Disease

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announces plans to reopen Moore Air Base in Texas as a New World screwworm sterile fly distribution facility. Long-term production is anticipated to be 300 million sterile flies per week.

Now’s the time to be scouting for the disease, especially where the inoculum is present. Tracking weather data, particularly daily humidity levels, can help you keep an eye on tar spot this season.

Alex Harrell, soybean world record holder, says the technology helps him make more accurate and timely foliar product applications, while costing less than using a ground rig or an airplane.

A 25-page criminal complaint alleges the researcher and her boyfriend were attempting to bring Fusarium graminearum into the country. The fungus causes significant diseases in a number of food crops, including corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and rice. Toxins from the fungus are harmful to humans and livestock.

NCBA’s Woodall says the goal is complete eradication — not just from the U.S., but from Mexico and Central America, ultimately pushing the fly back to its original range in South America.

NCBA applauds Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ aggressive efforts to suspend Mexican cattle, horse and bison imports, saying Mexico’s corruption and mismanagement has caused the pest to spread closer to the U.S.

Parts of the Central and Southern Plains are seeing some beneficial rains, but did they come in time to improve the winter wheat crop? Farmers will know soon, as harvest generally begins in early to mid-June.

Don’t sleep on tar spot of corn. Learn how proactive management throughout the growing season can combat tar spot infections.

“Sunlight drives photosynthesis, which drives starch production, which drives yield,” explains Ken Ferrie. If sunlight hits the ground, it’s wasted, so maximizing sunlight capture requires closing rows as quickly as possible.

Don’t let tar spot steal your yield. Learn how residue management and other tactics can combat this fungal infection.