Peanut and Tobacco News
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I have seen several fields of tobacco this year, which I suspect were stunted by Cadre carryover. Cadre is a herbicide that is used in peanuts, and has a 9-month planting restriction to tobacco. I believe the dry weather we experience last year, cause the problem with stunting this year. In most years, the herbicide will be leached out of the planting zone, and planting tobacco behind peanuts that were sprayed with Cadre, is not a problem. In fields with stunted tobacco, the problem seems to be worse where the spray was double up across the end rows. If you spray Cadre on peanuts this year, and plan to plant tobacco next year, be careful not to double up the spray across the end rows.
Sucker Control
The dry weather and high temperatures have caused problems with tobacco plants filling out and plant height. Sucker control will be a challenge this year with a low profile crop and leaves close together. When applying contacts, make sure the sprayer is adjusted properly and enough volume (50 gallons) of water is used. You may have to make more than 2 contacts applications before you apply your MH. You can also apply one application of flumetrilin by itself, to hold the suckers, until the tobacco leaves are large enough for a MH application. Applying contacts early in the day when leaves are open will improve sucker control. Avoid applications in the heat of the day when tobacco is wilted. Hopefully by the time you receive this newsletter, we will have receive rainfall.
Insect Control
Scouting you tobacco for insect damage is important. Insecticide application should be based on live insect in your field, not seeing your neighbor spraying.
The threshold for tobacco hornworms is when one of more hornworms larger than 1 inch, and without parasite cocoons, are found per 10 plants checked.
The threshold for Flea Beetles on large plants is when there are 60 or more beetles per plant, or when lower leaves begin to look ragged or lacy.
The threshold for Aphids is when 10 percent or more of plants have as many as 50 aphids on any upper leaf before topping.
Peanut News
Leafspot Weather Advisory
Peanut growers should begin spraying a fungicide to prevent leafspot diseases, at R3 stage of growth. R3 in peanuts occurs when peanut pods begins to form, and usually occurs around the first of July. Fungicide application should be made on a 14-calendar schedule or by using the leafspot weather advisory. Beginning in July, we will post the weather leafspot advisory, along with the moth flight counts, on Mon, Wed, and Fri. on the TIPS call line. That phone number is 792-8477. The leafspot weather advisory is based on weather information from weather stations located at Lewiston, Williamston, and Plymouth.
Disease Identification
There are several diseases that attack peanuts. It is important to correctly identify what disease you have, to make sure you are applying the correct fungicide. The 2 major types of leafspot diseases are Early and Late leafspot. Early leafspot is easier to control that Late leafspot. Web blotch is another peanut disease and usually occurs late.
Soil borne diseases, such at Southern stem rot and Sclerotinia blight, can cause problems in peanuts. In Martin County, we have much more Southern Stem Rot than Sclerotinia blight. It is important to know which soil born disease you have, because only Omega and Edura are label to control Sclerotinia blight.
If you need any help in identifying a disease in your peanut field, give me a call at 789-4370.