Mid-Coast IPM

Source Link:  https://futurebeef.com.au/resources/pasture-dieback/                                                         Sourch Lionk:  http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/1582055/Pasture-mealybug.pdf Source Link:  https://futurebeef.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2227-Pasture-dieback-A4-brochure_WEB_FINAL.pdf Source Link:  https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/1582055/Pasture-mealybug.pdf

Pasture Mealybug Nymph Photo by S. Biles As our pastures green up in the spring, it is important for us to determine when the pasture mealybugs begin to emerge from the soil. In Australia, their research has shown the pasture mealybug is first found in early October. Since their seasons are opposite ours, their October is analogous to our April.   I have been scouting pastures for the past few months to see when the first nymphs emerge. This morning, 4/3/26, I visited several pastures that had pasture mealybug problems last year. As expected based on what they see in Australia, the first pasture mealybug nymphs were found in the three pastures I checked. The nymphs were very small, but visible. Reading glasses and a 10x hand lens help a lot. Our current management recommendations have not changed and we suggest you manage pastures to recover from previous damage by making appropriate fertilizer and weed management applications and following good agronomic practices. While ther...

AgriLife Extension Entomology provides weekly or periodic updates from AgriLife IPM Agents on the insect, weed, disease and crop development news affecting crop production. You can find these at the link below: https://www.texasinsects.org/agriculture-audio-updates-home.html The latest updates from this week are here: Cotton Jassid update from Dr. David Kerns and Danielle Sekula: https://on.soundcloud.com/GIEAH0OqbadO2b8feT Corn leafhopper update from Dr. David Kerns: https://on.soundcloud.com/MBCyh8mIqSv7qaRxCO

In Australia, the pasture mealybug emerges in early October but does not usually cause damage until early December.  This would be analogous to emergence in early April and damage in June. As the grass is greening back up following winter, I have begun to scout pastures and hayfields where we found the pasture mealybug last fall. Thus far, I have not found any emergence.   Keep in mind, a hand lens is necessary to find the emerging mealybugs. We are not looking for the 2-3 mm long adult, but the 0.5 mm nymph. Our best management suggestions are to adopt what they are doing in Australia and manage for recovery. I conducted 5 field trials last year to see if we had a product that will provide control of the mealybug.  Only two of the five showed promising results.  Some reason for the poor results can be found in what has been done in Australia. The Australians have determined insecticidal control not to be an effective means for managing the insect and it's damag...

The cold temperatures earlier this week have caused some chilling damage to some corn and cotton fields. While scouting around Victoria County yesterday and today, I noticed a lot of differences in the level of damage caused by the cold temperatures. Some of this difference is explained by differences in crop maturity and corn hybrid. Older corn has been more affected by the cold temps than younger corn. This is very apparent in a few fields with two planting dates.  Dr Ronnie Schnell addressed low temperature stress and chill injury to corn and sorghum in the Texas Row Crop Newsletter in 2021. Dr Schnell's recommendation for assessing damage is as follows: Determine planting date in relation to cold weather. Check fields planted on different days and with different hybrids. Cold soil temperatures occur less than 72 hours of planting, imbibition injury possible. Cold soil temperatures occur greater than 72 hours of planting, cold stress injury possible. Freezing temperatures for em...

Last summer and fall we learned what Pasture Dieback was the hard way as many pastures and hayfields experienced grass loss caused by the pasture mealybug. What we know at this point is mostly what we can learn from the Australians, who have been studying the insect pest for over 10 years. The primary solutions they have found in Australia are: Manage for Recovery Improve the Pasture Sow a Break Crop Treat the Pest/Pathogen Manage for Recovery The best thing to do in the winter and spring is to manage the pasture for recovery from last year's damage.  This includes fertilizing at proper rates, managing invading weeds, and adjusting stocking rates to forage production. I understand rainfall will have a significant impact on all these management practices. Fertilization is a key to production of healthy hay and forage. While some research shows high fertility rates can also cause mealybug populations to increase, this may be manageable by grazing ...