By WCM Staff on 8/27/2009 8:33 AM

In the April 23 WCM newsletter, I indicated that the Sixth Circuit Court ruled that a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit under the Clean Water Act (CWA) is required for all biological pesticide applications and all chemical pesticide applications that leave a residue in water when such applications are made to, over, or near waters of the United States. In essence, the Court reversed EPA’s Aquatics Pesticides rule which said such permits were not required when applying pesticides registered under FIFRA.

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By WCM Staff on 8/27/2009 7:15 AM

 Large infestations of volunteer wheat have been documented to reduce first cut alfalfa yields by 80% the following spring (Ott et al. 1989) and reduce alfalfa stands the following spring.  Research was conducted at the University of Wisconsin Lancaster research station to better understand if volunteer what can reduce the density of late summer planted alfalfa the following spring and if controlling these plants in the fall will prevent these reductions in alfalfa densities the following spring.

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By WCM Staff on 8/27/2009 7:03 AM

Vegetable Crop Update newsletter issue ten is out!  This marks the tenth newsletter of the 2009 year. Weekly updates should be available as disease, insect, weed, fertility, and crop progress changes.

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By WCM Staff on 8/27/2009 6:48 AM

Late blight is a potentially destructive disease of tomatoes (and potatoes) caused by the fungal-like organism, Phytophthora infestans.  This pathogen is referred to as a ‘water mold’ since it thrives under wet conditions. All tomato plantparts can become infected by late blight, with leaf lesions beginning as pale green or olive green areas that quickly enlarge to become brown-black, water-soaked, and oily in appearance (Figure 1). 

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By WCM Staff on 8/27/2009 6:26 AM

Corn must be ensiled at the proper moisture to get fermentation for preservation. But, determining when to harvest corn at the right whole plant moisture is difficult. Each storage structure properly ensiles at slightly different moisture optimums. Harvesting corn too wet for the storage structure will result in reduced yield, souring and seepage of the ensilage, and low intake by dairy cows. Harvesting too dry reduces yield, can cause mold to develop, and lowers digestibility, protein and vitamins A and E. The objective of this paper is to review field sampling procedures for accurately timing corn silage harvest.

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By WCM Staff on 8/20/2009 7:09 AM

Use this link to download or print this week's articles, compiled in one file.

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By WCM Staff on 8/20/2009 6:34 AM

The PDDC receives samples of many plant samples from around the state. The following diseases/disorders have been identified at the PDDC since August 12, 2009. 

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By WCM Staff on 8/20/2009 6:32 AM

Wisconsin saw a 10% decline in winter wheat acres planted (300,000) in the 2008-2009 growing season. The estimated yield for the 2009 crop is 63 bu per acre, down 7 percent from last year. The decline in winter wheat acres was caused by two factors: delayed corn and soybean harvest due to delayed crop maturity and high nitrogen input prices. 

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By WCM Staff on 8/13/2009 8:33 AM

Use this link to download or print this week's articles, compiled in one file.

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By WCM Staff on 8/13/2009 8:34 AM

 For the upper Midwest Region, we currently have "Moderate Risk" of significant Corn Earworm flights northward. Corn earworm migrates on weather fronts from southern/southeastern regions of the U.S. to the Midwest Region during late summer.

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By WCM Staff on 8/13/2009 7:30 AM

The PDDC receives samples of many plant samples from around the state. The following diseases/disorders have been identified at the PDDC since August 5, 2009.

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By WCM Staff on 8/13/2009 7:24 AM

 In assessments made yesterday (11 August 2009) at a trial at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station, we noted symptoms associated with Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Figure 1).

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By WCM Staff on 8/13/2009 6:59 AM

Record cool temperatures have occurred this July and farmers are getting concerned about whether the corn crop will mature.

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By WCM Staff on 8/13/2009 7:46 AM

Soybean fields with suboptimal potassium levels are at greater risk of soybean aphid population increase and yield loss.

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