Corn Update

Corn is growing rapidly and moisture demands are quickly climbing exceeding .40 inches per day.  Green snap has been observed in many area fields recently in varying degrees. Green snap may occur when corn is rapidly growing and is exposed to high winds. Several factors contribute to risk of green snap, first and foremost is wind velocity and condition of the plant. The faster the corn is growing the more susceptible it is to green snap. The use of phenoxy herbicides (ie dicamba, 2,4-D, ect) may also contribute to green snap.  Different corn hybrids may be more or less disposed to green snap; most seed companies rate their hybrids as they are developed.

Green snap in corn

Spider Mite Managemnt

Spider mites have been observed in some area corn but for the most part in fairly low numbers. As corn approaches silk we need to really think about what pest management tactics may be implemented. For example if an insecticide application for corn rootworm beetles will likely be made then that insecticides impact on beneficial arthropods and resulting mite flare up should be considered and a mitigating plan developed. If  spider mites are established in a field which will be treated for CRW beetles a preventative miticide application about two weeks prior to silk should be contemplated. Currently labeled miticides are designed to work in concert with natural enemies of spider mites, when these beneficials are removed from the equation the product efficacy may be adversely affected. In research conducted in 2012 under relatively heavy mite pressure and where beneficials were removed from the system with a previous insecticide application I found that miticides struggled to suppress mites below economic threshold. That is not to say they did not work because they did, I had the luxury of an untreated check to compare the miticide treatments too.  If it weren't for the untreated check to compare too most would consider the mite suppression unsatisfactory.

Untreated

Treated