Consultant Commentary – Up-to-Date Information from Mississippi’s Crop Professionals

By Carol Bullard | Published: May 18, 2012

Reporting from East Mississippi is Phillip McKibben, Maben
5/18/2012 – Sweet potato setting is in full swing now. Everyone has found enough dry ground to plant without slowing down this week, and most of the H2A labor has arrived.
Some of the seed treatments in cotton are holding their own against thrips, while others look no better than the untreated seed that one of our growers planted.
We’ve seen more Southern blight in soybean seedlings than we normally do, even found it in a couple of cotton fields. Other than that, seedling disease (disease pressure overall) has been light.
****In Phillip’s report on Tuesday, he referred to a growing population of fireweed, Erechtites hieracifolia, in several counties. If you are not familiar with fireweed, go to
http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/erehi.htm  (cut and paste into browser)

Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg
5/18/2012 – Cotton ranges from in the sack to 7 true leaves. Sprayed 1/2 of older cotton for plant bugs, all clouded. Have not picked up tarnished yet. A few fields receiving thrips applications, as well as a few for three cornered alfalfa hoppers. All cotton will be planted by Monday. Our biggest problem in cotton right now is probably deer. A few fields have had to be replanted and lots of spot planting. They generally get a few corners and I guess we just expect it, but they have been horrible in the last week. Moisture is getting kind of scarce. I hope we will still have enough to complete planting.
Peanuts are probably 70% planted. Picking up cutworms in a few fields but none at treatable levels. Hogs have destroyed, over 3 counties, 170 acres of peanuts. They literally rooted up every peanut seed in the field. They are working on that problem and replanting those fields. Lots of herbicides have gone out in peanuts this week. Peanut vigor is still nowhere to be found. Seems like 50-60% of seed is good and the rest below average. Seed just aren’t emerging at the same time. Taking three weeks to get all plants up in places.
Corn is from V4 to early tassel. Watering all irrigated corn. Dry land on the East side of my territory got big rains last weekend and are in pretty good shape. Looks like they have pretty good potential to make some good dry land corn yields. Very little disease in corn.
Wheat harvest is just beginning. Have heard yields ranging from 45 to 82, but wheat yields are gonna be off a little, I think.
Soybeans will all be behind wheat.

Reporting from the North Delta area is Tucker Miller, Drew
5-18-2012 – Cotton – Most of our cotton has been sprayed for thrips, using Orthene, Bidrin, and some radiant where western flower thrips were predominant. Still putting out herbicides Roundup and Staple as well as Sequence. Ignite going over Liberty cotton.
Soybeans – Sprayed several fields for yellow striped army worms. Used pyrethroids and worked well. Starting to apply Roundup, Sequence, Prefix, and other combos as needed. Some beans having to be watered with pivots to get a stand.
Corn – Full swing on irrigation. Most corn at V 10 to 12. No tassels yet, but will be soon.
Wheat – Cutting wheat now. Moisture around 14 percent. Some showers today halted cutting. Overall yields better than expected. Hear reports of 65 to 85 bu.

Photos are of:
(1) soybean damage from Yellow Striped Armyworms


(2) Effectiveness of pyrethroid insecticide on Yellow Striped Armyworms

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Consultant Commentary – Up-to-Date Information from Mississippi’s Crop Professional

By Carol Bullard | Published: May 16, 2012

Reporting from the North Delta area is Tucker Miller, Drew
5/14/2012 – Most cotton is at the second true leaf stage. Thrips have just moved in on most of the cotton we check. Applications of Acephate and Bidrin are going out now; some with Roundup and Staple and some alone. Most cotton has received enough rain to activate pre herbicides, but some spots remain dry. Oldest cotton is at pinhead square, but don’t have that much at this stage. I have seen a few issues of herbicide injury due to contaminated tanks. Putting out fertilizer and plowing middles where will furrow irrigate.
Most soybeans are at the third trifoliate, with a few younger fields at first and second trifoliate. Army worms and green clover worms have been scattered in all fields. I ran into some today that were approaching threshold. Putting out herbicide apps now.
Corn ranges from ten to twelve collard leaves. Some of the later planted at V 4 and 5. A few fields of non Bt had to be sprayed for SWCB last week. Stink bugs have been low with only a few acres sprayed along some edges. No disease problems yet. Irrigation is underway.

Reporting from the South Delta area is John Clark Cook, Vaiden
5/14/2012 – Received 1 to 3 inches of much needed rain over the weekend. Cotton is growing off well where it has been planted. Still like about 25% of my cotton acres to be planted. Thrips are showing up but not in treatable thresholds. Watching for three cornered alfalfa hoppers in cotton will probably have to treat some acres at next checking.
Speaking of alfalfa hoppers already having to treat in soybeans that are less than a month old. Extremely high numbers in several fields overwhelming the seed treatments. Other than that just trying to finish up soybean planting.
Most corn is moving along with some starting to tassel. Have had some younger corn stands broken by sugarcane beetles. The worst having less than 8000 plants per acre remaining. Having to replant bare spots where we can.

Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg
5/15/2012 – Cotton is 75% planted. Thrips are fairly heavy in most fields with a high population of western flower thrips in some fields. Should finish up planting by Thursday. Moisture is pretty good everywhere. Could have used a little more rain in places. It was very spotty down here this past weekend. Some places got .15″ and some places got 2″.
Peanuts are probably 60% planted. Vigor on peanuts seems to be below average. Getting at best 4.5 seed up, planting up to 7. Finding lots of seed with Aspergillis flavus in all fields. Most fields planted received rains within a day or two of being planted and seem to be struggling to get out compared to fields that didn’t get rain. Stands are gonna be fine but plants are just not all coming up at the same time like we want. Herbicides will be going out next week in some fields. Should be through planting middle of next week.

Reporting from East Mississippi is Phillip McKibben, Maben
5/15/2012 – Cotton is planted, most has emerged without incident, except one grower’s, who replaced his disk openers and did not check depth before planting a couple hundred acres. Who knew that cotton could emerge from 2 inches under ground? It took 12-14 days, but it came up to a stand… for the most part.
Soybean are 75% planted, most are V1-V2. We’ve had excellent nodulation so far. We like to see them forming like this; 7-10 days after emergence.
Our corn is V8-V10, we expect some tassel emergence next week.
We have a few hundred acres of sweet potatoes in the ground so far. All of the plant beds are thick and healthy, getting a fresh trimming very other day. No one will be waiting on plants when we get cranked back up transplanting.
Fireweed escapes were numerous this year. We have only seen them scattered in no-till in years past, but fireweed is showing up across three counties this year. Fortunately, herbicides are taking them out; however slowly.

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Consultant Commentary – Up-to-Date Information from Mississippi’s Crop Professionals

By Carol Bullard | Published: May 11, 2012

Reporting from the North Delta area is Bob Stonestreet, Clarksdale
5/11/2012 – As the week ends, we are beginning to make applications for thrips on a few cotton fields where extremely high thrips numbers are overwhelming our seed treatment. Cotton post emerge herbicides started today and will probably continue for the next couple weeks. Cotton looking pretty good overall. Had a few problem fields that had to be watered up. Have treated 10-15% of cotton acreage for thrips with 1/3# acephate. A few of the 3-4 leaf fields damaged by sand blast treated twice.
Wheat drying down and should be ready for harvest in a couple of weeks. As others have commented, we are behind schedule on getting out our herbicide application on April corn. Several corn fields treated for stinkbugs.
Soybeans planting almost completed with growth stages anywhere from VE-V3.
Post emerge residual and contact herbicides have been going out the last several days. Not doing a bad job but pigweed keeps coming. Most fields are pretty clean; others that did not receive a rain event to activate preplant residual, are getting a post emerge herbicide application as soon as the beans emerge. If we continue with dry conditions, we will run out of options on RR soybeans.

Reporting from the North Delta area is Billy Price, Charleston
5/10/2012 – Late Monday and Tuesday afternoon we had some rainfall, it varied from 1/2 inch to 1.5 inches. We still need more rain in spots to shut down water on our corn because we started pumping early, some farms have furrow irrigated twice. Corn ranges from 3 to 8 collars, older corn looks good. First generation SWCB already hit but haven’t treated yet!
Cotton ranges from still in the bag to third true leaf. Thrips are in most of our cotton with more western flower thrips than I have seen this early in the season. We are still trying to clean up weeds and it looks like some chopping on pig-weeds will start soon. I will say most of our farmers have done a good job with pig-weed control.
Two farms cut a sample of wheat and moisture ranged from 16.5 to 17.5, if we miss the rain that is forecast we should start cutting full swing Monday, yields will be off from last couple of years but still looks decent.
We are starting the season that look challenging but we have faced them before, good luck!

Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg
5/11/2012 – Cotton is 70% planted. Cotton is really popping up fast. Some varieties seem to have lots more vigor than others. Thrips are fairly heavy in most fields, but cotton seems to be handling them okay. Western flower thrips are pretty heavy in fields along the Ms River, especially where they are right next to corn. Oldest cotton is at 4th node. Rains helped lots of dry land corn fields last Tuesday. It was kind of spotty, but where it rained it dumped a couple of inches.
Corn is from V2-V9. Hopefully, growers will finish side dressing and applying herbicides today before expected rains on Saturday.
Our earliest peanuts are just beginning to crack the ground. For the most part, taking 7-9 days to get a stand. Vigor seems to be a little weak, but looks like we will get a good stand so far. A few acres planted the last week in April have had herbicide applications and are looking pretty good. Hopefully we will get a good general rain Saturday. Still really dry in some areas.

Reporting from the North Delta area is Bruce Pittman, Coila
5/11/2012 – Corn is starting to tassel and shoe peg ears are forming. At this growth stage these small ears are especially vulnerable to stink bug damage so I’ll intensify scouting for stink bugs on corn at this growth stage for the next 10 days.
Thrips populations in cotton are high and we’re treating everything that needs it. We’re using Bidrin at 1 gal/30 acres or where the grower is applying Sequence we’ll mix acephate at .3lb/acre.
I’ve been sweeping soybeans and finding small worms of all kinds but nothing near threshold levels.

Reporting from East Mississippi is Bert Falkner, West Point
5/11/2012 – Most of this area received from ½ to 2” of rain this week with more predicted this weekend. The rain and cooler temps have made for an ideal corn growing week. Growth stages are from V6 to V10.
As soon as weather permits, we’ll starting cutting wheat, probably starting in south Noxubee County.
Soybeans are still being planted to the 2-3 trifoliate stage. Lots of residual herbicides going out.
Peanuts are 80% planted and 60% up to a stand which took about 9 days from planting to stand.
Cotton about 90% planted and from cotyledon to 1st true leaf. We’ve got a few concerns about some spots in some no-til fields where we might have to do some replanting. Seeing lots of thrips and will begin treating next week.
Sweet potato setting delayed from rain.

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Consultant Commentary – Up-to-Date Information from MIssissippi’s Crop Professionals

By Carol Bullard | Published: May 8, 2012

Reporting from the North Delta area is Billy Price, Charleston
5/6/2012 – We have had a tough time getting herbicides out on time, especially on corn. The wind has blown every day for a month. We are pretty much like everyone else; grain has taken some cotton acres. It looks like we will be down about 15 to 20% at this point. We are irrigating most of our corn where we can and cotton to activate chemicals. The biggest issue at this time is we need a rain to get cotton and beans up to a workable stand.
We are finished with corn, about 90% cotton and beans are about 70%, some farmers have stopped planters and waiting on a rain.

Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg
5/7/2012 – Peanuts are probably 50% planted. We have had afternoon thunderstorms for the last 4 days. Some of these storms were blowing up and dumping 3-4 inches in an hour. Growers quit planting Sunday because chances of rain increased for Monday through Wednesday. Last 2 days everyone has been putting out residuals and cleaning up fields that have grown back up. We have good moisture in most areas.
Cotton is probably 30% planted with very little up. Should get back started if it doesn’t rain too much.
Corn is from V2 to V9. Picking up Southern Army-worms in refuge, but for the most part insects are pretty light.
We still have some areas that need moisture so hopefully these areas will get some over next two days.

Reporting from the South Delta area is Herbert Jones, Leland
5/7/2012 – Cotton: virtually all planted and up to a good stand. All seed treatments appear to be doing their job. Some injury to the cotyledons but first true leaf looks good. Acres with non insecticide treated seed (small acreage where farmers needed to finish out a field) have treated once for thrips and will repeat treatments this week. In my area thrips population has been high and continuous.
Plant bug numbers are extremely high on host plants in my area this year.
Beans: most beans are up and growing good. Starting to overspray beans with herbicides (as needed) this week.
Corn: corn is between knee to waist high and looking good. No insect problems to mention thus far this season. Started watering corn last week.
Wheat: will attempt to start harvesting the later part of next week.

Reporting from East Mississippi is Bert Falkner, West Point
5/7/2012 – Wheat is all turning and drying down and we will start harvest next week, weather permitting. Over the last 5 days a large part of this area has received between ½” to 1 ½” of rain from several showers.
Corn is from V4 to V8and all laid by. We were close to starting irrigation until the recent rains. Insect pressure very low right now.
Soybeans are either still in the bag, germinating or up to the 2nd trifoliate.
Cotton is 80% planted and most all of it up to a stand or will be very soon. Thrips pressure low in most places. Up until several weeks ago I expected cotton acres to increase 20% over 2011 but now I expect them to be down 10% over ’11.Those acres will go into beans.
Peanuts are 50% planted and 75% of that is up to a stand. Growers are just starting to set the sweet potato crop but will probably stop if the weather gets too cool.

Reporting from the North Delta area is Bruce Pittman, Coila
5/7/2012 – Cotton planting for my growers is over for the most part and is up to a stand. Most of this cotton came up without a rain, has a 3-4” shank and looks really good, except for the thrips, which are pretty bad (1-3 per plant. I haven’t looked at any cotton yesterday or today that didn’t have a threshold of thrips. We’ll start treating with either .3# of acephate/acre or Bidrin at 1 gallon to 30 acres.
Corn has been irrigated and insect pressure is low. There’s not enough SWCB to talk about. In corn planted the 1st week of March we’re seeing tassels scattered thru the fields.
Single drilled soybeans on 38” rows, 8” or smaller, are being irrigated to keep them stress free and growing.

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Consultant Commentary – Uo-to-Date Information from Mississippi’s Crop Professionals

By Carol Bullard | Published: May 2, 2012

Reporting from the South Delta is Kevin Corban, Rolling Fork
5-1-12 – Some cotton is seedling stage and some still in the bag. Strong winds last week really dried our soils and most growers are planting deeper than they would like. Most soybeans have been planted, about 30% emerged. Corn stage from V2 to V10 and most is in good shape. Wheat is maturing fast and some should be harvested next week. No insect or disease problems in any crops observed.

Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg
4-30-12 – Growers are basically watering where they can to plant cotton and peanuts.  I don’t think I have ever seen it go from too wet to bone dry so quickly.  We have some rain chances Wednesday and Thursday and I hope it rains.  We have started planting a few places and growers just quit and moved somewhere else – so much for starting early this year.  The weather has just not allowed it.  Insects in corn are still very light.  Corn is from just emerging to V7 and still looks good.  If we don’t get rain soon, we will begin watering by end of week.  Wheat is drying down quickly and still looks pretty good in most areas.

Reporting from the South Delta is Jason Grafton – Madison
5-2-12 – Cotton- Cotton is going in the ground, not much is up. I saw some seed yesterday laying in dry dirt. No insect problems. Biggest problem right now is we are drying out really fast.
Soybeans- A lot of beans are pushing today – should have some good stands by the end of the week. Starting clean has been a challenge in a few fields and we’re addressing these fields as the winds allow.
Corn- Growth stages are V3 to V7. Trying to wrap up some side dressing and spraying. Overall corn looks pretty good. A rain would be appreciated.

Reporting from East Mississippi is Ty Edwards, Water Valley
5-2-12 – Cotton- we are 90% through planting with about 25% emerged, which is all no-till. The other 10% is fresh ground that has no moisture. After battling Gramoxone/Cotoran problems the whole way through, I think we’ve got a pretty good blanket of pre emerge out. Valor was still holding anyways.
Soybeans- 65% planted, 20% emerged. Lots of Valor with Gramoxone or Roundup going out behind planter. Pigweeds are coming.
Corn- Most corn has been side dressed and Halex/atrazine is out on all, save for the corn with Gramoxone/Reflex drift issue. Got a few acres next to CRP being treated for stink bugs, but all in all everything is pretty boring.
Peanuts- All are planted and beginning to emerge.

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Consultant Commentary – Up-to-Date Information from Mississippi’s Crop Professionals

By Carol Bullard | Published: April 27, 2012

Reporting from the South Delta area is Haley Easley, Greenwood
4/27/12 – Finally drying out and trying to get caught up on some herbicide apps and start planting cotton and peanuts. The bugs are still light around here but I am seeing a lot of plant bugs in corn fields waiting on some cotton squares.

Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg
4/27/12 – Corn-corn ranges from V1 – V6. Insects are still very light. One grower is still planting trying to fill booking. Older corn looks real good, with exception of some poor stands.
Started planting peanuts yesterday (4/26). Moisture is leaving rapidly with no rain forecasted any time soon.
Cotton on a broad scale will be planted starting today. Cotton that was planted on 4/11-4/13 is a stand but cooler weather early in the week has it just sitting there. 300-400 acres will probably be replanted, mainly due to heavy rains and cool weather one day after planting.
We have gone from being too wet to do field work to being too dry to plant in a week. Some dry land fields won’t be planted until a rainfall event occurs.
Wheat is maturing rapidly and looks fair to really good. Lots of fields have leaf rust.

Reporting from the North Delta area is Allen McKnight, Greenville
4-27-12 – We’re planting soybeans – fast and furious – and applying herbicides when the wind allows. Beans are from 4 tri-foliate to still in the bag but give us another 7 – 10 days and we’ll be through planting. Pre-plant/pre-emerge herbicides are still holding up and looking good.
Wheat maturing fast – we’ll be cutting some in 2 weeks.
Most rice fields have had herbicides and fertilizer and we’re flushing them now. Most rice looking good even though a lot has Gramoxone drift symptoms.
In corn fields, we’re finishing up herbicides and fertilizer and the majority is looking good. No insect problems at this time.

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Consultant Commentary – Up-to-Date Information from Mississippi’s Crop Professionals

By Carol Bullard | Published: April 24, 2012

Reporting from the South Delta area is Haley Easley, Greenwood
4/23/12 – We received around 2 inches of rain last week and just getting back in the field.  Nitrogen on corn and herbicide for corn and beans still behind eight ball because of wind and rain.  Soil temps fell to 53 degrees over last weekend and we’ll wait for it to warm up before cotton goes in the ground.  Seeing some stink bug damage in corn but not many bugs.
 

Reporting from the Northeast Mississippi area is Homer Wilson, Fulton
4/23/12 – Corn acreage is up – 80% of the corn is in 2 to 4 leaf stage.  A few low spots with flea beetles, but we have not treated any yet.  However, with the cold temperatures a spray application may be needed.  We don’t have any cotton or soybeans planted yet.  Cotton acres will be down with soybeans getting most of these acres.
Wheat generally looks good – Leaf rust was found on one farm (where no fungicides had been applied) about two weeks ago and it looks bad.  Wheat is maturing fast and a lot of it should be harvested in late May.  We have good moisture but need some warm nights now to get our soil temps up.  We are expecting light frost tonight.
 

Reporting from the North Delta area is Lee Boyd, Merigold
4-23-12 – Corn – All the corn has been planted and it ranges from spiking to V7.  Most corn has received herbicide applications and the corn that missed all the recent rains will be irrigated starting end of the week.  An insecticide application for stink bugs on some of the early planted corn has been applied and since then, numbers have been low.  Have seen a few areas of Gramoxone drifts.
Soybeans - Pigweeds and more pigweeds.  Applying burn downs and pre emerges.  Recommendations are don’t plant unless you can control emerged pig weeds.  Still a lot of beans need to be planted and others are up to third trifoliate.  All types of pre emerge herbicide look real good at this point.  The older beans are about to receive their second pre emerge application.  No insects to mention at this time.
Rice – Ninety percent planted.  Rice crops range from emergence to tiller stages.  Most herbicides are working.  A lot of first new path recommendations have been applied and look very good.  Oldest rice have received herbicides, fertilizer, and now flooding up.  This is the first time that I have recommended flooding of rice this early in the season.  Drift issues in rice have reversed from roundup to Gramoxone.

Reporting from the South Delta area is John Clark Cook, Vaiden
4-23-12 – Finally missed a rain, will probably be regretting it with the way this wind has been blowing. Trying to finish up with some corn planting, getting fertilizer and herbicide out on the rest.  Picking up a few sugarcane beetles and corn root worms scattered about. No stink bugs to speak of.
Soybean planting getting into full swing. Dealing with ryegrass in some fields that is really becoming a headache. No insects as of today.
Wheat maturing quick and probably will see a combine in some by the end of the month.
No cotton planted as of today, but will see the planters running by the end of the week.
Hope everyone has a safe and prosperous growing season.

Reporting from the north Delta area is Winston Earnheart, Tunica
4-24-12 – Cold nights have slowed emergence and growth of crops in northwest Mississippi.  Older corn is in the V6 stage and is growing nicely.  Most fields are exhibiting Holcus disease from Pseudomonas syringae bacteria.  The disease is a tan lesion that is reported to not hurt yields economically.  We have had one incident of armyworms moving from a neighbor’s cotton field where he had burned down thick vegetation.  It only took a day or two for them to eat down to the ground six to eight acres of corn.  This corn had to be replanted since it did not come back out.
Rice is getting off to an early start, with first fields being fertilized and flooded.  Rice trying to emerge recently is having a hard time from the cold nights and minimal rainfall.  We will start flushing tomorrow.
Soybeans are also getting off to an early start. Many fields are to a stand and some are in the first trifoliate stage.  We are seeing only minimal bean leaf beetle feeding.
Wheat is about two weeks early.  We have had to fight striped rust and true armyworms, but yields look to be promising.
Cotton that was planted last week is cracking the ground, and the rains we received were ideal for emergence.  Again, cold nights have slowed it down and has also restricted new plantings.

Reporting from the North Delta area is Allen McKnight, Greenville
4/23/12 – We were very fortunate to miss the rains this past weekend—a few farmers were able to get back into the fields Sunday and a lot more today (4/23/12). A lot of soybeans are still to be planted—pretty much everything left to plant will be soybeans. Oldest soybeans 3rd trifoliate—most of our soybeans are still in the bag. Weed control is primary focus. Biggest problem is where we broke land deeper last fall—now can’t get it dry enough to firm up—staying too soft to get into.
Rice acreage is almost non-existent in the south delta. Oldest rice is 5th leaf to 1st tiller. Applying fertilizer and flushing now. Probably 95% planted—doesn’t take long to plant a high percentage of so few acres. Cool temperatures and high winds are holding us up on weed control.
Corn acres are finished planting—most all fertilizer has been applied—little more younger corn to be fertilized. Good bit more corn to be sprayed for weed control. Some corn beginning to get a little big to go overhead with some herbicides.
Some pretty strong winds (15-20 mph) blowing today—lot of ground rigs (hooded sprayers & open booms) spraying something this morning ??? on cotton, corn, and soybeans.
Wheat beginning to mature out—some will be cut in 2 weeks-lot will be cut in 3 weeks. Diseases showed up late and may cause a little more problems than anticipated earlier. Yields are going to be variable-some may be the best ever—then some will not be as good, especially in low lying areas, but didn’t drown out.
 

Reporting from the South Delta area is Dee Boykin, Yazoo City
4/24/12 – Since we missed the rain last weekend, the tractors have returned to the fields. Corn planting ceased about 10 days ago in my area. Most growers were able to get their planned acres planted, but some gave up and switched to soybeans. We’re finding lots of pigweed in the corn fields but the corn herbicides appear to be controlling them. Growers are scrambling to get the residual herbicides and nitrogen out.
Some of the soybeans have been planted with the earliest in the cotyledon stage. The ones attempting to emerge now are struggling. Planting will continue this week as the fields dry.
There have been a few acres of cotton planted in my area, but my growers are being patient. We try to hold off until the first of May so there is a minimum fruit load during our annual June drought. The fields are full of vegetation, including pigweed. Even though we saw very few resistant weeds last year, we have to treat these as if they are resistant. My greatest fear is some growers may not completely destroy these existing pigweed and they prove to be resistant. Hopefully everyone understands the risks.

Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg
Nothing really changed from last report. Peanuts will be planted starting Thursday. Growers will plant peanuts for a few days and then move into cotton. Cool weather has stalled planting for this week.
Corn is V4 to V7 and looks good. Picking up armyworms in refuge corn and still a few stinkbugs everywhere. We missed rain last Saturday but we needed to finally miss one. Wheat looks fair to good and is maturing rapidly.

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Mills Rogers and Jimmy Walker Inducted into MACA Hall of Fame

By Carol Bullard | Published: April 23, 2012

During the recent Annual Conference, MACA member, Bob Stonestreet of Clarksdale, used these words in conducting the MACA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at a luncheon honoring the inductees and their families.

“In 2001, the MACA Board of Directors saw a need to recognize and honor those members who excelled in their agricultural expertise, integrity and service to this organization. Consequently, the MACA Hall of Fame was established. It remains as the highest, most prestigious award that any member can obtain.
To date, eleven (11) members have been bestowed this honor. Inductees or their families receive a personal plaque. In addition, a standing plaque listing each inductee is displayed at this university (MSU). Today, we have the honor and privilege to recognize two distinguished gentlemen for their achievements and contributions to the field of entomology and the Mississippi Agricultural Consultants Association.
 

Mills L. Rogers is a life-long resident of Cleveland, Miss. and a 1951 graduate of Delta State University. He began his college career at Delta State College on a music scholarship. After one semester of music, DSC Professors Drs. Jessie White and R. L. Caylor offered the freshman a laboratory assistantship for General Zoology, which he accepted. Mills served in this capacity until his graduation.
Shortly after graduation, Miss married his DSC sweetheart, Patricia Williams. At that time, he decided to enter the field of medicine but, instead, was drafted and entered the Army Medical Corps stationed in San Antonio, Texas.
At the close of the Korean War in 1953, Mills was discharged and returned to Cleveland, Miss. and went to work for California Spray Chemical. Through this work, he became interested in Entomology. Mills left this position and entered Miss. State College receiving his Masters in Entomology.
In 1957, Mills returned to Cleveland and started Rogers Entomological Services. He and son Lee, who began following his dad through the cotton fields at 5 years old, operated the business until Mill’s retirement.
Mills Rogers has had a joyful and rewarding career and has received many awards while active in this profession, however, being a profoundly humble man, he would only admit to the ones this speaker already was aware of. He is a charter member of this organization and served as its second President in 1975. He also served as President of National Entomological Association and the Mississippi Entomological Association. Mills received the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants (NAICC) “Outstanding Consultant Award” in 2002.
Mills and Patricia have four children, daughters Lorna Steele, Renee Reshard and Camille Burns and son Lee Rogers and live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Because of Mills Roger’s dedication, perseverance and integrity to his profession and to this organization, we honorably induct Mills L. Rogers into the MACA Hall of Fame.

Jimmy B. Walker was born in Franklin County and has been a life-long resident of Rolling Fork, Mississippi. He graduated from Southwest Community College in 1955 and from Mississippi State College in 1957 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Education.
He married Anne Branch in 1957 and returned to Rolling Fork that year and worked in the lower Mississippi Delta as a private agricultural consultant until 1995, a total of 39 years.
Jimmy also served in the Mississippi Army National Guard from 1958 to 1964; was a school teacher in Hollandale and Rolling Fork teaching math and science; founded Walker Agricultural Services, Inc.in 1962 and was considered a pioneer in the field of liquid fertilizer. Overtime, “Walker Ag” became a primary source for fertilizer and agricultural consulting in the lower Miss. Delta. It was sold to Tri-State Delta Chemical Company in 1998. That same year, Jimmy became manager of Tri-State Delta in Rolling Fork and retired in 2005.
Mr. Walker was involved in the formation of and is a charter member of the Miss. Agricultural Consultants Association and after serving several years on the Board of Directors was elected President in 1977, following Mills Rogers and Billy Harris.
He was also involved in the formation and was a charter member of the NAICC, a Certified Crop Advisor, served on the Boards’ of the National Fertilizer Association, the Agricultural Retailers Association and the Bank of Anguilla where he is currently an advisor to the Board.
He has been a member of the First Baptist Church of Rolling Fork since 1957 and has served on numerous committees, taught Sunday school and served on the Board of Deacons. He is currently chairman of the Board of Deacons.
Jimmy and Anne have one daughter, Suzanne Walker Smith, who is married to Dr. Paul D. Smith and has two grandchildren, Benjamin and Mary Hannah.
Because of Jimmy Walker’s dedication, perseverance and integrity to his profession and to this association, we honorably induct Jimmy B. Walker into the MACA Hall of Fame.”

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Holcus Leaf Spot Occuring in Mississippi Corn Fields

By Carol Bullard | Published: April 21, 2012

4/21/12 – MACA member, Tucker Miller of Drew, provided this photo of Holcus Leaf Spot in corn and reports that he is seeing it throughout his area. Mississippi State University Plant Pathologist, Dr. Tom Allen, posted an article several hours ago on the Mississippi Crop Situation website. For more photos and information on Holcus Leaf Spot go to www.mississippi-crops.com.

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Consultant Commentary – Up-To-Date Information from Mississippi’s Crop Professionals

By Carol Bullard | Published: April 20, 2012

Reporting from the North Delta area is Bill Pellum – Clarksdale
4-20-12 – I saw my first cotton field up to a stand today; however, we will not start back to planting until next week. Desperately trying to apply both pre and post herbicides on rice corn and soybeans.
Corn is up to V6 and we are adding more fields to the stink bug spray list.
Wheat looks promising with most fields in the soft to hard dough stage. Sprayed a few armyworms earlier but not finding any now.
Planting soybeans, a field or two of corn, milo and a few rice fields following land forming operations.

Reporting from the North Delta area is Joseph Dean, Cleveland
4-20-12 – Most areas I work received 1 inch or more of rain Monday and Tuesday.  A few people were just starting to get back in the field this afternoon.  Most of the Corn I am looking at is planted with the majority of it up.  The biggest problem right now is just needing dry weather to get out fertilize and herbicides.
The oldest soybeans I am looking at are in their 1st trifoliate. Pre emerge herbicides are holding good right now.  A few people fell behind over the weekend with the wind and then rain and we need it to dry enough to run a ground rig and get out Gramoxone before beans start coming up.
I have no cotton planted at this time.

Reporting from the South Delta area is Brian Hayes – Brinson, Georgia
4-20-12 – It looks like we have finished planting corn but we didn’t get quite as much in as we had planned because of the rain. The biggest corn is a V5 but most of it is V2-3.
Not much going on insect wise now just – trying to finish up the herbicide applications. The earliest beans are just cracking the ground right now. We have a little milo planted but it’s not up yet.
Cotton and peanuts will start going in the ground as soon as this rain passes.

Reporting from South Mississippi is Trey Bullock – Hattiesburg
4-20-12 – Nothing has really changed since my last report.  3 to 4 inches of rain fell so nothing has happened in the field.  No insects to mention in corn or wheat.  Most corn up has received nitrogen and a herbicide application. Corn is V-4 to V-6,
Wheat is milk to hard dough.  Picked up a little rust yesterday in a field that had been treated earlier with fungicide. The area is expecting another 2-4 inches of rain Saturday.  Hopefully we will start planting peanuts and cotton in the middle of next week when it dries up.  Where cotton was planted late last week, they will be running rotary hoes today.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

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