Barton County Extension Center

FREE pesticide collection program June 1 at Lamar Municipal Airport

The City of Lamr and Missouri Department of Natural Resources are providing a FREE pesticide collection at the Lamar Municipal Airport on June 1, 9 am to 4 pm. Dropoff your old or unwanted pesiticides including: fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, rodenticides, dewormers, fly tags or fertilizers. This event is to serve farmers and households. Pesticides from businesses, pesticide production facilities, pesticide distributors, pesticide retailers and the like cannot be accepted. Misssouri residents only.

Missouri Pesticide Collection Program flier (PDF)

Weekly Crop Scouting Report

May 8 -- Cold weather could lead to lodging in wheat fields and Cutworm problems in corn fields
PDF | (Audio)

The cold weather and snow of May 3 and May 4 could create problems in area wheat fields and corn fields according to Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension in Barton County.

Corn Field Challenges
Already, black cutworms have been seen in some southwest Missouri corn fields. “Right now the biggest concern in a late planting date for corn is the possibility of black cutworm feeding. Planting delayed because of cold weather can cause concern for high levels of cutworm feeding,” said Scheidt.

Black cutworms clip the corn plants off below or above soil level. If the corn plant is cut off at soil level, the growing point may have been damaged and corn may not be able to recover. If 2-3 percent of plants are damaged at or below soil level, or if 6-8 percent of plants are damaged above soil level, an insecticide is justified according to Scheidt. A medium rate of Mustang Max or Warrior II is recommended.

The planting date is not as big of a concern right now in corn. This year’s planting date should not be compared to last year’s average planting which was 10 days ahead of normal,” said Scheidt. About 15 percent of the corn acreage in Missouri has been planted, that is about 15 days behind normal.

“If you are thinking about switching from corn to soybeans, costs and benefits of switching may not prove wise until planting is delayed until the last week of May,” said Scheidt. “If corn is planted, do not switch to a shorter maturity date variety.”

Scheidt says maturity levels in corn will move faster with increasing temperatures. Switching to an earlier maturing variety may result in corn pollinating too soon in the season.

“Cold weather should not damage corn because the growing point is still protected. When corn reaches 12 inches, a concern for frost damage may be possible,” said Scheidt.

Wheat Growth
Wheat is in the flag leaf to early boot stage. There is a possibility wheat in low areas may have been damaged if temperatures went below 28 degrees. Scheidt recommends waiting three days to look at wheat. Cut open the stem and if brown discoloration is found on the wheat head, freeze damage is likely to have occurred.

“Lodging is the greatest concern. Wheat that is in the flag leaf to early boot stage is at greatest risk for lodging. If wheat does not stand up after the snow is gone and is lying completely flat on the ground, depending on the stage of the wheat, up to a 50 percent yield loss could be seen,” said Scheidt.

The further along wheat is, the more susceptible it is to lodging. According to Scheidt, if the stem has been broken below the growing point due to the weight of the snow, it will result in yield loss due to death of that stem.

Wheat stem broken at first joint due to weight of snow.

Leaf below flag leaf with Phosphorus deficiency.
(The purple discloration NOT present on the flag leaf, indicates it is a Phosphorus deficiency, not Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus, vectored by aphids.)

The weekly field scouting report is sponsored by University of Missouri Extension and Barton County Extension. For more information on this scouting report, or to learn how you can receive it a week earlier by telephone, contact the MU Extension Center in Barton County at (417) 682-3579.

Search for Missouri Century Farms continues in 2013

If your farm has been in your family since Dec. 31, 1913, you can apply to have it recognized as a Missouri Century Farm.

To qualify, farms must meet the following guidelines. The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption. The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

For applications received by May 1, a $65 fee covers the cost of a certificate, farm sign and booklet for approved applicants. If the application is received between May 1 and May 15, the cost is $75. Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2013, to be considered.

For applications forms and information, call Extension Publications toll-free at 1-800-292-0969, contact your local MU Extension office, or visit the program website at http://extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm.