April 30, 2002

Wheat

The hot dry winds in April will probably speed up the drying process in wheat and will result is some low test weight seed. Those producers that planted cotton early will need to check their emerging plants closely for insects. As the wheat dries down the cotton will be more attractive to the insects.

The harvest of wheat will soon begin. As you harvest samples from variety tests, please record the information on the foot of drill row(s) harvested and the number of inches from drill row to drill row. I will need this information to calculate the yield per acre. The thrasher is located at the Research and Extension Center at San Angelo. You may want to team up with another county to thrash samples. It takes at least two people to do the job efficiently. After the thrashing of grain is complete, the grain weights can then be entered into a spreadsheet and the information you want determined. Also, at the time of harvest you may want to get the production information from your demonstration cooperator.

Cotton

Over-the-top glyphosate herbicide applications to Roundup Ready Cotton needs to be made before the fifth true leaf stage. Roundup applied to tolerant varieties has a slight impact on the cotton. Applying Roundup incorrectly can be a costly mistake. Some known negative impacts include: 1) thickening of anther sack which reduces the plants ability to release pollen, resulting in reduced seed production (since lint forms on the seed coat then lint production is reduced also); 2) shortened stamen length which reduces pollen deposition on the stigma which results in reduced seed production; 3) disorientation of the cells in developing seeds which result in low vigor seeds being produced. Roundup is a beneficial tool when used correctly.

The weed control test conducted in Reagan County provided useful information to producers and chemical companies across several Extension districts. Linked is a final copy of the report (http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/agronomy/newsltr/weed02a.htm). Don't forget to tour the plot...the underlined texted in Table 2 are active links to pictures taken on the day of evaluation (you are standing in the center of a four row test plot).

Forage Production Information

During April I made several presentations where I passed out information on forage. Reference materials included:


Weed Identification

Shown are nine weeds that are developing in cropland and barditches at this time.


African Rue
Peganum harmala


Wild Carrot
Daucus carota


Texas Purple Thistle
Cirsium texanum


Malta Starthistle
Centaurea melitensis


Tumble Mustard
Sisymbrium altissimum


Threadleaf Groundsel
Senecio longilobus


Horehound
Marrubium vulgare


Lizardtail Gaura
Gaura parviflora


Prostrate Pigweed
Amaranthus blitoides

Pesticide Recertification Training

On the second Monday of every month, Taylor County Extension Office conducts a private applicators training and testing. If you have producers that need to attend they should contact Gary Bomar at (915) 672-6048.

Insect Scout School

The annual cotton insect scout school will be held June 3, 2002 at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at San Angelo. If you would like to travel to south Texas to fine-tune your scouting skills, please contact Rick Minzenmayer at (915) 365-5212.

Monthly Calendar

May

May 4, Tom Green County, District 7 4-H Roundup
May 6, Dist. 7 Headquarters, Office Conference
May 7 & 8, Brown County Professional Board Meeting
May 9, Brown County Natural Resources Day
May 10, Taylor/Callahan Counties, Wheat Tour
May 13, Runnels County, Wheat Tour
May 14, McCulloch/Concho Counties, Wheat Tour
May 15, Coleman County, Wheat Tour
May 17, Brown County, Reestablishing Forages--Brown Co. Ag Day

June

June 3, Dist. 7 Headquarters, Insect Scout School
June 10 - 14, Brazos County, State 4-H Roundup
June 18, Tom Green County, Dryland Institute Tour


Sincerely,


Billy E. Warrick
Extension Agronomist
Texas Cooperative Extension
Texas A&M University System