FROM AROUND THE STATE

ISSUE 15   August 10, 2000

South-Central ND

    Total rainfall as recorded at NDAWN sites in south-central ND during August 2 to 8 ranged from less
than a 0.05 inch at McLeod to1.7 inches at Harvey. The rainfall hampered small grain and hay harvest.
However, the moisture was useful in supporting warm-season crop development. On August 8, estimated
daily water use ranged from 0.17 to 0.28 inches for corn emerged May 15, soybean and dry bean
emerged May 29, and sunflower emerged June 5.

    Sclerotinia can be readily found in canola. A canola disease survey was conducted in Stutsman,
Foster, Wells, and Sheridan counties during August 3-8. Ten swathed canola fields were examined in
each county for sclerotinia and 90 percent of the fields examined had the disease. The 36 fields with
sclerotinia had levels ranging from 2 to 78 percent and an average of 19 percent. Estimates of yield
loss can be determined by multiplying 0.5 to 0.75 percent times the disease percentage. Thus, the survey
average of 19 percent would indicate a possible average yield loss of 10 to 14 percent.

    Seed weevils can be readily found in the region’s sunflower but densities are variable. It appears that
most insecticide treatments are being made to confection sunflower. Growers should continue to monitor
for this pest. Growers should monitor later-maturing crops for grasshopper injury as the insects move
from harvested small grain and hay fields to green crops. Pre-harvest glyphosate application in flax is
being considered by growers due to late-season weed presence.

Gregory Endres
Area Extension Specialist/Cropping Systems
NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center
gendres@ndsuext.nodak.edu