MSU Extension Ag Alerts

The Schutter Lab has started receiving pea, lentil, and chickpea samples with symptoms consistent with herbicide carryover. Symptoms include stunting, distortion, and/or chlorosis. 

Frost symptoms recapped, leaf spots, bacterial blight, and other symptoms coming in via image and physical samples are included in this alert. For suspected root rot samples, a reminder to please dig up plants with a shovel rather than ripping them out of the ground so we can evaluate the root health. 

Thank you,

--Mary Burrows

I've been getting a number of texted photos of little brown spots on pulse crops. These can have various causes. Detailed information and recommendations are provided in the attached PDF file. Please contact Jessica Rupp (jessica.rupp@montana.edu, 994-5572), Frankie Crutcher in Eastern MT (Frankie.crutcher@montana.edu; 433-2208) or Mary Burrows (mburrows@montana.edu, 994-7766) if you have questions or concerns.

-- Mary Burrows

MSU recommends monitoring for alfalfa weevil now. The recent warm weather has accelerated alfalfa weevil development, particularly in some eastern counties. Large numbers of weevil larvae have been reported from alfalfa fields in Big Horn and Richland counties. The attached AgAlert describes methods for surveying and managing alfalfa weevil. 

We're feeling the love in the diagnostic lab these days! Attached is a summary of some of the most common disorders of wheat that have come in in recent days. Please keep them coming and use the app for sample submission if you want a rapid answer (which may be followed by a 'can you please submit a physical sample?'). Instructions for downloading the app can be found at http://diagnostics.montana.edu/sample_submission_app.html or search for Plant Sample Submission in your online 'store.' The app was produced by Incubed.

Damaging numbers of black grass bugs (Labops species) are being reported in range and pasture locations in Teton and Big Horn Counties.  Black grass bugs are plant sap feeders that target many introduced range grasses, including crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and orchardgrass. 

Pythium root rot has been confirmed on alfalfa (Yellowstone county), flax (Sheridan county), and winter wheat (Chouteau, Hill counties) on samples coming into the Schutter Diagnostic Laboratory. Attached is a brief description of symptoms and management options.

--Mary Burrows 406-994-7766, mburrows@montana.edu

Reports are coming in about winter-killed crested wheatgrass stands in Montana, as well as an increase in annual weedy alyssum species. In this Ag Alert, Dr. Jeff Mosley explains the "unfortunate co-occurance of events" that led to the loss of some stands over the winter, as well as the observed proliferation of annual weeds. Management recommendations for alyssum are also discussed. 

Dr. Perry Miller has put together an AgAlert addressing the effects of roll timing on lentil yield. Please contact Dr. Miller with any questions (pmiller@montana.edu).

Thank you,

Eva Grimme

In the spirit of National Pollinator Week, June 18 - 24, producers, bee keepers and pesticide applicators are reminded of best management practices to minimize negative impacts to pollinators when using pesticides. The value of insect pollinated crops in the US ranges from $18 to $27 billion annually, however insect pollinator numbers have been decreasing worldwide. One of the components of pollinator decline is pesticide use, not only on agricultural land, but also in urban areas.  This alert discusses best management practices and a new tool applicators, beekeepers and producers can use to decrease pollinator impacts, specifically to bees. 

The NCERA-184 Fungicide table is attached to this agalert and is available on the extension field crops plant path website at http://www.msuextension.org/plantpath/ 

Happy planting,

--Mary Burrows