Hello everyone! Summer has finally arrived and just in time for some crops. We have good looking crops scattered throughout NC, however we have had challenges this spring. The blog in this issue will be devoted to corn.
Corn is growing rapidly since soil temperatures have warmed. This was not the case during the month of April. Cool soil conditions did not promote favorable growing conditions for root development. You did not have to look hard to find fields that used starter this year. Growers experienced problems with nematodes this spring, billbug injury, magnesium and sulfur deficiencies, pH problems, carryover herbicide problems just to name a few. The missing ingredient growers needed to help correct problem fields was warmer soil temps. Now that the temperature is warming up, new roots are developing allowing corn to take up essential nutrients. Good looking fields look great and bad looking fields show promise.
Just when we think we have turned the corner, summer plays a cruel trick. Although warm soil temps are necessary for root development, excessive heat can injure the plant at pollination time. Hot temps can also encourage insect populations to explode. This creates another challenge for growers.
I just received an email from a county agent talking about potential stinkbug injury to corn. In this issue I would like for you to visit the link on scouting stinkbugs in corn. It would be tragic to lose our yield potential on corn, from an insect we could do something about. Also remember that a tropical storm just blew through the Carolina’s and diseases such as rust could show up in the next few weeks.
I hope this email will be beneficial to you!
Sincerely,
Rick
Below is the email from Mac Malloy, Agriculture Agent
Check out the following information on how to avoid a stink bug disaster in corn from Dr. Dominic Reisig, NCSU entomologist here.
Wheat harvest has just begun and many winter weeds are drying down. These activities may possibly cause a shift of stink bug populations into corn. Most of the corn crop in the area is looking really good and acreage seems to be up this year. It may pay to scout your corn for stink bugs using Dr. Reisig’s recommended thresholds for treatment decisions.