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Articles by Gus Lorenz
Arkansas Rice: Early Harvest Yields Look Good, Milling a Mixed Bag
Rice harvest. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography Early harvest reports continue to sound very good. Milling yields have been a mixed bag however. Conditions during grain fill combined with rice stink bug pressure may explain the variability and some reports of increased peck damage on rice. Amount of peck is within the range of expectation but certainly higher than last year. As stink bug pressure continues on later rice, it will be important to stay after them to keep peck levels down.
Arkansas Rice: Cooler Conditions Expected, Lots of Pests to Worry About
If you’ve been in the field this week then you’ve been cooking. More conversations have turned to debating whether it’s better to be out in the morning in the higher humidity and heavy dew or later afternoon when it’s drier but hotter. Opinions vary, but either way it’s hot. It does appear that relief is on the way this weekend. Temperatures are expected to drop below normal beginning Sunday and stay somewhat mild through the week.
Watch for armyworms and stinkbugs invading rice fields
• By Nick Bateman, Gus Lorenz and Ben Thrash • Armyworms defoliating rice — photos courtesy University of Araknsas Armyworm calls have picked up big time this week. A majority of the fields with armyworms in them is row rice at various stage, spanning from early tiller all the way up to half-inch joint movement. Some of these fields have high numbers of worms in them, 2-4 per plant, and a large amount of defoliation occurring.
Arkansas Rice: Getting Geared Up for Rice Stink Bugs
Rice Stink Bug We have been observing large numbers of rice stink bugs (RSB) in native grasses along ditch banks and turn rows over the past several weeks. I know, I know, we say this every year. We saw similar populations this time last year and we sprayed very little until mid-August for RSB. We just wanted everyone to be aware that there is potential for some of this early planted rice that will be heading in the next two weeks to be infested with some high populations of RSB.
Get geared up for rice stink bugs
• By Nick Bateman, Gus Lorenz and Ben Thrash • Rice stink bug adult — photo by Vicky Boyd We have been observing large numbers of rice stink bugs (RSB) in native grasses along ditch banks and turn rows over the past several weeks. I know, I know, we say this every year. We saw similar populations this time last year, and we sprayed very little until mid-August for RSB.
Arkansas Rice: Armyworm Management
Armyworm damage in rice. Photo: Kevin Lawson, University of Arkansas Over the past week we have gotten multiple calls on armyworms, specifically fall armyworm, showing up in crops ranging from soybean to pastures, and of course rice. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern on which fields these armyworms are targeting. Our calls are ranging from 2-3 leaf rice up to joint movement. We have done a lot of work over the past 5 years to determine when applications need to be made for armyworms in rice.
Arkansas: Rice Water Weevil Getting Worse
Rice water weevil Phone calls on rice water weevil adults moving into rice have picked up tremendously over the past two weeks. A few weeks ago, we made the comment that it was too early to predict what kind of weevil year we would have this year and based on what we have seen the past few days it’s going to be bad. So, the thing to keep in mind about weevil control is application timing. Typically, an application would be made within 5-7 days after permanent flood establishment.
Arkansas Rice: More Rain Coming, Water Weevil Activity on the Rise
If we weren’t crazy, we would all go insane. From this weather that is. It’s déjà vu all over again, with a similar pattern right now to what we experienced in 2020. The coming stretch of rain isn’t from a tropical storm like it was last year, but it’s a rainy stretch nonetheless. The task at hand, of course, is trying to get rice to flood that’s starting to get some age on it. There are a million different scenarios we’re dealing with on that end, with no easy answers.
Rice water weevil activity is starting to increase in Arkansas | Rice Farming
• By Nick Bateman, Gus Lorenz and Ben Thrash • Rice water weevil adult feeding on rice — photo courtesy University of Arkansas Our rice water weevil plots went to flood two weeks ago, and RWW activity has been extremely low. These plots are located in Stuttgart, where RWW pressure is low to moderate in most years. Looking at these plots this week, the weevil scarring has increased quite a bit, with a lot of RWW adults present in the field.
Arkansas Rice: When to Combine Insecticide Seed Treatments
Rice seed treatments. Photo: Mississippi State University Over the past 5 years we have talked a lot about combinations of insecticide seed treatments and the benefits of combining different seed treatments for control of grape colaspis and rice water weevil. We have been comparing combinations of a neonicotinoid seed treatment (CruiserMaxx or NipsIt Inside) with a diamide seed treatment (Dermacor X-100 or Fortenza) for multiple years now.
Rice stink bugs - so far, so good
• By Gus Lorenz, Nick Bateman and Ben Thrash • Grower may see a reduction in grain quality that results from stink bug feeding on developing kernels. Pathogens enter the grain at the feeding spot, and the pathogen infection and bug feeding together cause discolored and pecky rice kernels. Rice stink bugs have been relatively quite so far this year. We are still seeing a large number of rice stink bugs, although mainly nymphs, on turn rows feeding on native grasses.
Arkansas Rice: Billbugs In Row Rice - How The Cycle Runs
Billbug larvae in rice. Photo: Aaron Cato, University of Arkansas We have observed a large amount of rice billbug activity in row rice across the state this week. Fields that have been in continuous row rice are at greater risk of having billbug infestations. Prior to the growing season, observations of larvae and adults were found overwintering in the field approximately 4 to 6 inches beneath the surface.
2020 is shaping up to be a bad rice water weevil year
• By Nick Bateman, Gus Lorenz and Ben Thrash • Rice water weevil adult — photo courtesy University of Arkansas We have received multiple phone calls over the past week about rice water weevils, and based on our observations, it is trending toward a bad rice water weevil year. This should come as no surprise with the mild winter we had this year. Many fields that have been flooded in the past 10 days have major rice water weevil scarring, to the point in some instances where stand was reduced.
Arkansas Rice: Trending Towards A Bad Rice Water Weevil Year
We have received multiple phone calls over the past week about rice water weevils (RWW), and based on our observations, it is trending towards a bad RWW year. This should come as no surprise with this year’s mild winter. Many fields that have been flooded in the last 10 days have major RWW scarring, to the point in some instances where stand was reduced. This is not a common occurrence but it does underscore how bad weevils are in some areas.
Arkansas Rice: When To Use Combo Seed Treatments
Over the past three years, we have talked a lot about combinations of insecticide seed treatments and the benefits of combining different seed treatments for control of grape colaspis and rice water weevil. We have been comparing combinations of a neonicotinoid (CruiserMaxx Rice or NipsIt INSIDE) with a diamide seed treatment (Dermacor X-100 or Fortenza) for multiple years now.
Arkansas Rice: How Many Intended Acres?
There’s a lot going on in the world right now beyond rice, but here we are still trying to get a crop started before long. Hopefully the start and finish will be an easier trip than last year. A year later and we’re still talking about the rain, seemingly non-stop since the fall of 2018. Some field work has been accomplished over the past few weeks, primarily isolated to higher fields near the highways and hillsides.
Arkansas Rice: Harvest Starts, Cautionary Notes On Acephate
Rice harvest. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography Rice harvest 2019 is underway. That’s not to say it’s running full speed ahead, but we’re beginning. By now, about 10% of our rice should have reached 20% grain moisture or lower. Several fields are at least at 19%, based on samples that have been pulled. No firm yield reports have surfaced from minimal amount of acres harvested so far, but most of the rice out there looks good.
Arkansas: Major Bollworm Flight Moving Through; Stink Bugs in Rice
Cotton In south Arkansas this past week there has been a huge flight of bollworm moths and these numbers are not being reflected in our moth traps. We think this is due to a large amount of pheromone in the air from the moths which is overwhelming the pheromone in the traps. I have been told that back in the day, when boll weevil numbers were extremely high, a similar phenomenon would occur.
Arkansas Insects: Moth Numbers Spiking, Plant Bugs Moving into Cotton
Soybean This past week much of the state saw a sharp increase in moth catches. This is right on time with our usual July 4th bollworm flight. Most years these moths are leaving corn, because it is normally done silking and are headed to beans and cotton. This isn’t most years. We have a lot of late planted corn and many of these moths are headed straight back into corn, the preferred host. Don’t get us wrong, there are worms in some fields they just are just more spotty than normal.
Arkansas: Keep an Eye Open for These Insect Pests
Corn earworm in soybeans. Soybean A few people have called this past week about finding 4 or 5 small corn earworms per 25 sweeps in blooming soybeans. In this situation the corn earworm virus (Heligen), might be a good option, especially with the low price of soybeans this year. Also, the likelihood of getting reinfested is substantial because of how late this crop is, and the virus may provide control of those later generations. Remember, this virus isn’t like a conventional insecticide.
Arkansas Cotton: Section 18 Received for Transform for Tarnished Plant Bug
The Arkansas State Plant Board has received authorization for a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for Transform WG on Cotton. The Emergency Exemption is effective June 1 through October 31, 2019. The exemption notice and forms to report Section 18 applications are attached and also available on the Plant Board website. All applications under this emergency exemption must be reported to the Plant Board.
Arkansas Cotton, Rice, Soy: Insecticide Seed Treatment Options
Cotton Stalk destruction deadline is April 15!! Driving around the Delta we’ve seen several fields where cotton stalks are still standing. The deadline for stalk destruction is April 15. This helps with Boll Weevil Eradication and prevents issues with Pink Bollworm. If you or someone you know has not shredded stalks you need to get it done by April 15 to avoid issues.
Arkansas Rice: Rain, Rinse, Repeat
“Long as I remember the rain been coming down, clouds of mystery pouring confusion on the ground, good men through the ages trying to find the sun, and I wonder, still I wonder, who’ll stop the rain.” Could there be a better description of the current situation? I think not. Looking at the precipitation totals from September 2018 through February 2019, a number of stations are approaching the annual average rainfall in just that 5-month period.
Arkansas Rice: Weather Concerns, Disease Difficulties, Boot N Applications
“If we weren’t all crazy, we would go insane.” Jimmy Buffett knows rice folks well. The time to get out and scout is in the worst time of year to be out in a rice field. But here we are. Continued hot conditions are making things a little tense around the state. Several storm systems have moved through over the past week provided some with “dust-settling” relief, but not much else. We can’t keep a solid flood on this rice, and when we can’t do that it makes it difficult to water beans and corn.
Arkansas Sorghum: Transform WG Approved for Sugarcane Aphids
The Arkansas State Plant Board has approved registration for the Section 18 Emergency Exemption Transform WG for the control of sugarcane aphid on grain sorghum. The exemption notice and forms to report Section 18 applications are attached and also available on the Plant Board website. Please be reminded that you need to report applications of Transform WG under the Emergency Exemption to the Plant Board.
Arkansas Sorghum: Managing Sugarcane Aphids
Arkansas grain sorghum acreage has varied dramatically over the last few years due to grain prices and more recently due to the threat of sugarcane aphid. In 2017, Arkansas producers planted only approximately 9,000 acres. However with the recent increase in grain sorghum prices into what some producers would call a profitable level, more producers are considering growing grain sorghum again in 2018.
Arkansas Rice: Early Harvest Begins; Making Harvest Aid Decisions
Rice harvest has begun on a very limited basis. Initial yield reports don’t tell us a great deal, but opinions have been that yields are good to very good. Some yields have been 20 bu greater than the same time last year while others have been 30-40 bu below. Ultimately a handful of observations don’t give us a yield forecast. It’s always good to get harvest started but we’re staring down what is likely to be a second consecutive atypical August.
Arkansas Rice: Planting Over 80% Complete; Time for Weird Problems?
Rice planting progress is likely up around 80-85% this week. This is near record progress behind only 2012. Luckily conditions seem very reminiscent of 2012 which turned out to be a boon for growers when they broke the previous state record yield by 6 bushels per acre. We’ll see if the continued warm temperatures and occasional rainfall drive this crop forward as it did that year. Right now most of the rice crop looks excellent. Emergence has been a little sporadic but mostly uniform.
Arkansas Sorghum, Cotton: Transform WG Available for Sugarcane Aphids, Tarnished Plant Bugs
The Arkansas State Plant Board was granted a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for the use of Transform WG insecticide to control sugarcane aphid in sorghum. Please see AR Section 18 Transform WG-Sorghum to report applications under the exemption. Also, the Arkansas State Plant Board was granted a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for the use of Transform WG insecticide to control tarnished plant bug in cotton. Please see AR Section 18 Transform WG-Cotton to report applications under the exemption.
Transform WG Section 18 granted; Sugarcane aphid in sorghum; tarnished plant bug in cotton
The Arkansas State Plant Board was granted a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for the use of Transform WG insecticide to control sugarcane aphid in sorghum. Please see AR Section 18 Transform WG-Sorghum to report applications under the exemption. Also, the Arkansas State Plant Board was granted a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for the use of Transform WG insecticide to control tarnished plant bug in cotton. Please see AR Section 18 Transform WG-Cotton to report applications under the exemption.
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