Add to this the sprouting problem and there is a large supply of feed wheat in the NWNY area. Again, this appears worse (as of July 30) in the Genesee and Finger Lakes area than in the western Lake Plain area.

The Septoria disease complex caused the areas in fields that show black on the heads. This is Septoria glume blotch and is not a source of vomitoxin.

I have seen many fields with cheat grass or wild brome grass in them. Do not save seed for fall planting from fields where any of this grass is present. You will only make the problem worse! Buy certified seed or buy from a source know to be free of this weed.

Feeding Winter Wheat: Wheat that is not satisfactory for sale as milling wheat still makes animal feed, especially in beef and dairy rations. Even if vomitoxin is present, it can be fed in a total mixed ration, just be careful of the rate of inclusion. A representative analysis of wheat shows: 3.18 Mcal/kg of metabolizable energy (NE-l is 0.94), 88 % TDN and Crude Protein of 11.3 to12 %. It can be substituted for dry corn in a ration, just don’t go over a total of 10 % of the dry matter fed. It should be cracked or rolled, not finely ground.

For more details on feeding wheat, contact Roberta, Bill, Martha or Nate.

Alfalfa Stands: Questions have come in regarding stand evaluation with all the stresses put on alfalfa during first and second cuttings. Stands can be scouted any time, but it is easier to see crowns after cutting or early in the spring. You need 5 or more healthy alfalfa crowns per square foot to achieve optimum yields. This should be based on an average of counts in 10 random selected sites. There may be areas with no crowns and there may be areas with 10 crowns per square foot. You will have to use your best judgment on these types of fields. Also, if you have a high percentage of forage grasses, they may compensate for some lost alfalfa.

Stands with less than 5 plants will look okay in first cutting. However, dry matter yields will be reduced. Then the regrowth will look thin and yields will be down the rest of the summer. Thin stands should be rotated to another crop. If grass is thick, it can be encouraged with applications of nitrogen fertilizer after each cutting. You will need to change your management practices because grass needs more frequent cutting to obtain highest quality for dairy feed.

New Seedings: Now is the time to be planting those new alfalfa and alfalfa-grass seedings. Alfalfa does best if it is planted before August 15. It needs to establish root reserves to survive the first winter.

Corn rootworms: Rootworms began to emerge in some earlier planted fields in Wayne County around the 25th of July. These fields were pollinating and so the beetles were feeding on pollen and mating. The beetles (mostly western corn rootworms) will continue to emerge over the next couple of weeks. TAg meetings on July 18th focused on rootworm feeding on the roots and we were able to find 2nd and 3rd instars as well as pupae.

Some of the intense storms that moved through recently could have caused badly infested fields to lodge. In most cases, we do not even know there is a problem until this occurs. Reduced root development, soil soaking rains, and high winds all contribute to this lodging.

Large numbers of adult rootworms can clip silks enough to reduce pollination. This normally is not a problem until later in the season. Later planted corn will have more beetles competing for a limiting resource. These fields can also have increased number of overwintering eggs and should be rotated to another crop or plan to use a soil insecticide next year.

Sampling of adult beetles should begin just after pollination. Review July AgFocus for details on how to sample and make management decisions for next year.

Soybean aphids: Aphid populations continue to increase. I have seen and been told of instances of over 1,000 aphids per plant. The field I observed showed no signs of stress but other fields are turning yellow in patches with some leaf cupping. Lower leaves are shiny from honeydew secretions and covered with shed skins from the aphids. Almost all the aphids were on the top three trifoliates. Aphid predators such as ladybug beetles and syrphid fly larvae were prevalent in all cases.

There really is no defined economic threshold for aphids in soybean. Midwestern states are using different numbers: Wisconsin 200/plant, Michigan 250/plant, Ohio 250-300/plant. However, if you find higher populations, do not assume you have to spray an insecticide. Check for predators and if they are there in adequate numbers, they will do their job! If you do not see any beneficials and the plants are showing signs of stress, an insecticide may be warranted.