|
|
Corn & Soybean News
April
2008, Volume 8, Issue 1
Cooperating Departments: Agricultural Economics, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Entomology, Plant and Soil Sciences, Plant Pathology Editor:
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
1. Are Seed Treatments Enough Control on Corn? Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist Well over 90% of field corn seed may have one of several seed treatments pre-applied. The most common treatments are those that are applied at concentrations to control ‘secondary’ pests of corn, including wireworms, white grub, seedcorn maggot, flea beetles, and seedcorn beetle. Personally, I don’t like the term ‘secondary’ pest because when these pests are at high levels and occur in a field on a regular basis, they are actually primary pests. We have two leading seed treatment active ingredients in corn, clothianidin and thiamethoxan. They are combined with fungicides and sold as Poncho and Cruiser and ordered on the seed.Both of these are in the same chemical class and have the same mode of action.Both are systemic and are rapidly absorbed by the seed as it imbibes water during germination and later through the roots. Once inside the seedling they move throughout the plant providing insect protection above and below ground. While these seed treatments are similar in many ways there are also some subtle differences that can affect performance. The differences that I’m aware of include substantial differences in solubility in water and some difference in the spectrum of insects that they manage. Each of these come in two loading rates on the seed, a 0.25 mg active ingredient per kernel and a 1.25 mg active ingredient per kernel.The higher rate is primarily intended for the corn rootworm market, and the lower rate forsecondary pests. Research at UK and other universities has shown that these seed treatments are able to prevent stand loss and can help to maintain more uniform vigor during early growth stages in fields where secondary soil insect pests are present. Now the question I ask is, are these seed treatments providing the level of control that we need?That is a difficult question to answer as it depends on the level of particular pests in a given field.In the vast majority of fields, the secondary pest rate is sufficient to control light to moderate levels of soil insect (excluding corn rootworm).However, there are certain fields where secondary pests are found at very high levels and the secondary rates are not providing enough control.Our research has shown that moving to higher rates of these seed treatments when there is a history of high levels of secondary pests improved control as measured by improved stands.In a few problematic fields, growers have also combined seed treatments with low rates of soil applied insecticides with some success. These seed treatments are usually found on Bt corn, CB or RW, or on stacked hybrids.So these hybrids could have protection from corn borers (European and southwestern), corn rootworms, fall armyworm, black cutworm, and those pests listed at secondary pests. Can we walk away from these fields and let the seed treatments and biotech traits manage all of the insect pests for us?These have been excellent tools in Kentucky, but I don’t think we should forget about insect pests during the season.First, while corn prices remain strong, input prices have increased dramatically as well.It would be a huge mistake to let an insect pest get out of control.The other reason is that we can see insect pest levels on some occasions that can overwhelm control tactics.So my recommendation would be to use seed treatments and biotech traits as needed based on field history, planting dates, and other factors that may predispose fields to higher risk, but do not discontinue to regularly monitor fields for performance and insect pests.With high investments and possibly higher returns on corn, it would be too expensive to make a mistake by letting a pest problem get out of control. The future of seed treatments looks quite promising with additional active ingredients to control other pests such as nematodes or even to relive stress and improve vigor in certain situations. |
·
If a seed insecticide treatment is used, it will be sufficient for
most fields.
·
New traits and new chemistry do not replace the need for scouting and
targeting pests.
|
|
|||
|
2. Seed-Treatment Fungicides in Corn Paul Vincelli, Extension Plant Pathologist Pythium species are fungal-like organisms commonly found in agricultural soils.They are the primary cause of seed rot and seedling damping off in corn in Kentucky, and they are typically most active in cool, wet soils. The wet spring of 2008 could favor Pythium species.The increased use of conservation tillage also increases pressure from Pythium seed and seedling diseases, since residue-protected soil does not dry out as quickly as plowed soil.The importance of effective fungicidal treatment of corn seed has increased because of these two trends. A recent study (1) by plant pathologists at The Ohio State University closely examined the Pythium organisms associated with seed and seedling problems in corn and soybean in Ohio.This article focuses on their findings for corn, which are summarized as follows:
Significance These results suggest that a diversity of Pythium organisms are responsible for seed and seedling disease in corn under current production practices.Significantly, these Pythiums are not all controlled by a single fungicide used for seed treatment.Because of this diversity, improving drainage and planting when soil temperatures exceed 50°F remain important cultural practices for minimizing seed and seedling diseases in corn.For fields and farms with a history of seed-establishment problems in cool, wet soils, consider using a mixture of seed-treatment fungicides to assure the best chance of success in stand establishment. Broders, K. D., Lipps, P. E., Paul, P. A., and Dorrance, A. E. 2007. Characterization of Pythium spp. associated with corn and soybean seed and seedling disease in Ohio. Plant Dis. 91:727-735. |
·
Different seed fungicides target different Pythium species.
·
For fields with a history of seedling disease, a combination of
fungicides might be needed.
|
|
|||
|
3. Preplant
Applications of N, P & K
Lloyd Murdock and Greg Schwab, Extension Soil Specialists The prices of fertilizer inputs have increased greatly the last couple of years.Fortunately, the prices of commodities have also.With both price increases, the fertilizer recommendations remain the same.However, efficiency of fertilizer use, to maintain high yields, becomes a primary objective at this point. Below are a few basic points that might help with this.
|
·
More frequent soil tests are justified.
·
Adjust your program according to these tests.
|
|
|||
|
4. Soybean
Seed Quality
Chad Lee, Extension
Agronomist
As many of you already
know, soybean seed quality is questionable this year. Some soybean seed is
being sold with standard germination below 80%. This is not an ideal
situation and most companies would prefer to not sell seed with this low of a
germination percentage. However, the tight supply demands that the seed be
sold.
|
·
Soybean seed quality is poor this year.
·
Adjust your drills and planters to the standard germination on the
seed tag.
|
|
|||
|
5. Corn and Soybean Budgets, 2008 Greg Halich, Extension Ag Economist Updated corn and soybean budgets are now available for the 2008 planting season.One major modification from previous budgets is that the user has the option of estimating machinery related costs (fuel, labor, repairs, depreciation, and overhead) based on the publication “Custom Machinery Rates Applicable to Kentucky (2008)” (http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AgEcon/pubs/ext_aec/2008-01.pdf). Rates for all major crop operations are calculated from published rates in five nearby states after adjusting for changes in fuel price, labor rates, and machinery costs from the time of the respective survey’s.These custom rates are used in the budgets to approximate the costs of crop operations necessary for no-till corn, conventional tillage corn, and no-till soybean production. The user can modify these machinery-related costs with options for adjusting the fuel price, labor rates (hired and operator), and grain trucking distances.The user can also adjust the final rates up or down by a specified percentage.For instance, a grain farmer in an area with relatively small fields might increase rates by 15% due to smaller equipment size and less efficient field operations.Alternatively, a very large grain farmer in western Kentucky working with more efficient equipment may decrease rates by 10% to approximate machinery-related costs. The user also has the option of estimating these machinery-related costs using the traditional budgeting method.For operators with detailed records, this may be the best approach. 2008 Budget Example and Major Assumptions Used (per acre):
Using the assumptions in this example, net returns above variable costs and all specified costs are $204 and $159 for no-till corn, $201 and $147 for conventional tillage corn, and $187 and $151 for no-till soybeans. These budgets can be found at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AgEcon/pubs/ext_other/2008CornSoybeanBudgets.xls and should also be available at your county cooperative extension office. |
·
Updated budgets are now available.
·
You can adjust the budget for your own operation depending on the
detail of your records.
|
|
|||
|
6. Corn Planting Date, It may not be too Late Chad Lee, Plant and Soil Sciences Many farmers are very nervous about the late start they are getting with corn planting this season. The good news, which almost no one will believe, is that we still have time. In fact, the rain may have pushed us into the ideal planting window. Research over a six-year period at Princeton, Kentucky suggests that the ideal planting date for corn is about the third week of April. About 30 years of research at Lexington indicates that the ideal planting date is about the first week of May. For any given year, the ideal date could be a little earlier or later, but on average over the years, these have been the best dates to plant corn. The ideal planting date for your part of the state will be adjusted one way or the other. For example, those in far western Kentucky have an ideal planting date that probably is closer to the second week of April. Almost every farmer will tell us that their best fields are usually their earliest-planted fields. Early planted fields are likely fields that have good drainage, warm up a little quicker and are probably very productive at almost any planting date. There are some years when early planting may provide an advantage by avoiding a dry spell or being planted and established before a week of heavy rains. The point is that there is still time to get very good corn yields…whether you believe it or not!! |
·
There is still time to plant corn and get good yields.
·
U.K. data suggests that the ideal planting time is later than most
people think.
|
|
|||
|
7. Mark your
Calendars
Plant and Soil
Sciences Field Day, Spindletop Farm, Lexington, KY
Thursday, June 12,
2008
All Commodity Field
Day, Robinson Station, Quicksand, KY
Thursday, September
25, 2008
|
|
|
|||
