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[AgriLife Today] West Texas cotton producers should be on the lookout for bollworms

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By: Steve Byrns

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, [email protected]

Contact: Dr. Suhas Vyavhare, 806-746-6101, [email protected]

LUBBOCK – A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist is advising West Texas cotton farmers to remain vigilant in their hunt for bollworms.

“I haven’t come across any significant bollworm activity in the region yet,” said Dr. Suhas Vyavhare of Lubbock. “But blooming cotton coupled with new growth following recent rains in our area makes for an especially enticing combination for bollworm moths seeking egg-laying sites. So it’s important for growers not to let their guard down.”

Vyavhare’s warning was prompted by reports from South Texas of the pest breaking Bt shields there and in other parts of the country. He said treatable levels of bollworms, also called headworms when they affect sorghum, have been spotted in some South Plains sorghum fields.

That’s not to say growers should become lax in scouting for cotton pests, but boll damage and the presence of live bollworms should be taken into account before making decisions on whether to apply insecticide, he said.   “I wouldn’t rush insecticide applications on Bt cotton just because bollworm eggs are present or worms less than a quarter inch are found, because they have to feed on the plant for the genetic technology to work,” he said. “Similarly, I wouldn’t pull the trigger and spray non-Bt cotton based on egg lay, as natural controls often help keep bollworm numbers in check. It’s always best to give the Bt trait technology and the beneficial insect predators a chance to work their magic first.”

“The threshold to apply insecticide is when 6 percent of the bolls, post bloom, are damaged with live worms present,” he said. “Some of the old data indicates pyrethroid insecticides may still work against cotton bollworms, though we have no recent susceptibility data available from the High Plains region.

“The diamides, trade names Prevathon and Besiege, are the most effective. Besiege contains both a diamide and a pyrethroid, so it would be the better choice if stink bugs are present too. If stink bugs aren’t an issue, Prevathon is a better option, as it’s always good to avoid unnecessary pyrethroid applications, because they also kill beneficial insects that otherwise could keep secondary pests such as aphids and spider mites at bay.”

Overall though, Vyavhare said the cotton crop looks good, though there is a wide range of cotton in different growth stages out in the fields.

“Early planted cotton fields are in bloom while some of the late or replanted cotton is a little behind,” he said. “Overall though, insect pest pressure remains light across our region.”

For more information, contact Vyavhare at 806-746-6101, [email protected].

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Farm & Ranch

Ag Elsewhere: Wyoming

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By Tressa Lawrence

Despite some blue skies, March can still bring sub-zero temperatures to Wyoming as calves hit the ground.

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Farm & Ranch

Ag Elsewhere: Montana

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By Lindsey Monk

Welding on some corrals before dark. It’s been a mild winter in Montana so far, knock on wood.

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Farm & Ranch

Land Market Report: January Land Sales

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By Jared Groce

The rural land market in North Texas has had a fairly stale start to the year, with the number of transactions closed being minimal so far. There has been an increase in call volume from buyers, and some are turning into contracts, but I feel like we are still a little slower than we usually are at this time of the year. The “experts” are expecting fewer transactions in 2024 as compared to 2023, and they may be correct, because election years always seem to be slower. Once the election is over, and regardless of who wins, things seem to pick up once again. It is a strange phenomena that just seems to happen every four years.

With the amount of growth that we are currently experiencing here, I do not expect things to get any cheaper. More people means more houses, and they have to have land to build those houses on.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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