Here AgExpo-Peanut Stop and AgExpo-Sorghum Stop handouts on peanut and sorghum varieties, and production practices we presented yesterday at the Virginia Ag Expo
A general view of the Ag Expo field demonstrations
are.
With the assistance of Johnny Parker and two growers near the town of Franklin, VA, in the past week our Entomology crew was able to capture (via pheromone traps) and test 312 corn earworm (bollworm) moths in our adult vial tests. 41.4% of moths from Franklin survived the 24-hour exposure to the pyrethroid insecticide, cypermethrin. These results are similar to what we are seeing in Suffolk, with a seasonal average of 39.7% of moths surviving the vial test (42.9% surviving in the last week alone). The following line graph shows the Suffolk results in more detail. 
Corn earworm moths are being caught in high numbers in pheromone traps at the Tidewater AREC in Suffolk and at a location near Franklin (Southampton Co.). Janet Spencer also reported an uptick in the moths captured in her pheromone trap in Isle of Wight Co. Black light trap catches of corn earworm moths are on the upswing.
Brown marmorated stink bug catches were 2.9 per night at the Eastern Virginia AREC in Warsaw, and zero at the Tidewater AREC in Suffolk. Please see the attached pdf for detailed trap captures. BLT_4_Aug_2016
We have confirmed white sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) in sorghum in three more Virginia counties this week—Suffolk, Prince George, and Dinwiddie. Scott Reiter, Prince George Co. ANR Agent, reported that his aphids came from fields that were below threshold levels and were found along the field edge–very similar to the aphids from Suffolk. Mr. Reiter also had white sugarcane aphids submitted from a Sussex Co. sorghum field. The Dinwiddie aphids were found at Ag Expo. White sugarcane aphid has been found in all the blue and green-colored counties in the map below.
“Celebrating Southside Virginia’s Agricultural Diversity” is the theme for the 2016 Virginia Ag Expo. The Virginia Ag Expo is the largest field day held annually in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As an educational, marketing, and social event, farmers and agribusiness look forward to the Virginia Ag Expo each year.
This year the Ag Expo will be held in Dinwiddie County on August 4th. The location, Double “B” Farms, is owned and operated by Billy Bain. Double “B” Farms is a large diversified farming operation consisting of 3,500 plus acres of crops, consisting of: corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, cotton, forage, and a beef cattle herd.
In the field, There will be demos, research and discussions on Cotton, Sorghum, Peanuts, Forage, Beef Cattle, Sweet Potatoes, Small Fruits, Niche Pork, Soybeans, Field Corn, Tobacco, and Integrated Pest Management along with drone demonstration, soil pit demo and fertility work.
Over 150 exhibitors and sponsors will have on display all of the most up to date equipment, goods and services for agricultural producers and property owners no matter how large or small. Field tours will also be presented by many of Virginia’s top agricultural researchers and Cooperative Extension Agents and Specialists.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Event Opens at 7:30am
Field Plot Tours Start at 8:20am
Double B Farms
19509 Bain Road
Dinwiddie , VA 23841
Field Plot Tour Include:
The Virginia Ag Expo is sponsored by the Virginia Grains Producers Association and the Virginia Soybean Association, in cooperation with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service.
For media inquiries please contact Ben Rowe at Ben@VirginiaGrains.com or 804-726-6022
The following information was provided by John Cranmer at Valent U.S.A. Corporation:
“The EPA has approved Zeal for use in soybeans to control spider mites. The unique translaminar movement of Zeal SC reaches mites where they hide and feed, on the underside of the soybean leaves. Formulated as a liquid soluble concentrate, Zeal SC is friendly for the aerial applicator, with easy mixing and a low use rate to treat more acres per load. Soybeans are the latest new crop registration for Zeal SC, following recent expansions into field corn, cotton and melons.”
The states have been notified; watch for approvals for the Zeal soybean label from your state(s) to come in. The supplemental label is attached here: 59639-202_Zeal SC_2016-ZSC-0010.soybean.XNY
As Dr. Ames Herbert mentions in his July 25, 2016 blog, we are seeing a mixture of aphids in Virginia sorghum fields this season, but we should guide control decisions based on white sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) numbers and product recommendations (I recommend re-reading Dr. Herbert’s advisory and viewing the aphid images that he attached back on July 25). As Dr. Mike Brewer of Texas A&M mentioned to us earlier this week, corn leaf aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis) are rarely worth concern–they are just good food for beneficial natural enemies! The Tidewater AREC Entomology crew, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents, and other Virginia Tech faculty and staff (e.g., Dr. Joseph Oakes) have been hunting for white sugarcane aphid. We have confirmed it in Greensville (through ANR Agent Nikki Norton), Nottoway (through Jim Riddell, and ANR Agent Haley Norton), Southampton (via ANR Agent Livvy Preisser, and Mike Arrington at the Tidewater AREC), and Sussex (via Mike Arrington). You may notice that last week I reported white sugarcane aphid in Dinwiddie–that has been removed for the time being, but ANR Agent Mike Parrish is following up on a lead as I am writing this report. In some locations, we have found yellow sugarcane aphid (Sipha flava) along with the white sugarcane aphid. I have indicated on the attached map where these have been reported, and also where we have scouted sorghum, but have not found any sugarcane aphids (to date). Please keep up the scouting efforts in your sorghum fields!
Corn earworm (bollworm) moth captures in the black light traps are beginning to pick up in Suffolk, with a slight increase in Prince George Co., and low numbers still in Warsaw and Southampton Co. Pheromone trap captures of corn earworm moths (the ones that go into our adult vial tests) really spiked this week in Suffolk; additionally, we caught nearly 100 moths in one night with 3 pheromone traps placed in a field just outside of Franklin in Southampton Co. Brown marmorated stink bug catches have increased at Warsaw, with a few reported from Prince George Co., Southampton Co. and Suffolk. Thanks to Livvy Preisser (Southampton Co. ANR Agent), Mary Beahm (Eastern Virginia AREC in Warsaw), Scott Reiter (Prince George ANR Agent), cooperating growers, and the Entomology crew at the Tidewater AREC in Suffolk for their reports this week. The attached pdf contains more details on the black light trap captures this season. BLT_28_Jul_2016
We have vial-tested 444 moths in 2016, with a mean of 38.5% surviving the 24-hour exposure to the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin at 5 micrograms. These moths all were captured in Suffolk pheromone traps. While we aren’t able to say where these moths originated (they are strong fliers and could have grown up locally or far away), survival rates this high serve as a reminder that alternative (i.e., non-pyrethroid) chemistries may need consideration for corn earworm (bollworm) management, especially if heavy infestations develop. We are working with Johnny Parker and some Southampton Co. growers to trap in an area reported to have high numbers of corn earworm moths near Franklin–results of the vial testing in that location will be available next week.
Brent Bean, Director of Agronomy, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, forwarded the following information on sugarcane aphid (SCA):
As many of you know, the sugarcane aphid has moved north faster than last year. We now have confirmed reports of SCA in three southern counties of Kansas. In addition, SCA is present as far north as Kentucky and Virginia. In these northern sites SCA populations for the most part are low but have approached threshold levels in Virginia. It is likely that at least low populations will be discovered in many counties within the Sorghum Belt in the coming weeks.
It is important to note that just because a few SCA are present in a field does not mean an insecticide application is or will be justified. Those who planted hybrids with some tolerance to SCA can expect the populations to build more slowly. In addition, beneficials in many areas are reported to be in high numbers, this will also help keep SCA populations in check. Although SCA was present in South Texas this year, only a portion of the fields reached threshold levels.
Something we have clearly learned the last two years is that once SCA is present in an area, scouting of fields becomes critical. Scouting should occur at least once a week once SCA has been discovered in a region, and in fields where SCA has already been detected, scouting should take place at least twice a week. Insecticide application should begin as soon as the SCA population is at threshold levels. Research has shown yields can be drastically reduced if insecticide application is delayed for several days once threshold levels are reached. States and regions vary slightly in their recommended threshold levels, but in general, an insecticide application is justified when 50 aphids per leaf are present on 25 percent of the plants. Consult your state or regional extension service for specific threshold information. We are entering a critical time in the Sorghum Belt, and SCA can potentially reach threshold levels very quickly. Diligence in scouting is an absolute must!
There are two products that should be considered if an insecticide application is warranted. These are Sivanto prime from Bayer, and Transform WG from Dow AgroSciences. Both are effective, but good coverage is critical. Most entomologists recommend 4 – 5 ounces of Sivanto Prime and 1 – 1.5 ounces of Transform WG. The lower rates are usually recommended to control SCA at or close to threshold levels. If SCA populations are way above threshold levels, then the higher rates may be justified.
If other insects such as midge or headworms are present with SCA, avoid using pyrethroids for their control. Pyrethroids can lower beneficial populations significantly and cause a rapid increase in SCA populations. In the South Plains region of Texas the ‘yellow’ sugarcane aphid is showing up in a few fields, often in the same fields with sugarcane aphid. Care should be taken in distinguishing between these two aphids.
Although sweet sorghum is a minor U.S. crop, sugarcane aphids can greatly impact yield. Sivanto prime has received a section 18 Crisis Exemption label in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina for use on sweet sorghum in 2016.
NOTE from Ames Herbert, VT: Note that the ‘yellow’ sugar cane aphid mentioned above is a different species than SCA. Yellow sugarcane aphids are covered with small hairs and the two cornicles (pair of small upright backward-pointing tubes found on the top side of the last segment of the bodies) are small and pale (see attached image). The SCA is also called ‘white’ sugarcane aphid. It does not have hairs on the body and the two cornicles are dark (see attached image). Yellow sugarcane aphid is a known pest in Virginia of forage grasses like orchardgrass. Like Texas, we are also finding yellow sugar cane aphid mixed with SCA, and in a few fields also mixed with corn leaf aphid, another known pest of corn and sorghum. Corn leaf aphid is easy to distinguish from the other sorghum aphid species as they have a dark head and legs, a dark green body color, and dark cornicles (see attached image).
This sorghum aphid problem is new for us so we are having to make some ‘educated guesses’ about what constitutes a threat, and what the best control options might be. For now, we suggest that SCA numbers should guide control decisions, that is, abide by SCA thresholds—and stick with the products that are recommended for SCA. Avoid the use of pyrethroids since they will not be effective against SCA, and could flare secondary pests by disrupting natural enemy populations. Natural enemies including tiny aphid parasitic wasps and a variety of lady beetles can be very effective in helping reduce aphid and other pest populations, so we need to conserve them whenever possible.
