What should I spray for scab and vomitoxin control? With the addition of Miravis Ace (a new DMI + SDHI premix) to the list of fungicides recommended for the control of Fusarium head blight (head scab) and vomitoxin in wheat and barley, questions are being asked as to whether it is any better than Prosaro and Caramba. In 2018, we compared the three fungicides on scab susceptible varieties across 12 environments and found that in terms of efficacy against head scab and vomitoxin, Prosaro, Caramba, and Miravis Ace were very comparable.

The Wayne County Extension IPM scouting program has been monitoring ten alfalfa and alfalfa/grass mix fields for alfalfa weevil larvae since the beginning of May.  Although weevil larvae numbers have increased somewhat over the past couple of weeks, numbers are well below threshold treatment levels and this appears to be consistent across the state this year.  Our scouting and sampling have resulted in averages ranging from 0.33 to 0.50 larvae per stem when sampling 5 to 6 random areas for every 25 acres.  Alfalfa height on our last sample date of May 14 averaged from 15 to 25 inches across

Many forage stands were damaged this past winter, and the wet spring has further deteriorated stands that appeared they might recover. It is now too risky to try to establish perennial forages, with the warmer summer weather at our doorstep. We should wait until August to establish perennial stands. Meanwhile, what options can we consider for growing forage this year?

We are also well past the time when cool-season species like oats, triticale, Italian ryegrass, spring barley can be planted. As we move into late May and early June, we must switch to planting warm-season species.

We are past the middle of May and I’m getting calls for data already on the seed treatment trials that we have scheduled for the 2019 season.  But in all honesty, I’m glad they weren’t in the ground!