Agricultural News From Craven County Extension

Cotton Defoliation and Variety Tour – On Thursday, August 25, 2022 from 12 PM – 3 PM, Jones County Extension will provide discussion for cotton defoliation led by NC State Cotton Specialist, Dr. Guy Collins. Afterward the group will tour a cotton variety trial. The meeting will be held at the Jones County Civic Center, 832 Hwy. 58 S, Trenton, NC. Lunch will be provided for those that register via Eventbrite.   Pesticide credits for N, O, D & X have been applied. REGISTER HERE.

Private Applicator Safety Training - On September 7, 2022 from 1-3 PM at the NC Cooperative Extension, Lenoir County, (1791 Hwy 11/55, Kinston, NC), this two hour class will provide required updates for Private Applicators needing Category V training. Contact Walter Adams at: wfadams@ncsu.edu or call 252-527-2191 to register.

Pesticide Specialty Training - On September 7, 2022 from 3-5 PM at the NC Cooperative Extension, Lenoir County, (1791 Hwy 11/55, Kinston, NC), this two hour class will provide credits for categories A, B, G, H, I, K, L M, N, O, T, D & X.    Contact Walter Adams at wfadams@ncsu.edu or call 252-527-2191 to register.

Pesticide Application Compliance  - On September 13, 2022 from 2-4 pm at the CMAST Building, 303 College Circle, Morehead City (3rd floor, Room 306), presentations on 1) personal protection equipment, and 2) what to expect during a pesticide investigation will provide 2.0 hours of pesticide credits for categories N, O, D, X. Call the NC Cooperative Extension office at 252-222-6352 to register in advance. Seating is limited.

Private Applicator Safety & Speciality Training - On September 30, 2022 from 8 am - 12 pm, Rod Gurganus will provide two hours or pesticide training for Category V as well as two hours of credit for N, O, D, X. Details are not finalized at the time we published this newsletter. Final information will be posted at the NCDA & CS Pesticide Division Training Calendar

Soybean & Cotton Insects

Dr. Dominic Reisig, NCSU Entomology, recently stated that soybean loopers seem to be more common than in years past. As such, this pest should be monitored in soybean and cotton crops. Loopers tend to feed from the bottom of the plant upward. Thus, unless scouted, they will not be noted until much of the plant has been defoliated.

The threshold for loopers in soybeans is 15% leaf defoliation two weeks prior to bloom until pod fill. Thus, when both small and larger loopers are present AND entire plant defoliation percent is greater than 15%, then treatments should be considered. “Should” is used rather than “warranted” because whether one treats or not will depend upon when this pest reaches threshold. For soybeans, any time between now and very late September probably warrants treatment. However, the decision becomes more difficult as the soybean plants stop setting new pods and most pods are nearly mature.

Determining whether to treat loopers within cotton can be difficult. First, the advanced Bt technology trait (those with Vip3A toxin such as Bollgard 3, TwinLink Plus, and WideStrike 3)
may indeed control this pest. Those that lack this trait may or may not. Secondly, if small bolls are still developing, it is a good idea to protect the plant from severe defoliation. If mostly larger bolls exists, then leaf defoliation is not a huge concern. Lastly, if bolls are opening, then leaf loss may not be an issue at all unless there are numerous top bolls that need to mature AND we have ample time for this to occur. For all of these reasons, it is often difficult to evaluate whether or not to treat loopers within cotton. Call us for assistance should you have concerns.

While not noted in fields currently, one should also be reminded that the Velvetbean Caterpillar often arrives between mid-September and early October. This caterpillar can defoliate plants quickly! Simply be aware and check for this pest.

One last notable items should be discussed. Fields at highest risk are:
1.     Those closest to the coastline
2.     Fields that have receive no insecticide since July
3.     Fields where Besige was used alone (for soybeans only) or where any product was tank mixed with Orthene, bifenthrin/other pyrethroid or Bidrin. In the case of Besige within soybean as a stand alone product, loopers are relatively tolerant of the insecticide and can increase rapidly after treatment. In the latter situation provided, these combination tend to kill all insects (pest and beneficial). As such, newly laid soybean looper eggs (or any moth) will not have predators to delay an increase of population. Since no beneficial insects are likely present, just about any flying insect can increase rapidly.

Tobacco, Peanut & Cotton Yield

Extremely hot weather with limited rainfall has impacted our tobacco, peanut and cotton crops. Soybean are impacted too, but if planted timely, usually they withstood this heat and are likely to yield well since they bloom from about late July through September. So, at least for now, soybeans, the outlook is still good to excellent.

For those that irrigated tobacco and peanuts, crops are much improved. These areas are easily observed and should return the added cost of irrigation. In contrast, non-irrigated fields have other problems to consider.

Tobacco

Leaf spots are common. Target Spot, Brown Spot and Angular Leaf Spot has been confirmed in fields. While they are not spreading rapidly, they have indeed caused small holes to develop on leaves. This is noted on lower and upper leaves.
Be diligent in determining whether leaves are actually ripening by decreasing nitrogen content or simply decaying due to sun scald. If not, green stem will be present in the cured leaf. This has already emerged as a complaint from buyers this year.
In spite of adversity, we have a larger than normal crop. Adverse weather has delayed harvest somewhat. As such, anticipate a late harvest.

Peanuts

While peanut yield may improve should more favorable weather exists, we have indeed lost very high yield potential for most fields. Simply realize this when selecting inputs for the remaining portion of the season.
Unless something changes, there is a high probability that we set most of the peanut crop rapidly. As such, we may be digging earlier. As of today, we really can't say whether this will indeed be true but the weather outlook seems to indicate such. If so, don't delay digging unless one is very positive that ample time exists to mature the later setting of pods. The point is that Isolated area may have multiple “pod set’ times if rainfall occurred or the field was irrigated. Those under extreme heat and water stress likely will not.

Cotton
Rarely is cotton irrigated in this area so cotton that did not receive rainfall generally shows missing bolls about mid-plant and higher. As such, to obtain high yield we will need to set and mature bolls along the top of the plant. We still have ample time for such since we generally accept that harvestable bolls can be set up until about August 25th or so. However, to dramatical increase yield, we will need to increase the number of bolls found on most plants. Whether or not this occurs will depend upon the weather up until about late August. This is not the first time such has occurred within this area. We can indeed have two bales of cotton but we will need to keep every remaining boll for many of the cotton fields within Craven.

Dealing with Cotton Cut-Out
In the last newsletter we addressed aiming to harvest cotton fields that have cut out as early as possible to capitalize on higher oil content in seeds and lint quality. Essentially we have fields within the county that are cut out 100% yet others that may still develop new bolls.

Examine the two images below. The first image (left) , shows plants with blooms approaching the top terminal yet not flowering completely through to the last terminal or newly developed growth. This field will continue to bloom and set harvestable bolls. Fields similar to this merit protecting against future pest to protect development of bolls near the top of the plant. In contrast, the second image (right) shows cotton at complete cut-out. This field’s potential yield has already been met. It would be an ideal field to note and attempt to harvest early. This field may indeed begin to bloom If rainfall continues. However, even if it does, the plant would need to develop a flower and set a small boll prior to about August 25th. This is not likely. As such, unless one is betting that we have a very warm October and no hurricane, there is need to wait for more bolls to be added for field similar to the image on the left.

In both of these images, fertility does not seem to be lacking. Thus, foliar fertilizer is not likely to benefit by production of new bolls or development of additional lint weight. Any yield enhancement foliar application made now is likely to not return positive results! We simply need to capitalize on early harvest for fields that are cut out now and wait for those that are not.

Shifting Gears at the EPA
We received information that the EPA is evaluating pesticide labeling based upon risks rather than simply science. Allow me to explain. Within NC and other states, training is required to become certified to apply the new auxin herbicides. In states where this training ocurs, complaints and fines for damage to other crops is much, much less. However, the EPA does not consider this training as reduced risk. Rather they simply evaluate the risk as to whether dicamba or 2, 4-D products might move off target. Since the very nature of chemical composition of these product has a risk of volatilization, then they are at higher risks. As such, these products are considered by the EPA as one to potentially lose it label for application.

In similar risk associated analysis, it is extremely likely that atrazine use will be reduced.....and perhaps eventually eliminated. Not because the science and data shows evidence of problems but because atrazine posses a risk of persistence should it reach in our waterways. To put this in perspective, current full registration allows 2.5 lbs/ac active ingredient per year of atrazine use. The EPA has proposed reduction of this product by 0.5 lb/ac active ingredient until phased out.

We encourage you to participate in EPA reviews when available,. Yes, they do indeed listen to university experts and others. However, only you as a farmer can plainly state the risk YOU would face should a product be eliminated. Additional cost, lack of proper pest management, and reduced yield will create higher financial risk for you! Please keep this in mind when grower associations and/or we encourage you to voice your opinion as to whether loss or reduction of use for a product will impact you negatively.

Agriculture Committee Provisions in Inflation Reduction Act

The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act provides over $40 billion to address climate crisis, lower costs, and create jobs by investing in agriculture, forestry, and rural communities. A one page summary can be downloaded below.   Additional, Morning Ag Clip, August 16, 2022 article, USDA announces new opportunities to improve nutrient management relays the funds will target:
1)    A streamlined Nutrient Management Initiative – This program will target conservation programs such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts, and the Conservation Stewardship Program. Up to $40 million in nutrient management grant opportunities through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) are included
2)    Nutrient Management Economic Benefits Outreach Campaign – A new outreach campaign will stress the economic benefits of nutrient management planning stating that farmers utilizing nutrient plan average $30/ac savings.
3)    Expanded Nutrient Management Support through Technical Service Providers Streamlining and Pilots – New agreements with key partners who have existing capacity to support nutrient management planning and technical assistance.
This includes:
$8.45 billion for EQIP
$4.95 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
$3.25 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
$1.4 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)