New Pecan Nut Casebearer Control Product

In a recent meeting I learned that FMC is reformulating the chemical called rynaxypyr (prevathon) and it is now approved for controlling insects in pecan orchards, especially the pecan nut casebearer.  

The product is called Vantacor and can be used on pecan nut casebearer in the Spring but it has the advantage of PNC control for over 3 weeks (up to 4 weeks) and there is no grazing restrictions.  Also the chemical itself is very safe to use with no restrictions on type of tractor, with or without a cab.  The long residual and its product safety will make it a great choice for both native and improved pecan orchards.  

FMC is sponsoring a free webinar on Tuesday, March 16 that pecan producers should check out.  I think you will get some good information on Vantacor and other FMC products for pecans.  I am not specificially trying to promote FMC or Vantacor but when a company does work to get more pecan products registered we do need to encourage that effort!

Link to Free FMC Webinar

Soil Moisture and Temperatures

This is the time of year when we are trying to get ready to plant corn and the question always comes up about when to plant.  Most everybody wants to plant as early as possible to avoid as much hot summer weather as possible and increase yields in the process.  But this is also true with almost all crops, the earlier you plant the higher the yields and the least amount of stress in the growing season.  

The first thing to think about is Summer Solstice on June 20 at 10:31 pm.  This is the date when the day length is the longest of the year and after that date every day gets shorter by nearly 2 minutes a day.  This lengthening of days and the shortening of days has an effect on plant growth - can you figure out which is better?  Of course, longer days are better for crops and we do see plants begin some change after summer solstice.  

That said we know to plant as early in the spring as possible to take advantage of longer days but if our soils are cold then the seed won’t come up.  So, we spend a lot of time looking at soil temperatures to plant corn, sorghum, cotton and peanuts.  Corn is 50⁰, sorghum 60⁰, cotton is 65⁰ and peanuts is 65⁰ degrees F taken at planting depth at 8am for 4-5 days.

So, what is the current soil temperature?  During the coldest part of the polar vortex it was right around 35⁰ at the 2-4 inch depth, so too cold to plant anything.  But the last several days it has been above 50⁰ and the weather should stay warm enough to keep soil temperatures rising enough that the corn planters will be running soon.

What about soil moisture?  Well we are dry and have been for some time.  Soil moisture at the end of January was 30% at 4 inches and 16% at 40 inches.  Today it is 24% at 4 inches and still at that 16-17% at 40 inches.  Ideally we want the 4 inch to be at 35% now and the 40 inch to be at 50% to give the deep moisture we need to grow any crop through the hot summer days. 

Winter Grasses or Maybe Weeds?

Most of the time we call these weeds but for lots of folks they are just another pasture grass - one that just happens to be about the only thing growing in winter!

From a livestock perspective these grasses are great because all three produce lush vegetation that is readily consumed by cattle, goats and sheep.  So, what’s the problem?  Well these grasses are fast becoming weeds especially in hay fields.  They can get so thick in growth that they will shade or choke out the bermudagrass from growing in the spring.  Then they get a lot less palatable for livestock as spring temperatures warm and days get longer.  These weeds will develop a seed head fast with very little leaf growth and cattle just won’t eat them.  These weeds in hay fields left to seed will really lower overall hay quality in that first hay cutting, one we usually expect to be the best quality.

So, what are they?  The top left picture is a grass we typically call Poa.  Technically it is Poa annua or annual bluegrass.  It is a short grass that can rapidly put out that fine seedhead you see.  It is a huge problem in lawns and other turf areas but can get to be a real problem in pastures too because there is not much competition in winter for a short grass.

The second grass picture (right) is a huge problem that is just about everywhere in Texas - rescuegrass.  You might see the name Red Brome but not often, it is rescuegrass.  It is called by that name because once upon a time cattle producers introduced it to native pastures.  At that time it grew well in fall, winter and spring when nothing else was green.  Unfortunately it grows so well that it is taking over many pastures and hay fields.  Its growing season is so long that it is a direct competitor with many native summer grasses including bermudagrass.

These last pictures are of the common wild oat.  Most people recognize it as an oat but since it is wild it does have some drawbacks.  As an oat plant the seed is nothing to really harvest and the plant itself produces a lot less forage.  You can see the oat seed in the picture below and it has unique hairy projections and a curly awn that actually help to corkscrew it into the soil with moisture.  At harvest it is almost impossible to distinguish from real oats until the seeds turn almost black. with drying.  

What can you do?  In a bermudagrass hay field now is
the time to apply a chemical control for all these grasses while the bermudagrass is dormant and these grasses are green.  If you are grazing cows then don't worry, they will be gone soon enough.