GENERAL SITUATION

Rain showers fell across the area on Friday, June 15, delivering between 0.8 to over 5 inches of rain. Most areas received at least 2 inches, however, much of the area South and West of Hutto were the least fortunate, receiving less than one inch. Most growers are hoping for one more good rain between now and July 1 to help fill some of the later grain.

CORN AND SORGHUM SOIL INSECT PESTS

Sorghum midge numbers are steadily increasing, however, I have not seen any cases where economic thresholds have been reached. Counts range from 0 to 20 per 100 heads checked. I have inspected some of the earliest fields that headed over two weeks ago and could find the remains of the pupal cases after the midges had emerged. Growers should immediately begin carefully inspecting any sorghum that is blooming from this point on.

Stink bug numbers have increased in some of the fields that are being scouted in the Williamson/Milam Co. Pest Management Program. Rice stink bugs, and southern green stink bugs make up the majority of the stink bug population. As a rule of thumb, economic thresholds for stink bugs are 2-3 per head at the milk stage and 4-5 per head at the soft dough stage where yield potential is about 4000 lb/acre and control cost is about $7.00 per acre. As yield potential decreases, the number of bugs observed before insecticide is used should be increased. Refer to extension publication, B-1220 MANAGING INSECT AND MITE PESTS OF TEXAS SORGHUM for a list of recommended thresholds for stink bugs in sorghum.

COTTON

Cotton ranges from 3-4 true leaf stage through two week into bloom, with the majority just beginning to square. Square set is ranging between 52% to 86% with most around 72%. On many of the earliest fields bloom counts are being made. Number of feet for 100 squares is ranging from 6.5 to 9 and number of blooms in that distance are averaging about 8. The majority of the cotton is averaging about 7 squares per plant.

Aphid levels remain variable, with most fields having aphid levels decreasing. Good levels of beneficials continue to be found in most fields of cotton.

Fleahopper levels have really let up over the past 2 weeks. Most fields have past the fleahopper treatment window about two weeks ago, however, a few of the earliest fields still required a late application to knock down fleahopper numbers in order to help the cotton to fruit up.

Currently, fleahopper counts range from 2 to 70 per 100 plants with the majority of fields ranging from 8 to 14 per 100 plants.

Boll Weevil populations are being found in some fields now. Punctures range from 0-15 per 100 squares checked. Most fields are running between 0-2 punctured squares per 100 squares checked. Many of the fields where light levels of punctured squares were found last week, had fewer levels of punctures this week. However, punctures were found in more fields this week than last.

Cotton bollworm/budworm levels decreased this week. Number of eggs ranged from 0 to 8 per 100 plants and larvae range from 0 to 4 per 100 plants. Most fields average 2-4 eggs per 100 plants checked. Based on the age of bollworm larvae in corn, I believe that we will see an increase in bollworms emerging from corn around July 1.