Texas AgriLife Extension

Hale County

Gary Cross

Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent

Early emerging crops look good thus far!

As I travel around the county I see corn and cotton emerging.  For the most part things are looking pretty good!  I have a concern with the large moth in flights, both being army and cutworm type moths and that may be an issue. Always scout fields including insect resistant crops. With corn you have RIB or refuge in the bag and that can vary from 5%. This 5% is susceptible to all insects because it is conventional and not BT corn. In most cases with the 5% planting, populations may compensate for the insect pressure, which are not in rows of plants but 5% scattered in the field.

Also scout for early emerging weeds and keep a close eye on pig weeds and their cousin Palmer Ameranth. Herbicide resistance is being found in West Texas. What I have discovered in weed control is that West Texas has for a long period of time, in most cases, been using different modes of action or more than one mode of action especially in cotton. If feasible, in post-treatments, also look at a different mode of action, if warranted and labeled for that crop corn, cotton, etc.

Spraying higher rates of glyphosate to kill weed spots in the field which are not being fully killed over a few years may be causing resistant weeds. Scout your fields throughout the year and know what is happening in your fields.

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