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Faulkner County Agriculture Update

June 14, 2024

General Conditions

Weather


The rain Sunday night was kind of unexpected. The rain gauge I look at online is in Mayflower and it said it rained a little over 1 inch, but talking to some producers there were a few places that got over a inch and a half. It seemed to come out of nowhere, but we had to deal with it. Luckily the heat helped dry some things out and some fields are still a little soft, but we are getting field work done.

We are keeping an eye on Monday as the next chance of rain. After that the heat is back and we getting back into drier conditions.

Arkansas River
Drought Monitor
US Drought Monitor
Row Crop

Rice


The great Hank Chaney always said rice was like a Timex, it will take a licking and keep on ticking, and as usual he is always right. Rice just continues to look amazing in the county. I am impressed how well herbicides have worked, and we have done a good job of getting fertilizer out at correct timings. We are at the halfway mark and we still have a long way to go, so let's keep it up and I think we are going to have a dang good rice crop.


Below is a link to Dr. Hardke's Arkansas Rice Update from last Friday.

Arkansas Rice Update 6/7/2024

Rice Stink Bug

Jaley Pearson - Faulkner County Extension Intern


As rice starts to head something you need to be increasingly on the lookout for is rice sink bugs. Rice stink bugs, scientific name Oebalus pugnax, is known as the key pest of heading rice in Arkansas. Adult rice stink bugs are straw-colored, 3/8 to 1/2- inch long, somewhat elongated and flattened with forward pointing spines on the shield-like segment behind the head (pronotum). 


Adults emerging in the spring feed almost exclusively on developing seeds on wild grass species.  Adults migrate from wild grasses to rice when plants begin to develop kernels or develop in and around fields on wild host plants. Wild host plants can include barnyard grass and field corn. The rice stink bug has been of concern to Arkansas rice producers for many years. Its feeding causes yield reduction and decrease of rice quality or pecky rice. Reproduction begins soon after feeding starts. The ability of the rice stink bug to feed and reproduce on a wide range of wild grasses plays a significant role in its status as an economic pest. Feeding on early grasses in the spring enables the rice stink bug to reproduce and increase significantly in number.


Rice stink bug adults and nymphs have piercing sucking mouthparts. When feeding, the bug inserts the mouthpart into the developing seed and begins to inject saliva and other secretions to aid in digestion of plant materials. The salivated plant materials are ingested by the bug and subsequently digested. The saliva hardens when it comes in contact with air, forming a feed sheath on the exterior of the plant. Stink bug feeding on developing seeds causes several different types of damage to rice. Early feeding from pre-fertilization through early milk stages causes the heads to blank or abort. Feeding during the milk to soft dough stages results in kernel shrinkage or slight discoloration. During the hard dough through the hard kernel stages, feeding seldom causes shrinkage or discoloration but does create an entry site for fungi and bacterial organisms that may cause discoloration. Pecky rice is created by a combination of the bug’s injection of saliva and the creation of an entry site by the feeding hole in the seed. Fungi enter the feeding site either on the mouthparts or post-feeding. These fungi cause discoloration and dark spots typically associated with pecky rice. Pecky rice is also subject to breaking easily and causing shattered kernels. Significant populations of rice stink bug result in yield reductions and decline in quality or grade.



Recently when we were out walking a corn field that was adjacent to a rice field, we noticed a large population of rice sink bugs. Because of this, in the following weeks it will be important be on the lookout for rice stink bugs in your rice crop, for they can affect yield greatly.

Rice Stink Bug In Arkansas FSA7057
Herbicide Trainings

Anyone that applies Enlist, Dicamba, or Paraquat are required to go through additional education hours. The Enlist and Dicamba training is done online through the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Paraquat is done through the National Pesticide Safety Education Center and there is a $25 charge.

For Enlist and Dicamba follow the link to our Pesticide Training Page. On the left side of the screen there is a menu that links you to Enlist and Dicamba training. I have also added the link to the NPSEC website for the Paraquat training.
UADA Pest Education and Training Page
NPSEC Paraquat Training

Soybeans


Herbicides need to be applied to young soybeans after this last rain. We are getting a lot of grass and broadleaves germinating out there and it is time to control them.


We still aren't seeing much insect activity. Moth trap counts continue to be low, and sweeps aren't showing much of anything.


Keep planting rates up around 150,000 as we continue planting behind wheat.

Corn


I love this time of year with corn. It just keeps rocking and rolling and moving so fast. As corn turns into reproductive stages, you will see a stage a week. R1 is initial germination, followed a week later by R2 which is the blister stage. R3 is what I like to call roasting ear stage as the starch starts to accumulate and change in the kernels.


Be prepared to start irrigation. Corn is at it's peak water usage right now, and with these temperatures you can go from perfect corn to drought stressed in the same day. I can't ever remember a time we have made it this far without irrigation starting, but it is going to happen, so be prepared.


This week we accumulated 178.5 units which brings us up to 1521 total heat units since April 1. That would put corn around R1 to R2.

Corn Earworm Moth Traps


Corn Earworm moth numbers were still down this week. I thought adding new pheromone to the traps would make the numbers come up, but they didn't. I did find a few small worms in some corn, so I figure all the moths have laid their eggs and we are probably two to three weeks from another big spike in counts.

Beef, Small Ruminants, & Forages

Armyworms in Faulkner County


This is not something I wanted to bring up just yet, but I think we all need to know that armyworms have been found in a Faulkner County hay field. We only found 4 very small worms in a hay field Thursday while using a sweep net, but they were there. This doesn't mean they will get bad, but I do think everyone needs to be on the lookout. I am seeing lots of reports in southern Arkansas where County Agents are saying they are seeing multiple sizes at treatment levels.


I know everyone wants to use Lambda Cy because it is cheap, but I would really want to think about adding Dimilin for some residual if it is not time to harvest hay and you have a mix of sizes. If you are close to harvesting the hay, you can get by with just a shot of Lambda Cy.


Please let me know if anyone is finding worms at treatment levels.

Faulkner and Perry County Grazing Field Day


Save the date of Saturday July 13th for a joint grazing field day between Faulkner and Perry Counties. We have been working with the Natural Resource Conservation Services staff to come up with a field day to help producers needing an educational meeting for their EQIP contract. This field day will be open to anyone that wants to attend, it isn't just for EQIP producers. A formal agenda will be coming soon. The field day will be at the Jeff Owen Farm just north of Enola on Heffington Cemetery Road.

Foxtail Control Demonstration


We got out a Foxtail Control Demonstration in a bermudagrass hay field on Brandon Harris last week. We are already seeing some damage to the foxtail, but we need to keep an eye on how much some of these treatments hold back the bermuda. I will keep everyone updated on the results.

Hoof Problems?

Dr. Dan Quadros - Small Ruminant Specialist


Hoof problems? You're not alone. Several calls in the past couple of months about foot rot and other hoof issues. Click here to find information about prevention and treatment https://www.uaex.uada.edu/.../posts/prevent-foot-rot.aspx.



Foot baths are prepared with a solution (10%) of copper sulfate or, preferably, zinc sulfate for sheep. This concentration is achieved by mixing 8 lbs in 10 gallons of water. Add some laundry detergent to the solution. You may need to repeat the treatment as soon as 3 in 3 days minimum for 12 days. The hooves must be immersed in this solution for at least 5 minutes, ideally 15 minutes or more and moved to a clean (no feces) area to dry out and move to dry pastures without contamination. On paper, it seems to be easy, but in reality, it is challenging. Animals will try to avoid it at all costs. So, a proper chute with a container at the bottom will be very helpful. Antibiotics may be necessary. Talk with your veterinarian to determine the best options and directions. Selection is an important tool for genetic improvement, so register the ID of animals that the problem is recurrent to be culled. I have heard the vaccines will return on the market, but I don't know when. Autogenous vaccines are possible but are feasible for large flocks.

Livestock Market Report

The weekly livestock market report is available on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website.
ADA Livestock Market Report
Upcoming Events

Faulkner/Perry Grazing Field Day - July 13, 2024, 9:00 - 12:00 at Jeff Owen Farm in Enola.

Contact Kevin Lawson, County Extension Agent–Agriculture, Faulkner County | Kevin Lawson
uaex.uada.edu/faulkner