cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

University of Illinois Weed Science Field Research Tour

  • May 7, 2013

We invite you to attend the 2013 University of Illinois Weed Science Field Day on Wednesday, June 26th at the University of Illinois Crop Sciences Research and Education Center, located immediately south of the main campus.  Coffee and refreshments will be available under the shade trees near the Seed House beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Similar to past years, we will car pool to the fields where participants can join in a guided (but informal) tour format. …

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Determining How Much Nitrogen Is Present

  • May 6, 2013

Fall Nitrogen
With a still fresh memory of the drought conditions during last year, recent rains have reduced concerns over water availability for the start of the 2013 growing season, but at the same time, concerns over nitrogen (N) loss have increased. Nitrogen loss is difficult to predict because it depends in many factors such as time of N application, type of N source, soil type and temperature, and the amount of precipitation received. While it is difficult to know how much N is lost without a direct analysis of soil N,…

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Wheat – foliar disease update and outlook

  • May 3, 2013

Symptoms of some foliar diseases of wheat are apparent in Illinois wheat fields, and the threat of other diseases is on the horizon. Current wheat diseases that have been observed in the state are Septoria and Stagonospora leaf blotch, Barley yellow dwarf, and other virus diseases.
Of these diseases, only the fungal leaf blotches (Septoria/Stagonospora) can be managed with foliar fungicides.  Although a flag leaf emergence timing for a foliar fungicide application may be recommended sometimes,…

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The Trapping Line: May 3

  • May 3, 2013

Several new trap locations have come on-line since last report, thanks to great volunteers. Intense black cutworm moth flights were found in Warren, Logan and Menard counties around April 29 and 30.
…

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Getting Soybeans Planted

  • May 2, 2013

With corn planting off to a very slow start this year, few people have been worrying about getting soybeans planted. Though we’ve been saying in recent years that early planting of soybean helps increase yield potential, corn typically loses yield faster than soybean as planting is delayed. So it is appropriate to plant corn first, before soybean.
How early is “early” when it comes to soybean planting? Based on planting date responses we have seen in recent years,…

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Control Weeds before Planting

  • May 1, 2013

Wet soil conditions have caused delays in both planting and efforts to control existing weed vegetation.  Much of the existing weed growth is comprised of winter annual species, such as common chickweed, henbit, purple deadnettle, etc., but emergence of several summer annual species also has begun.  The growth of all species has accelerated with warmer temperatures and abundant soil moisture.  Several species of winter annuals are flowering and could produce viable seed before they are controlled with either tillage or herbicides. …

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Plant Diagnostic Clinic Ready for the 2013 Season

  • April 30, 2013

2013 Season at the University of Illinois Plant Clinic
After the extra early season last year, now we are in the midst of an extra late one. Samples have been slowly appearing this spring here at the Clinic in our 38th year of operation.  The unusually cool wet weather has kept many out of the field and landscapes.  The University of Illinois Plant Clinic began year-round operation in the fall of 2011, when we moved from our facility on St.…

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Corn Herbicide/Insecticide Precautions

  • April 25, 2013

A recent article published in this Bulletin by Dr. Mike Gray (“Soil Insecticide Use on Bt Corn Expected to Increase this Spring Across Much of Illinois”) provides insights and data that suggest the use of at-planting soil-insecticides in corn is likely to increase this season.  Many insecticide choices are available to farmers, but several of these could restrict the option to use certain corn herbicides.  Specifically, using an organophosphate (OP) insecticide at planting or after corn emergence could restrict the use of herbicides that inhibit either the ALS or HPPD enzymes. …

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