October 3, 2003 |
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The September rains prompted the emergence of volunteer wheat which can serve as a host to several problems. The wheat curl mite is associated with the distribution of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus. The wheat curl mite find the early emerging wheat a good home and then move to the planted wheat as it emerges. Hessian fly will have an opportunity of getting started early which will allow multiple generations to develop and this can be a big problem. Also, the volunteer wheat can serve as a host to leaf rust that can become a serious problem if the wet cycle continues this fall.
The combination of rain and warm soil temperatures has resulted in a lot of weeds emerging. An application of a herbicide will be needed earlier than usual. Of the broadleaf weed herbicides available, 2,4-D will not be a product of choice in early established wheat due to its impact on tiller development.
In the Southern Rolling Plains, mid-October until mid-November is the ideal planting time for wheat intended for grain production. With excellent soil moisture and warm soil temperatures, the plants should germinate uniformly if they are planted at the correct depth in a firm seedbed. Most of the bearded varieties need to be planted from 1.25 to 1.75 inches deep. Beardless varieties can tolerate being planted deeper, however, anything over 2.5 inches is too deep. Trying to plant wheat at a uniform depth is very difficult in freshly worked soil. Producers need to develop the practice of developing the seedbed early and allowing it to settle for several weeks before planting.
Wild oat and Ryegrass Control tests will be established in wheat this year. If you know of other tests that should be established let me know.
The harvest aid test in Tom Green County alerted producers to the fact that the cotton with regrowth is a challenge this year and we will have to modify the ground rig nozzle configuration. The nozzle over the top of the row can be a flat fan nozzle of your choice. Drop nozzles used in the furrows directed toward the middle to lower portion of the cotton plant will be needed. The nozzle of choice will be the one that gets the best coverage of the harvest aid applied. Pressure for application may be 50 to 80 p.s.i. to get the needed coverage. Off target drift will be a concern! For desiccation/abscission of juvenile growth, producers will need to select Ginstar, Aim or ET. If adequate time exists for the juvenile leaves to mature before applying a harvest aid then paraquat can be used to desiccated the leaves.
I did not get much of a response from last month's request concerning the number of cotton samples that will need to be ginned at Lubbock in November. I still need your best guess to determine the number of days we will need the gin. The ginning dates for Districts 6 and 7 will be in late-November. If you need a copy of the ginning sheet [Click Here].
On October 13, there will be a training conducted at Abilene for producers needing to obtain a Private Applicators license. For more details and to register for the meeting call Gary Bomar at (325) 672-6048.
October 28, Brown County will be conducting a C.E.U. Course. For more details and to register for the meeting call Scott Anderson at (325) 646-0386.
October 30, Mason County will be conducting a C.E.U. Course. For more details and to register for the meeting call Brent Drennan at (325) 347-6459.
October 2, Howard County, County Crop Tour
October 6, District 7 Office, Office Conference
October 7, McCulloch County, Plant Growth and Development Training
October 8, Nolan County, County Crop Tour
October 9, Crockett County, Soil and Soil Fertility Training
October 16, District Office, Teleconference
October 17, Tom Green County, Professional Ag Workers
October 23 & 24, Dallas County, Texas 4-H Foundation
October 28, Brown County, C.E.U. Course
October 30, Mason County, C.E.U. Course
November 3, District 7 Office, Office Conference
November 11 & 12, Brazos County, T.W.I.G. Meeting
November 21, Tom Green County, Professional Ag Workers
November 27 & 28, Holiday
| Sincerely,
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