It’s been a very hot, muggy, dry week in the LRGV. Temperatures have been in the high 90s with some days above 100. But either way the heat index makes it feels like we were at 105 degrees all week long.
Cotton
We have been seeing light populations of fleahoppers. Most cotton fields are pass the stage for damage. A couple of fields have been treated for verde bug and tarnished plant bug but for the majority of the valley plant bug numbers are fairly light in cotton. I am noticing some light red spidermite pressure in some cotton fields as well.
The main pests right now are whiteflies in Edinburg and along Military hwy in the Pharr, Donna, Alamo areas. Several growers have had to treat twice already for whitefly control as we are seeing many adult whitefly present and several nymphs and eggs as well in these areas. Whiteflies can get out of hand quickly if not controlled promptly. Use plenty of water (10 to 15 gallons per acre) to ensure good coverage of the insecticide being used. The recommended treatment threshold for whiteflies in cotton is 3 to 4 adults per leaf and one large nymph per square inch of the bottom surface of leaves. Most growers are applying preventative sprays to avoid whitefly buildup.
Grain Sorghum
Late grain sorghum received many midge sprays and were sprayed for headworms as well. I have not seen any sugarcane aphid present nor have I seen any re-infestations going on as we continue to harvest sorghum. Many growers finished harvesting their sorghum this week or are well on there way to finishing. Some yields out of McCook in dryland sorghum are averaging anywhere from 3000 to 3500 lbs/acre. In Willacy dryland sorghum had good hit yields of 4,000 to 5,000 lbs/acre. Corn is said to be around 80 bushels/acre.
