Wisconsin Crop Manager newsletter

Author:	WCM Staff	Created:	4/21/2006 12:13 PM
Whats bugging you. Articles concerning insects on field crops in Wisconsin

Corn Flea Beetle and Stewart’s Disease: 2007 Areas at Risk in Wisconsin

By WCM Staff on 4/25/2007 2:10 PM

Due to a trend of warmer winters in the state, Stewart’s Disease, also known as Stewart’s Wilt, should now be on the radar for Wisconsin sweet corn and seed corn producers. Warmer winters increase the overwintering survival rate of corn flea beetle, the primary vector of the bacterium that causes the disease.

Rootworm Bt Corn and Soil Insecticides – One or the other, but not both

By WCM Staff on 4/19/2007 2:37 PM

This article stems from our discussion about this proposed practice to “double-up” on rootworm control tactics for the 2007 season. We (UW Madison Entomology and UW-Extension) do not recommend this practice, nor does it fit into a sound integrated pest management (IPM) approach to agronomic field crop production.

Western Bean Cutworm Follow-Up: How to Construct Pheromone Trap

By WCM Staff on 4/4/2007 11:53 AM

On Februray 28 a successful Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) short course introduced farmers, consultants, and educators to this Midwestern pest. One question that has come up since the course is how to construct the pheromone traps for WBC moth scouting. A summary of the trapping protocol is included below.

Overwintering Temperatures and Corn Rootworm Egg Hatch?

By WCM Staff on 3/22/2007 1:00 PM

Rootworm overwintering egg mortality depends not only on soil temperatures, but also on the duration and variability of temperatures. Crop or other vegetation cover and tillage practices will also influence soil temperatures.

Insect Resistance Management when Planting Bt Corn Hybrids

By WCM Staff on 3/8/2007 1:00 AM

Planning to plant Bt corn hybrids this spring? If so, growers and consultants are required by law to have an insect resistance management (IRM) plan in place. The IRM plan is implemented by planting refuge corn acres on each farm where a Bt corn hybrid is planted.

Learn More About Soybean Aphid Biological Control --Distance Education Course, Tuesday March 6th

By WCM Staff on 2/15/2007 1:00 AM

A soybean aphid biological control and integrated pest management workshop will be presented via distance education technology Tuesday March 6th, 2007.

Learn More About Western Bean Cutworm in Corn --Distance Education Course, Wednesday February 28th

By WCM Staff on 2/15/2007 1:00 AM

A western bean cutworm workshop will be presented Wednesday February 28th via distance education technology. Following is information for farmers, consultants and others to contact a host site and reserve your space to learn more about Western Bean Cutworm in corn.

Variant Western Corn Rootworm Survey Results 2006

By WCM Staff on 1/18/2007 1:00 AM

Eileen Cullen, Extension Entomologist. In 2006, 106 Wisconsin soybean fields were monitored for variant western corn rootworm beetle abundance to help growers guide first year corn management decisions in 2007. Variant western corn rootworm beetle abundance and egg-laying in soybean fields, with potential root damage to first year corn in the same field the following year, present an economic risk to corn and soybean producers in the affected region(s).

Corn Rootworm Pilot Project, Cooperating Farmers Sought

By WCM Staff on 1/18/2007 1:00 AM

Eileen Cullen, Extension Entomologist. Consultants at Agren, Inc. and the IPM Institute seek ten farmers to participate in a variant corn rootworm "proof of concept" pilot project. Fields having beetle counts under the treatment threshold of 5 beetles/trap/day are eligible to be enrolled in a pilot project. If the scouting recommendation is “do not treat” for corn rootworm and a farmer is uncomfortable following this recommendation, the farmer can participate in this “proof of concept” pilot project. It allows him/her to try the scouting recommendation on a trial basis without the fear of yield loss.

Soybean Aphid Fall Flight: Destination Buckthorn

By WCM Staff on 1/18/2007 1:00 AM

Eileen Cullen, Extension Entomologist. Soybean aphids have settled in for surviving winter in Wisconsin and the north central region. Wisconsin soybean growers and agricultural consultants have teamed up with University of Wisconsin Extension to monitor soybean aphid flights from June through October each year. Thanks to this partnership, Wisconsin now has 7 locations state-wide reporting to a Regional Soybean Aphid Suction Trap Network. How do the fall 2006 trap captures compare between states?

Avitec™ Approved for 2007: Corn Seed Treatment for Sandhill Cranes

By WCM Staff on 12/14/2006 1:00 AM

A Section 18 label has been issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and WI DATCP for Avitec™, a seed protectant of field and sweet corn against consumption by cranes. In 2007, Avitec can be used as a corn seed treatment in Wisconsin in areas where Sandhill Cranes have been damaging corn fields by eating corn seeds and seedlings shortly after planting.

Western Bean Cutworm – An Upcoming Distance Education Course - 2/28/07

By WCM Staff on 12/14/2006 1:00 AM

This short course, intended for clientele in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, will focus on the western bean cutworm, an insect pest whose range has expanded very rapidly from western Iowa to eastern Ohio (2000 to 2006). Extension entomologists from the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, and the University of Wisconsin will present the program.

Managing Soybean Aphids in 2007? -Distance Education Course 3/6/07

By WCM Staff on 12/14/2006 1:00 AM

On March 6, 2006, entomologists from throughout the Midwest will present a short course focused on management of soybean aphids in 2007, with emphasis on biological control, including conservation of natural enemies.

Western Bean Cutworm- One to Watch

By WCM Staff on 8/24/2006 11:07 AM

WBCW, expanding its range eastward from the western Corn Belt, is a new pest to be aware of within the corn ear pest complex (corn earworm, European corn borer).