By Nicolle Ritchie and Angie Gradiz
Weather
Surprise precipitation over the weekend varied from half an inch to a little over an inch throughout the region. Other than that, the past week was dry and warm with temperatures mainly in the 70s. Several acres were planted and/or sprayed thanks to multiple days without rainfall. No precipitation is expected for the upcoming week, and temperatures will hover between high 70s and low 80s during the day and right around 50 F at night.
Crops and pests
Corn and soybean planting progressed well over the past week. Many fields are in early vegetative stages or are actively emerging. The warm temperatures have helped seeds emerge quickly, reducing the risk that they will be affected by pathogens and/or insects in the soil.
Adult moth counts have remained mostly low over the past several weeks. Bucket traps in Berrien (near Berrien Springs), St. Joseph (Centreville) and Van Buren (Lawrence) counties have caught the following:
Winter wheat is at Feekes 10.5.3 (flowering is complete) and Feekes 10.5.4 (kernel watery ripe). Many fields received fungicides to prevent fusarium head blight over the past week. Some true armyworm larvae are in wheat fields, but populations have been light. The threshold for true armyworm after heading is two or more larvae per square foot. If heads are being clipped, action is recommended. Aphid numbers have increased, potentially brought in with the weather system from over the weekend, but they are of minor concern in most cases.
Potato planting is finished or nearly finished. Most fields have emerged at this point. About two weeks after emergence, potatoes start to rapidly take up water, so supplemental irrigation will be a high priority over the next several weeks.
Alfalfa and forage cutting started last week and has continued in earnest. Several days of sunny, dry weather has been helpful for drying hay.
Source : msu.edu