Black Cutworm Flocks to Indiana; Scouting Proves Critical

Record numbers of black cutworm moths have descended upon Indiana fields, and after a week of warm temperatures and rainfall now is a critical time to scout, a Purdue Extension entomologist says.

Pheromone trap cooperators throughout the state monitor for the insect's arrival, which has the potential to cause significant economic damage to field crops. A round of storms originating in southern states in March brought not only rain to Indiana, but cutworm populations not previously seen. Since that time additional captures have had the trappers very busy counting. 

According to John Obermeyer, the key to successfully controlling the insect is to scout early and often and to apply insecticides when larvae are small - especially because large larvae are difficult to control.  <Read More>

Buttercup Bonanza

Buttercup in pasture (The Buttercups of Indiana)

Does your pasture or barn lot look like this?  If so, you likely have an influx of buttercup; and you are not alone.  This weed has been very prevalent in area pastures this spring, due at least in part to a mild winter and early spring. 

The name buttercup is actually a common name associated with approximately 20 different weed species that are found in Indiana.  To complicate matters further, petal number and leaf appearance can vary within the same species, occasionally making exact identification difficult. 

The main concern with buttercup, regardless of species, is its toxicity to livestock.  While the amount required to be consumed to cause poisoning symptoms varies among species, all have the potential to cause drooling, diarrhea, weakness, bleeding, etc.  The good news is livestock rarely consume the weed, especially if there is an adequate supply of desirable forage.  Also, buttercup toxicity does not carry through to hay crops due to the break down of the toxins as the hay dries. 

Control of buttercup can be accomplished through a combination of soil testing/soil amending, mowing, and herbicide applications.  Additional information on buttercup biology and control, including specific herbicide recommendations, can be found in the Purdue Weed Science bulletin, The Buttercups of Indiana.          

Weekly Outlook - Corn Prices in Three Parts

Corn prices have recently moved in three distinct patterns. These include the patterns for new crop futures, old crop futures, and old crop cash prices.

December 2012 futures reached a high of $6.735 on August 31, 2011and declined erratically to the current low of $5.15. The decline since the third week of April totaled about $.50. Continued weakness reflects a combination of large crop expectations and demand concerns. The early planting season along with non-threatening weather conditions to date have created expectations for an above-trend yield in 2012. In combination with large acreage, yield expectations point to a crop well above 14 billion bushels. New crop demand concerns are in two categories. First, the delayed and likely slow implementation of 15 percent ethanol blends in the U.S. fuel supply point to stagnating corn consumption in that category next year as the E10 blend wall rapidly approaches. Second, the European debt crisis, a slower pace of economic growth in China, and the slow pace of job creation in the U.S. dampen commodity demand expectations for the year ahead. The one bright spot may be a larger export market for U.S. corn as the USDA has recently announced large sales to both China and “unknown” destinations. Conditions currently point to a substantial build-up of U.S. corn inventories next year and increasing expectations that prices will return to the lower averages experienced in the 2007-08 through 2009-10 marketing years. Average prices received by farmers in that three year period averaged just under $4.00.  <Read More>

In The Grow - Q & A

Q. What is the best way to eradicate henbit? Would a weed-and-feed in fall or spring be most effective? Would a spray weed killer be most effective in spring or fall? Could you use a pre-emergence like crabgrass preventer in the fall?

A. Henbit is a winter annual, meaning it germinates from seed in the fall, overwinters in a dormant state and then blooms and sets seed to complete its lifecycle in late winter/early spring. By mid- to late spring, the foliage will turn yellow, but if allowed to remain until then, it will have produced a lot of seed to germinate in years to come.  <Read More>