Dr. Tim Bryant - New Leader for Entomology Team, and just in time.
6-6-2025
This year we are moving to the next error of Entomology at Virginia Tech as Dr. Tim Bryant is starting his first growing season. I think for Dr. Tim, this year is like jumping into the deep end of the pool to learn how to swim. We are starting with perhaps the most days of rainfall in a planting season I have ever seen. Of course we have had some huge tsunamis that may have given us more total rainfall, but this year, the frequency is what ‘takes the cake’ offering constant interruptions for us on getting work done. As a result, not only was planting delayed but also thrips sprays. That created a can of worms because we are assuming about 23% of our tobacco thrips are now resistant to the low rate of acephate. Plus we have a Flower thrips in the mix which are harder to kill. Dr Tim has indicated that we should expect better performance from Hemi compared to acephate. I agree with this for severe infestations and/or heavy damage although I am also seeing fields with better looking cotton plants. The prettier cotton is either from better planting treatments or lower populations of thrips for these situations, the acephate can still be an option.
In addition to thrips, we are seeing the emergence of Asiatic Garden beetles for the third year in a row. Maybe we’ve always had a few, but looking for them is a new thing. Most people are not having to fight these beetles and even where they exist, the actual infested acreage is not high, but in concentrated spots, they are worse than deer damage. It does seem like the spots develop in the first half of June and by mid-June, the beetles are declining
See the links above to insect publications from our Entomology team.
Variety, Soil Type, and planting date are all components of success as well as lowering risks so Log into Commonwealth gin by clicking here for daily updates on the planting forecast along with planting management strategies.
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