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2015 Corn Pest Management

CornSouth CornSouth ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

February 2015

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CornSouth The Only Constant Is Change

Contents 4 Market Outlook

I read a quote that describes the business of farming: “It’s funny how day by day, nothing changes. But when you look back, everything is different.”

Year by year, you seem to do pretty much the same thing – acreage and crops may change with rotations, weather is always a questionable factor and farm policy changes every few years.

Otherwise, it just seems the roll Amanda Huber along as normal.

Editor But when you stop to think about it, that’s probably not the case at all. There’s new equipment with its technology upgrades and integration. New products and cropping systems come out every few years as well. Then there are those changes you would rather not have. I’m thinking mainly of herbicide-resistant weeds, such as Palmer amaranth, and the spreading of disease problems, such as the finding just a couple years ago of a bacterial corn disease new to the South.

With a previous range of Nebraska to Indiana and from southern Minnesota to the panhandle of Texas, the 2013 discovery of Goss’s Wilt disease in northeastern Louisiana was the first in the Deep South.

This disease can have two distinct phases: a leaf blight phase and a systemic wilt phase, with leaf blight being the most commonly observed. Corn plants will exhibit long, large, tan lesions in the centers or on the edges of leaf blades. The margins of these lesions may have a water-soaked appearance. Black flecks, or freckles, can be observed within the lesions, but cannot be rubbed off. Leaf blight symptoms can also be easily misidentified as a nutrient deficiency, chemical injury or another disease.

In the systemic wilt phase, infected plants may exhibit drought stress symptoms and wilt or die prematurely.

Best management strategies include planting hybrids with partial resistance to the disease. Rotating out of corn production for one year and tillage and other practices will help decompose residue and reduce the amount of bacteria present. Because Goss’s wilt is bacterial in nature, fungicides will not work.

For more information on this disease, go to LSUagcenter.com or talk with your state Extension plant pathologist or your parish or county Extension agent. It’s just one more possible change to watch out for in 2015.

Mark Welch, Extension ag economist, outlines his marketing plan for early 2015, and Brandon Dillard, Alabama Extension agronomist, offers efficiency and profitability tips.

Features 5 Control Weeds Prior To Planting What are the options for burndown and what is the best timing to reduce weed competition?

6 Keep Weevils Away Maize weevils can destroy stored corn crops from the inside out.

What can you do to control this economically damaging pest?

7 Steps To Successful Grain Storage Don’t risk a complete crop loss on poor storage management.

Reduce the likelihood of insect pests in stored grains.

Cover photo by Amanda Huber.

If you have comments, send them to Corn South, 1010 June Road, Suite 102, Memphis, Tenn., 38119.

You may also call (800) 888-9784 or contact Lia Guthrie at lguthrie@onegrower.com or Amanda Huber at ahuber@onegrower.com.

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Tips to Increase Efficiency and Profitability

Market Outlook Editor’s Note: Reports in this month’s Corn South Market Outlook are from Mark Welch, Texas AgriLife Extension economist, with Regional agronomist, Brandon A. Dillard, of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, offering four points to help producers increase efficiency and profitability in 2015. The opinions and recommendations expressed are solely those of the authors and are intended for educational purposes only. The respective universities assume no liability for the use of this information. The final report is from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

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SDA released preliminary numbers related to its longterm commodity projections last week. Among the information in the release were acreage projections for major crops. These projections are based on expectations related to macroeconomic conditions, normal weather, existing policy and no domestic or external shocks to agricultural markets. These numbers will be revised and reported again in February ahead of the annual Agricultural Outlook Forum in Washington, D.C. For 2015, USDA expects planted corn acres at 88 million, down 2.9 million acres from 2014. Informa has released its projections of 2015 corn at 88.3 million acres. USDA projects soybean acres at 84 million acres, while Informa expects soybean acres to equal corn at 88.3 million.

Ending Stock Projections USDA’s preliminary projection for corn use in 2015/16 is 13.745 billion bushels. With 88 million acres planted, a yield of about 169 bushels per acre will be needed to keep ending stocks level at the end of the marketing year. Using a trend-line yield projection since 1980 of 163 bushels per acre, planting 88 million acres would result in ending stocks about 440 million bushels lower in 2015/16 compared to 2014/15.

Grain Use Reports related to corn consumption were positive last week: corn ethanol set another all-time high for weekly production, broiler placements are up two to three percent and cattle on feed above levels from a year ago, marginally above last month and significantly up for the first time since August 2012.

POINTERS

Market Overview ■ USDA projects acreage down 2.9 million from 2014.

■ Corn and soybean acres estimated to be very similar.

■ Ethanol sets all-time production high.

■ Cattle on feed up significantly since August 2012.

■ Marketing plan calls for pricing the first 20 percent of the crop.

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Outside Markets Lower energy prices led the Consumer Price Index lower in November compared to October, prices down 0.3 percent for the month and up 1.3 percent compared to this time last year.

With inflation well below the Federal Reserve’s target rate of two percent, the Fed’s Open Market Committee stated last week that its current zero to one-quarter percent target for the federal funds rate is appropriate and that current economic conditions allow them to “...be patient in beginning to normalize the stance of monetary policy.”

Marketing Strategies My marketing plan calls for pricing the first portion of the 2015 crop this winter. With the recent uptrend in the market, I am ready to price the first 20 percent of the crop on a technical signal that the trend is changing. CS

Brandon Dillard: Profitability Tips Regional agronomist, Brandon A. Dillard, with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System offers these points to help producers increase efficiency and profitability in 2015: 1.) Soil Sample. Soil sampling can save you a lot of money. If you sample on 10-acre grids, it will cost 70 cents per acre to run the soil analysis. It doesn’t take much fertilizer or lime savings to equal 70 cents per acre.

In my opinion, this is probably one of the best years to look into variable-rate application of fertilizers, if you haven’t done so in the past. Most farmers will tell you that just from the lime applications you can save enough money to pay for the soil samples.

2.) Think Outside The Box. I have had a few producers say that they are planting some of their fields in permanent pasture or in a hay/haylage crop. They believe there is more money to be made in producing a hay crop in the summer and feeding out calves the next winter. Of course, every producer has a different situation with fixed costs and bank freedom, but being able to look at alternative ways to make a profit is important in times like these.

3.) Calculate Budgets. A few minutes of sitting down and calculating expected input costs versus expected income will help farmers realize which commodity gives them the greatest chance for making a profit. Being honest with expected yields and input costs is the key for accuracy.

Find row crop budget templates at www.alabamacrops.com.

4.) Hedging. Hedging is something that most farmers probably don’t do enough. Hedging allows you to set a minimum price of the commodity you will sell and/or a ceiling of the inputs you will use.

Hedging in combination with forward contracts also works well.

By hedging you can set a price floor but not be locked out if the market goes up. Put simply, hedging is a “price insurance” for farmers because you can set a price floor but are not forced to deliver a commodity. CS

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Burndown Timing and Options

Control Weeds Prior To Planting

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s fields begin to dry and the extended forecast predicts better conditions for weed management strategies, burndown applications will be going out. Research has shown that burndown applications need to be applied four to six weeks prior to planting to prevent physical competition between weeds and the crop as well as to reduce the chance of damage from insects such as cutworms. Louisiana corn producers historically have desired to plant corn in late February through early March, so the time is now.

Timing Issues Research has shown that corn yield was 15 to 25 percent greater when weeds were removed four weeks prior to planting compared to two weeks. Unfortunately, cold weather often prevents producers from applying burndown herbicides, and corn may be planted into fields that have not been burned-down or were sprayed only one to two weeks prior.

In addition to weed competition and possible insect infestation, plant-back restrictions to corn for many herbicides are very important. The standard burndown treatment for many Louisiana corn producers is glyphosate plus 2,4-D or dicamba. There are no labeled plant-back restrictions for glyphosate, 2,4-D or dicamba, but the LSU AgCenter suggest not more than one-half pound of active ingredient per acre of 2,4-D be applied within two weeks of planting.

Products such as Leadoff (generic formulations included), which is often times added by producers to their burndown tankmix of glyphosate plus 2,4-D for residual control of weeds, does not have a plant-back restriction either. However, a burndown application containing glyphosate, 2,4-D, dicamba or Leadoff requires at least two to four weeks for maximum activity, which may not prevent physical competition between weeds and corn or control the vegetation in a timely fashion to prevent insect damage if corn is planted within the two to four week window.

Plant-back Restrictions Products such as Valor and Goal, when tankmixed with glyphosate, offer some foliar activity on weeds, but they are primarily used for residual control of winter annual weeds when applied as a burndown. However, Valor has a 30-day plant-back interval in conventional tillage corn and a 14-day plant-back interval in minimal tillage corn.

If Goal is applied at least 30 days prior to corn planting and at least three rainfalls of one-quarter inches are received, then corn can be planted without worry. If applied within 30 days of planting, Goal needs to be incorporated into the soil to a depth of two or more inches prior to planting.

If a producer is within two to four weeks of corn planting, burn-

down applications containing glyphosate, 2,4-D, dicamba, Leadoff, Valor or Goal are not optimal options based on the issues discussed earlier.

Better Options What does a Louisiana corn producer do for burndown if they desire to plant as soon as it dries up? Products that contain paraquat (Gramoxone SL and other generics) or Sharpen should be considered. Both products offer rapid desiccation of weed vegetation and no plant-back restrictions to corn. The positives and negatives of paraquat are well understood by producers and should be utilized properly.

Sharpen at one ounce per acre, plus one percent v/v methylated seed oil (MSO) is good for burning vegetation down, but increasing the rate to two to three ounces per acre will provide residual control of many broadleaf weeds in addition to controlling existing vegetation. Research has shown that tankmixing Sharpen with glyphosate will control a broader spectrum of weeds, and if Sharpen is mixed with a brand name glyphosate (i.e. Roundup PowerMax), then the addition of MSO is not needed for winter annual control. However, if Sharpen is applied alone, the addition of MSO is critical to achieve expected weed management.

The activity of paraquat and Sharpen can be influenced by sunlight, temperature and coverage. Sunny days and warm temperatures at application with good sprayer output, higher is better, will increase the chances of good weed control.

Allow Four To Six Weeks Another thing to consider is an application of a product that contains atrazine at planting following the first burndown application.

Atrazine at planting is not a substitute for a burndown application discussed earlier. However, if a producer is forced to apply a burndown application within two weeks of planting, applying atrazine, or a product containing atrazine, will provide good control of weeds that were not completely controlled by the first burndown application.

Ultimately, it is best to burndown winter vegetation four to six weeks before planting, but a producer may not have that option. Use good judgment when selecting herbicides for burndown. Don’t just assume that glyphosate plus 2,4-D will work if applied within two weeks of planting. It is crucial that weeds be removed so they don’t negatively influence yield. If you have specific questions, please call your local LSU AgCenter county agent or weed scientist. CS Article written by Dr. Daniel Stephenson, LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, and Dr. Donnie Miller, LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station.

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Pest Management

Keep Weevils Away Maize weevils can destroy stored corn crops from the inside out.

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or Georgia corn producers, chances of an insect infestation in grain storage are much higher in late summer or early fall. A University of Georgia (UGA) entomologist says keeping corn cool and dry is the key to keeping weevils

away.

“The temperatures are usually warm during harvest, so we bring in corn that’s hot and that really supports a lot of insect growth. It gives us a lot of challenges,” says Michael Toews, an entomologist with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Tifton.

What To Do What measures can Georgia corn growers take to thwart off potential insect pests? Toews recommends harvesting dry grain, or running it through the dryer to get the moisture content under 14 percent.

“As grain moisture decreases toward 11 percent, that makes the grain much less likely to support insect growth,” he says.

Grain that is warm and high in moisture is perfect for weevils to reproduce and cause damage. Weevils are cold-blooded beetles so their metabolic rates are dependent on air temperature. If the temperature is 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the generation time of one adult to the next adult could be as short as four weeks, according to Toews.

If farmers can decrease grain temperature using aeration, it can extend the generation period out to two or three months. And, producers can suppress populations long term by keeping their grain cool.

To do so, Toews recommends installing an aeration fan attached to a thermostat located outside the grain bin. Anytime there is a differential of 10-15 degrees F between the cooler outside air and the grain temperature, the fans should be used.

Avoiding infestation is key for corn growers to maintain grain quality, especially when dealing with the threat of the maize weevil, the most dangerous pest a corn grower faces every year.

The maize weevil is an economically devastating insect pest that develops inside a corn kernel. Because it’s out of sight, it can be difficult for a farmer to know there is an infestation until the adults emerge. By then, the damage is already done.

The problem begins when a female chews a small hole in the kernel, deposits an egg and then seals the hole with a plug. The egg hatches inside the kernel where the insect develops through all the immature stages. The adult eventually chews its way out, leaving an exit hole and an empty kernel. The resulting damage downgrades the grain’s quality and causes farmers to receive a lower price.

Storage Management Critical “Grain storage is a critical part of crop production. Most of our

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PHOTO BY USDA/ARS

How To Do It

For corn producers, avoiding an infestation is key to maintaining grain quality, especially when dealing with the threat of the maize weevil. This economically damaging pest develops inside the kernel, and producers only know there is an infestation when the adults emerge. growers are very aware and concerned with insects in the field, but they also need to realize they can lose just as much of their production income during the storage phase,” Toews says.

Corn producers vary on when to sell their product, which is largely determined by the price of corn at that time, he says. “Some will sell right out of the field, but others will store their grain for periods of up to nine months.” CS Article by Clint Thompson, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences based in Tifton, Ga.

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Steps To Successful Grain Storage Stored grains can be heavily damaged by insects if they are not properly conditioned and protected. Small grains, including wheat, are harvested in spring and stored through the hottest and most humid months of the year.

Reducing the likelihood of insect problems in stored grain begins with cleaning equipment that will be used to harvest, handle and store the grain. Remove all old grain and other debris where insect infestations may be harbored. After thoroughly cleaning the equipment, spray it with a residual insecticide labeled for this use.

Concentrate on cracks and crevices where insects may be hiding. It is best to complete this job at least two weeks before harvest.

Clean All Equipment Thoroughly clean the storage bin. Removal of all grain, grain products and other organic matter is essential for eliminating existing infestations. Pay attention to the outside of the bin as well. Control any weeds that are close to the bin, and remove any grain debris or excess equipment lying near the bin. Grain bins with perforated floors can be difficult to clean, but do the best that you can. Any residue remaining in the bin can reduce the effectiveness of the residual insecticide.

Spray the floor of the bin, as well as the inside walls as high as can be reached, with a residual insecticide to eliminate existing

infestations. Also spray the outside of the bin, as high as can be reached, plus the ground or concrete pad surrounding the bin out to a distance of at least five feet. Spray the entire inner area of the bin according to the directions on the pesticide label.

Prepare The Grain Bin A small compressed air sprayer can be used for spraying equipment and bins. But better penetration of cracks, crevices and other remote areas can be obtained by using a power sprayer that will develop at least 150 pounds per square inch of pressure. An exception is cyfluthrin, which can be used with as little as 50 pounds per square inch of pressure. Remove all dead insects before putting grain in the bin.

Completely seal any unnecessary openings in the bin using caulk, polyethylene foam or other suitable materials such as sheets of polyethylene. Pay particular attention to joints in the metal. At night, place a light inside the bin to find any openings that you may have missed. Or, step inside the empty bin, close the door, and look for places where daylight shines through.

The bin must be airtight if the grain is to be fumigated after it is stored.

For more information, see IPM Recommendations for Stored Grains at www.aces.edu/anr/crops/ and click on row crops, corn, then stored grains.

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