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Wheat insectsBy David G. Hallauer District Extension Agent Crops & Soils/Horticulture While I haven't gotten any reports of insect damage yet, and KSU entomologists report that insect pressure in wheat has been light, there are some insect pests to at least be aware of here in May. Army cutworm has been found in canola in the state. Normally an earlier spring problem, this spring's later development means it should continue to be on producer radar. Symptoms include irregular spots in the field that may turn brown after green up. Worms will be brownish and hiding in soil near the base of the plants during the day. They prefer new spring growth. The true armyworm may show up from now until harvest. This is usually a problem during wet periods in eastern Kansas. True armyworms are black, green, and yellow striped and can be found just beneath the soil at the base of the plants during the day. They feed at night, and can strip the foliage and beards. Another spring pest we tend not to notice, until the affects are seen, is bird cherry-oat aphid. This is the insect that vectors barley yellow dwarf disease. Fortunately, fall infections are worse than spring. And, while we're not worried about direct feeding damage, some locations saw populations high enough last year to cause direct feeding damage. More information on these and other insect pests, including critical thresholds and control options, is available in the publication: Wheat Insect Management 2008, available at county and district K-State Research and Extension offices or online: www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/entml2/MF745.pdf.
Sweet corn primer Used to be you could choose a sweet corn, wait until soil temperature reached 55 degrees--then plant. With genetic advances in sweet corn, however, it's not that simple. What is available to you? Standard (su): This is our "normal" sweet corn and contains a "sugary gene" (su). Standard sweet corn should be isolated from field corn, popcorn, supersweets and ornamental corn. To isolate one type of corn from another, do not plant one type within 200 to 250 feet or have a difference of 12 to 14 days in time to maturity. Plant when the soil temperature reaches at least 55 degrees. Recommended varieties include Honey and Cream, Silver Queen, Sterling Silver, Jubilee or Merit. Supersweet (sh2): Though supersweets have up to three times the sweetness of standard sweet corns and hold their sweetness longer after harvest due to the sh2 gene, they do have some drawbacks such as tougher kernels and a lack of some of that good "corn" flavor. They also need to be isolated from other sweet corn types and are very sensitive to cooler soils. Wait until the soil temperature reaches 65 degrees before planting. Try Candy Store, Florida Staysweet, Sugar Loaf, Sweet Time or Sweetie. Sugar Enhanced (se): These are probably the most popular types of sweet corn grown, due to their tender kernels, good flavor and less sensitivity to cool soils (60 degree soil temperature for planting). They hold their post-harvest sweetness longer than standard types but will not hold sweetness as long as the supersweets. The sweetness from the sugar-enhanced types is due to the "se gene." If both parents were se types, the variety is known as an se+ or se se. If only one parent was an se type and the other an su type, then the variety will be listed as se. They do not need to be isolated other than from the supersweets. Suggested varieties include Bodacious, Ambrosia, Sweet Temptation, Delectable and Miracle. Triplesweet (synergistic): The newest types of sweet corns blend the su, se and supersweet types with the goal of combining the best characteristics of each. We don't have firm recommendations yet, but you may want to try Serendipity, Polka, Avalon or Frisky. Confused? Just be sure you know what you want to grow before you start, and select accordingly! 5/26/08 Date: 5/22/08
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