Start scouting corn for southern rust in Kansas
Southern rust is now active in Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. Although this disease has not yet been reported in Kansas, it is time to start actively monitoring corn fields. The first positive fields in 2019 and 2020 were on July 11 and July 15, but based on the age of the pustules, the disease arrived sometime in mid-June. The severity is dependent on the weather. The 10-day forecast indicates that weather will remain favorable for disease development. Southern rust likes 90-degree days, warm nights, and high humidity. For info. on frequently asked questions related to managing southern rust in Kansas Agronomy eUpdate June 17th, 2021 : Issue 860 (ksu.edu)
Head scab and saved wheat seed for replanting
With the abundance of precipitation this spring Fusarium Head Blight (head scab) occurred throughout Kansas this year. For information and management tips on the possibilities of saving wheat seed with possible head scab infection click onto this link – www.cottonwood.ksu.edu then click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under the Hot Topics section.
These revised publications informs Kansas producers how to manage insect populations with the most efficient practices under Kansas conditions. https://entomology.k-state.edu/extension/insect-information/crop-pests/
Corn, Grain Sorghum, Soybean, Alfalfa and Sunflower Insect Management 2021 guides
Plant analysis for testing nutrient levels in corn
Plant analysis is an excellent in-season “quality control” tool. It can be especially valuable for managing secondary and micronutrients that do not have high-quality, reliable soil tests available, and for providing insight into how efficiently you are using applied nutrients. For further info. click onto this link Agronomy eUpdate June 17th, 2021 : Issue 860 (ksu.edu)
2021 Kansas Corn Yield Contest (click for more info)
Evaluating Corn Fields for Nematode Damage
(click for more info)