Greene County Cooperative Extension Service Grain Sorghum Economic & Pest Survey

Transcription

1 Greene County Cooperative Extension Service 2015 Grain Sorghum Economic & Pest Survey Objective: Track pest development, evaluate pesticide efficacy, and determine profitability for growing grain sorghum in northeast Arkansas. Project Partners: Jeremy Cude, DaVault Farms, Brandon Davis, Shane Frost, Grambling Farms, Norwood Farms, King Farms, Steve Powers, Matt Robbins, Mike Simmons, Vowell Farms, Wells Farms Procedures: Six fields, scattered throughout Greene County, were checked weekly for pest development from stand establishment through crop maturity. U of A scouting methods were followed to assess pest population levels. Pesticides were recommended based upon Extension guidelines. Pest control was determined by tracking changes in pest levels following pesticide application. Regular reports were also provided by local crop advisors on the pest situation in their client fields (a special thanks to these consultants and industry/retailer reps participating). To assess the potential for economic returns, growers were kind enough to share the number of tillage trips, custom applications, and irrigations made on their survey field, in addition to reporting pesticide applications used. Input prices were used from the 2015 U of A Extension budgets for specific tillage & planting operations, irrigation, custom application charges, and for most pesticides used. For this report, we wanted a disking operation, or quart of Atrazine, to cost the same for each farm in the survey, so we could better track why some fields were more profitable (lower expenses?, higher yields?) than others. Results & Discussion: Averaged across the six farms, yield came in at 122 bu./acre. Yields ranged from 102 to 145 bu./acre. Checking total expenses, they averaged $399/acre, resulting in a breakeven price (BEP) of $3.26/bu. It you take out 25% crop rent, the BEP jumps to $4.35/bu. Also noteworthy is the narrow range ($3.89/acre-lowest vs. $4.17/acre highest) for total costs for the fields in the survey. All fields, but one, were irrigated. All fields, except one, were planted near the May 1 window as April rains subsided. Disease, worm, and aphid pressure varied from one field to the next, making scouting a must. Considering foliar diseases, all but one field received a fungicide application, primarily for suppression of target spot. Looking at insecticide use, all but one field ended up needing sprayed for worms and/or white sugar cane aphids. The average number of insecticide applications per field was 1.83, ranging from 0 to 3. What about weeds? Atrazine and the WSSA type 15 herbicides (Dual,etc) kept most fields in the survey weed free. Two fields did have Texas panicum which escaped control in some areas. 39

2 Following is a brief summary for each field in the survey. Farm A The only late planted field (May 27 th ) in the survey was on Farm A. This silt loam site was planted to twin rows on 38 inch beds and was pivot irrigated. Target spot pressure was severe early on (by flowering), resulting in a big yield response to fungicide application. Priaxor did an excellent job protecting the upper canopy leaves. The field also had to be treated for a mix of worms (earworm, armyworm, sorghum webworm) feeding on the heads. Sugarcane aphids were also a problem at this site. Although the early application of Transform did a good job, a second application (Sivanto) was needed 10 days later as aphids bounced back to colonize plants across the field. Considering late planting, this field did pretty good when you study performance/economics. Its yield and BEPs almost match those for the average across the six farms. Farm B This survey field was planted (30 inch rows on 60 inch beds) in early May on a silt loam. It was furrow irrigated 5 times. It developed a lot of target spot, but did not show near the yield response to fungicide as Field A. When disease reached the upper canopy, the sorghum was already entering the hard dough stage, and was almost able to outrun being hurt for yield. A pyrethroid application was needed for earworm control (excellent) in July. A border application for sugarcane aphids was also applied in August with good results. This field also penciled out a yield and BEPs comparable to the average for all survey fields. Farm C The bedder-roller system was also used at this site, along with 30 inch rows. Excessive rains after planting resulted in a uniformly thin stand (33,000 plants per acre). The plants did end up tillering good, resulting in a decent yield, even though it was one of the lowest in the survey. It was furrow irrigated 4 times. Sooty stripe developed early at ground level, but never moved higher that mid canopy. Rough spot was also seen at a moderate level. Fungicide was applied to protect upper canopy leaves which stayed clean. The worm complex at this site was an even mix of earworms and armyworms. A generic pyrethroid did good on the earworms, but showed escapes for the armyworm. Kernel feeding was observed, but worm levels never built back up to threshold level. Sugarcane aphids were also treated with Transform in August. As was seen at other sites, in a little over a week, they starting building again, but the farmer opted not to spray a second time. Some places in the field did show quite a bit of honeydew, but it did not seem to impede harvest or affect grain quality according to the farmer. With a lower yield, this field had higher BEPs than most of the others in the survey. 40

3 Farm D This survey field earned the star for the highest yield at 145 bpa. The silt loam soil was planted on narrow row (26 inch) beds the first week of May. It received furrow irrigation only 2 times. No significant disease pressure was seen, but it did receive an early fungicide application. It would have been nice to have an untreated check strip to see if the fungicide was profitable. Earworms also had to be treated at this location. Belt provided good residual control. Sugarcane aphids were managed with 2 applications of Transform timed a couple of weeks apart. This field also recorded the best economic returns in the survey. It had a BEP of $3.83 after taking out crop rent. Farm E Narrow row spacing (15 inch on 60 inch beds) was also a winning combination for this survey field which came in with the second highest yield (135 bpa). It was the only non-irrigated field in the survey. This was also the only survey field that did not receive a fungicide application. It did develop low levels of sooty stripe and scattered rough spot, but they remained mid canopy and below. A July application of Prevlathon did an excellent job providing residual worm control. The grower held out as long as possible on aphids, but finally made an application of Transform as they started to move into the heads. He said the light level of honeydew did not hamper harvest. With a high yield and average input costs, this survey field was right behind the top survey field when you check BEPs. Farm F This sandy site was planted using conventional tillage and 38 beds. It was furrow irrigated 4 times. At a respectable yield of 102 bpa, it was several bushels under the survey average. Factors that may have contributed include wide rows, excessive rainfall early with possible nutrient loss, and weed pressure from Texas panicum. Fortunately, this was the only site that did not receive an insecticide application. Worm levels never developed to treatment threshold. Meanwhile, sugarcane aphids stayed at low levels until late in the season, then exploded close to harvest. Even with a moderate level of honeydew, the grower said no problems were seen with the harvest operation. Checking returns, the break even prices on this field are higher than the rest of those in the survey, primarily due to lower yield.*** 41

4 University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture Greene County Cooperative Extension Service 2015 Sorghum Economic & Pest Survey Program Summary - Six Farms Cooperator> Farm A Farm B Farm C Farm D Farm E Farm F Average Input/product* 6 Farms Fertilizer $90 $111 $100 $111 $105 $115 $105 Herbicide $27 $37 $24 $37 $46 $38 $35 Fungicide $16 $16 $14 $16 $0 $16 $13 Insecticide $40 $6 $17 $35 $29 $0 $21 Desiccant $5 $5 $0 $0 $5 $0 $2 Custom App $6 $19 $40 $28 $44 $26 $27 Irrigation $58 $62 $62 $31 $0 $62 $46 Total Expenses $396 $403 $382 $417 $377 $389 $394 Yield - Bu./acre BEP- $/Bu. $3.25 $3.17 $3.75 $2.88 $2.79 $3.81 $3.23 BEP- $/Bu. (25% rent) $4.33 $4.23 $4.99 $3.83 $3.72 $5.08 $4.30 *Machinery & input costs were used from 2015 U of A Extension Budgets page 42

5 University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture Greene County Cooperative Extension Service 2015 Grain Sorghum Economic & Pest Survey Farm Summary Chart Farm Plant Date Production Tillage Soil Tex, IR Fertilizer Herbicide Insecticide Fungicide Yield Site Variety Stand Count System Last Crop Applications Applications Applications Applications Bu./Acre A Pioneer 82P17 May 27th, Good stand Con 38 inch, twin rows Turbo till, Bed, Do-all Center pivot, Pre=Verdict+Dual, Post=Atrazine Transform 1.5 oz + Prevlathon, Sivanto 7/27=Priaxor 4 oz 122 B Pioneer 84G62 April 30, Con 60 inch beds, 30 inch row spacing Disk, Kelly, Bedder roller 4/30= 300# , 5/23=100# AS # urea, Total Units N=124 4/30-Verdict, 5/23 - Atrazine 1 qt pt. Dual 7/17=Tombstone, 8/17=Transform 1.5 oz borders 7/14=Priaxor 4 oz 127 C DynaGro 765B May 1, Con 60 inch beds, 30 inch row spacing Disk, Turbo till- 2x, Bedder roller, 5/1= , 5/22= , 6/10= 120# urea, Total Units N=159 Pre=Dual +Atrazine, Post=Atrazine 7/23=Pyrethroid for worms, Transform 1.5 oz border 7/23=Quilt Xcel 10.5 oz 102 D DeKalb 5367 May 5, Con 26" beds Vert Till, Land Plane, Bedderroller 5/5= , 6/8=32%UAN-100 units, Total Units N=130 Pre=Dual, Post=Atrazine + Huskie 7/31=Belt 2 oz, Aug - Transform 1.5 oz, Sept - Transform 1.5 oz 7/25=Priaxor 4 oz 145 E DynaGro 765B April 30, Con 60 inch beds, 15 inch row spacing Vert till - 2x, Bedder roller, Variable rate P&K preplant, 5/23=200# urea, 6/4=100# urea, Total Units N=138 4/30-Glyphosate + Verdict, Post=Atrazine + Dual 7/31=Prevathon 14 oz, Transform 1.5 oz for aphids None 135 F Terral REV 9782 April 29, Con 38 inch beds Bed, Do-all Sand, 4/29= , 5/23= , 6/2=200# urea, Total Units N=156 4/29-Paraquat + Dual, 5/23- Atrazine + oil, June 16- Gramoxone hooded None 7/21=Quilt Xcel 102 page 43

6 University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Greene County Cooperative Extension Serevice Grain Sorghum *Pest Survey 2015 Date -August 27 Weather - Mild temps and dry all week Sg Cane Other Ear Other Stink Worms Midge Aphid Aphids Worms Worms Bugs ID Variety GS #/ #/ #/ #/ #/ #/ #/ Other Notes/ # Whorl head head head head head head Insects/Diseases Recommendations Fung Insect F Terral REV 9782 Hrd D DeKalb 5367 Hrd C DynaGro 765B Hrd Heavy some field areas on > 1/2 flag leaves on > 1/2 flag leaves Target spot continues to build and dry up foilage as a natural dessicant. Not sprayed for aphids yet. In hot spots more honeydew seen & colonies moving onto some heads as green foilage lost from severe target spot. Will harvest Monday army 0 No significant disease Transform has just played out. On over 1/2 flag leaves a tiny-tiny aphid or two found. A week from black layer - 3 weeks to harvest so decide spray again or not next week army 0.1 rice Armyworm #s on heads down this week. Moving to leaves as we go to hard dough. Transform has played out. Over 1/2 flag leaves-tiny aphids just starting. Black layer 5 days away- about 3 weeks to harvest so decide spray again or not next week. Season Total Number Treatments A Pioneer 82P17 Sft & Hrd B Pioneer 84G62 Hrd Dgn on > 1/2 flag leaves rice Very noticable difference in green foilage-fungicide vs. no fung-severe target spot Light Very noticable difference in green foilage-fungicide vs. no fung-severe target spot Transform has played out. Over 1/2 flag leaves-tiny aphids just starting. Black layer 10 days away-over 3 weeks to harvest so decide spray again in next 7-10 days. Only finding scattered aphid colony & honeydew. Sodium chlorate out last week-plan to harvest early next week E DynaGro 765B Hrd Dgn Mod level yes rice Mod leaf disease-plenty of green leaf left to finish grain fill. Greenbug & corn leaf aphids light. Not sprayed for aphids yet. Colonies building & noticable honeydew some areas. Insecticide should be considered. About 5 days to black layer-3 weeks to harvest Milo in this pic received 4 oz of Priaxor at early flowering. Target spot was severe at this site Milo in this pic did not receive a fungicide application. Target spot was severe at this site Sugarcane aphids are seen moving into heads on this survey field (not sprayed) where severe target spot prematurly dried down the leaves. This was a hot spotmost of field only light honeydew Averages > Weekly summary: *Pest pressure ratings: T=Trace, VL=VL, L=Light, M=Medium, H=Heavy, VH=Very Heavy With dry weather, aphids are building quickly. For the two fields not sprayed for aphids, one will be harvested Monday with minimal amounts of honeydew present, while honeydew is building on the other field which is over 2 weeks away from harvest. On 3 of the survey fields, some 3 weeks from harvest, and already sprayed for aphids, the insecticide is breaking and tiny aphids were found on over half the flag leaves. We will decide to spray again or out run to harvest next week. The other early survey field, treated, will be harvested Monday with almost no honeydew. Page 44 Thanks to our cooperating farms & crop consultants: DaVault, Wells, Norwood, Grambling, Vowell, King, Frost, Robbins, Cude, Simmons.