cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

Kevin Black, Insect and Plant Disease Technical Manager, Growmark, Inc., recently reported that cereal leaf beetles can be found in low numbers in some wheat fields across southern Illinois. In addition, densities of aphids in these fields were low according to Kevin. He attributed these low pest numbers to the presence of natural enemies hard at work (Figures 1 and 2). Cereal leaf beetles complete one generation per year. The adult is a colorful beetle (3/16 inch long) and has metallic bluish-black wings (elytra) and reddish-orange legs and thorax (Figure 3).…

Each spring as we approach mid-to-late May, questions begin to surface regarding the timing of the annual corn rootworm larval hatch. In general, this yearly event and the Memorial Day Holiday weekend coincide reasonably well for the latitude that cuts across much of central Illinois. As many of us recall, last year shattered this pattern and western corn rootworm adults and severe root damage were observed during the first week of June in western Illinois. Because hatching of larvae is a heat-driven biological event,…

Just recently, the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, United States Geological Survey, released information on the use of agricultural pesticides (459 pesticides) for the period of 1992 to 2009. Provided below are links that can be used to access maps that show pesticide use, methodologies to determine their use, and county level information.
Annual Agricultural Pesticide Use Maps, 1992 to 2009
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/
Methods Used to Estimate Agricultural Pesticide Usage
http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20135009
Agricultural Pesticide Use by County
http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ds752
Data for the primary corn rootworm insecticides (tefluthrin –…

Black cutworm moths continue their northward migration into Illinois and other areas of the Corn Belt. Kelly Estes, Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Coordinator for the state, shared with me projected cutting dates for the following counties: Fayette – May 27, Pike – May 22, Edgar – May 28, Piatt – May 21, Logan – May 22, Menard – May 22, and Warren – June 6. As corn begins to emerge, producers are encouraged to look for early signs of leaf feeding.…

On May 15, I scouted a stand of alfalfa in Champaign County and found numerous third and fourth instar alfalfa weevil larvae by using a sweep net.  By May 16, 461 degree days (base 48ºF) had accumulated since January 1, 2013 for Champaign. The average degree-day accumulation by this date for the preceding 11-year period is 510. So, we are just slightly behind this long-term average. Although larvae were numerous, I did not detect significant defoliation.…