Wheat Conditions - On Staurday night / Sunday morning we again dipped below 32 degrees for about 4 to 6 hours.  Will this latest freeze impact the wheat crop?  I really would doubt it.  In the Garden City area the wheat is in the 1st to 2nd node growth stage.  At that point freezing temperature have the potential to cause damage but we have a few factors going for us.  We only got that cold for a short time period and the ground temperature was over 50 degrees and it provided some protection as well.  The following day (Sunday) we rebounded with warm temperatures so it is not the typically scenario to expect anything more than minor damage.  It will take at least a week to evaluate but at this point I would say there is no damage.  We are not far enough along on the crop where the head damage will manifest itself later (meaning the plants look good but the heads are sterile).  That can occur from the boot stage on.  The flowering parts have not developed in the heads yet.  The biggest concern for this wheat crop continues to be the dry conditions.  We continue to live from shower to shower with no soil moisture profile beneath it. 

Alfalfa - Both alfalfa weevils and aphids have reached threshold for treatments on numerous fields south of Garden City and the sandhills south of Deerfield and Lakin.  Overall it does appear to be a lighter than normal year for weevil but part of this may be just a dealy in what is to come.  Alfalfa weevil development is driven by growing degree units and we are far behind normal for this time of year.  I would expect the first cutting of alfalfa is at least a week behind riight now and if you were treating for weevils this week I would still likely use full rates of Pyrethroids.  If aphids are present in significant numbers add 4 oz Lorsban to the Pyrethroid.

 

Corn - The first corn to get planted went in about 2 weeks ago today.  Those fields are just now starting to emerge.  Current soil temperature is 52 degrees and I would expect that we'll see corn going in today emerge in about 8 days.  At this point there are no pest problems with the crop.

 

    

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