Unspoken Truths
Arkansas farmer Matt Miles has seen how planting dates can not only help improve yield but also his battle against pests. Staying ahead of potential pest problems has proven to be the best line of defense.
Cold temperatures may or may not reduce populations.
From too much rain to not enough, to the intensity and direction of the wind, weather plays a vital role in the the amount of pests farmers see from year to year. Agronomists and entomologists debunk myths with facts.
Emerging pest pressures can create problems for farmers every year. And as certain pest pressures build, Farm Journal Associate Agronomist Missy Bauer says the issues are often geography based.
As Arkansas farmers work to battle an outbreak of fall armyworms, entomologists say the pest is proving to be devastating in later planted crops. And as farmers see increased pest pressure, the costs are adding up.
Contributing factors include continuous corn, late-maturing hybrids, delayed and/or replanted fields, weedy fields and borders, and soybeans with significant volunteer corn.
With farmers across several states enduring drought conditions, it’s prime time for spider mites to make their move.
Recent dry weather increases risk of spider mite infestations.
With drought causing spring wheat to shrivel, the heat next week will be lethal for that portion of the crop barely hanging on. Now, grasshoppers are preying on battered fields, possibly shrinking the crop to zero.