Stink Bugs Could Still be a Problem in Soybeans

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist

Because of delayed planting and a cool summer, Kentucky soybean producers are likely to have considerable acreage of late maturing soybeans. This probably causes most folks to be concerned with frost. However,this extended maturity may also set up fields for additional damage by stink bugs. Producers and consultants should remain watchful as long as pods are still filling.

Great Corn Harvest but Compaction Nipped Some Yields

Chad Lee, Extension Agronomist, University of Kentucky

The ear on the left is on a plant with
roots limited by compaction and the
other is on a plant with no compaction.

The corn yields being reported are excellent to date for Kentucky. With the wet weather at planting, we all were very concerned about compaction problems. The continued wet weather helped a lot of corn roots break through compaction. We dodged a disaster, but corn yields were dinged by the compaction. I walked a field yesterday where we think we may have lost as much as 75 bushels per acre to compaction.

That's the bad news. The good news is that the field went about 250 bushels per acre. That's an excellent yield in most fields and especially in a field with some compaction.

Maximize Wheat Yield Potential Despite Late Planting Dates

Carrie Knott, Extension Agronomist-Princeton, University of Kentucky

For most areas in Kentucky, this spring and summer has been unseasonably wet and cool. Since April rainfall across Kentucky has been almost 6 inches above normal and the daily high temperatures have been almost two degrees Fahrenheit cooler than normal. These unseasonably wet and cool spring and summer conditions delayed corn planting. This year on May 19 only 56% of the corn was planted as compared to 75% for the five-year average. This will likely delay corn harvest. As of September 1 only 1% of corn was harvested as compared to 12% for the five-year average. Wheat producers need to be prepared for delayed plantings this year due to delayed corn planting, development and harvest.

Stalk Strength and a Longer Drydown for Corn

Chad Lee, Extension Agronomist, University of Kentucky

My colleague, Bob Nielsen at Purdue, wrote an excellent article on corn yield potential at later growth stages. The quick points from Bob's article are: corn in the dough stage is at 50% of its yield potential. When every kernel is dented, corn is at 60% of its yield potential. Corn at half milkline is at about 88% yield potential. As we have gotten drier in some areas of Kentucky, our corn that is not at blacklayer is losing yield potential. But, we started out at very good yield potential, so overall yields should be very strong.

Brown Marmorated Stink bug…….. Let’s Not Forget About This One!

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist

I have just been reminded by my colleague in Lexington that Brown Marmorated Stink (BMSB) continues to move and build in numbers in KY. BMSB was recently collected from soybeans in Fayette Co. KY., still in very low numbers, but in fact they are beginning to utilize one of our major field crops as host/food source. If our sister state of VA is any indication, we can only expect that this will get worse.

Kudzu Bugs Found in Kentucky

Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist and Garrard Coffey, ANR Agent, Whitley Co. KY

Summary: During the last week of August 2013, Kudzu bug adults and juveniles were collected from Kudzu along Interstate 75 and US Highway 25 E and W in Whitley, Bell, and Laurel Counties KY. Samples taken in Kudzu along US 25E in Knox Co. KY and Interstate 24 in Christian Co. KY did not capture Kudzu bug. This represents the first know collection of Kudzu bug in Kentucky.