Harvest Safety
With harvest upon us, whether you farm or not, please remember to be careful. Whether it is a semitruck, tractor, combine or any other piece of farm equipment, it is slower to stop than a car. Please take your time when passing and driving on roads, whether you are on a rural road or in town.
Flea Beetles Causing Injury to Canola Pods
The new generation of adult flea beetles emerges after mid-July and feeds on the green foliage and developing green pods of canola. Usually the upper or younger pods and later seeded crops are most impacted. This feeding injury results in poor seed fill, premature pod drying, shriveled seeds, or pod shattering, and provides an entry point for fungal growth within pods in damp weather. High populations of flea beetles are being observed feeding on pod stage canola in SW ND, near Dickinson (source: J. Honeyman). There is no economic threshold that has been developed for flea beetles in the pod stage; however, control may be necessary when large and increasing numbers of adults congregate and feed on green pods. Remember to check the PHI of insecticides before spraying. Flea beetles will continue to feed until fall on any green tissue to fatten up for overwintering. This information was gathered from the NDSU Crop and Pest Report, author was Janet J. Knodel, Extension Entomologist.
Grasshoppers Increasing out West
Adult grasshoppers are starting to move into row crops, such as flax, field corn and sunflowers, as the cereal grains are starting to dry down and be harvested, and ditches are hayed. Field reports of high grasshopper populations have come in mainly from the southwest area of ND. Grasshoppers are primarily still feeding in the field edges and have not moved far into fields. Most grasshoppers are in the adult stage with wings, so they are much more mobile and can fly in search of later maturing ‘green’ crops to infest. Feeding injury from grasshoppers include leaf stripping, beard loss after heading, head clipping, and kernels that have been fed upon or completely destroyed. Hot and dry weather conditions will favor grasshopper population increases. Grasshoppers will be active until the first hard frost, so continue to scout for grasshoppers until the fall. The economic threshold for adult grasshoppers is 8-14 per square yard in field and 21-40 per square yard in field margins. For insecticides recommendation by crop, please consult the 2016 ND Field Crop Insect Management Guide. Remember to observe the Preharvest Intervals (PHI) for insecticides as we get closer to harvest time.
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