now on more productive fields. But few are pushing populations into the mid-40,000 range, at least on a lot of acres.…

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A Good Crop Takes Shape

  • July 23, 2014

The “walls” of dark green corn as the crop begins its push to fill grain and make yield is always an inspiring sight, and the 2014 crop is the best I’ve seen at stage of development. It’s been almost this good in June several times, but not at the end of July. The crop condition rating has been stuck at about 80% good to excellent, and this remarkable uniformity is apparent in travels around northern and western Illinois in recent weeks.…

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Rotation Resistant and Rotation Susceptible Western Corn Rootworms React Similarly to Bt Corn

  • July 22, 2014

A journal article published recently (July 2014) confirms that rotation resistant and rotation susceptible western corn rootworms are affected by Bt root tissue in a similar fashion. The citation for this article is provided below.
Tinsley, N.A., J.L. Spencer, R.E. Estes, J.R. Prasifka, P.M. Schrader, B.W. French, and M.E. Gray. 2014. Larval mortality and development for rotation-resistant and rotation-susceptible populations of western corn rootworm on Bt corn. Journal of Applied Entomology. doi: 10.1111/jen.12149
Based upon some earlier research,…

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A Quiet Season on the Insect Front Continues in the Midst of Rootworm “Digs”

  • July 22, 2014

From a field crop entomology perspective, this summer remains exceptionally quiet across most areas of Illinois. Japanese beetle and soybean aphid densities have remained very low, seemingly near absent in many fields. With 82% of the corn silking process completed statewide by July 20 and  soil moisture plentiful in most areas, the threat of insects negatively affecting the pollination process have largely diminished. We intend to conduct some insect surveys in corn and soybean fields across the state as we move through early August.…

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