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Harden Your Transplants Prior To Planting Your Garden
Hardening plants is an important step that gardeners should not skip. Take the time to harden your plants properly and reap the benefits of sturdy, well-established plants throughout the gardening season!
Fairy Rings in Lawns
Seeing greener grass in circular pattern in your lawn? This is not due to uneven fertilizer application, but rather due to a fungi feeding on decomposing matter and releasing nitrogen in the affected areas.
Alfalfa Weevil Activity Prediction Update: May 13, 2021
Although last week was warmer, we still didn’t accumulate a lot of degree days for alfalfa weevils. However, the upcoming forecast looks more favorable for alfalfa growth and alfalfa weevil development.
Common Stalk Borer Activity Estimate: May 13, 2021
The upcoming weather forecast looks warmer than the last few weeks, and that means we will begin to accumulate degree days for the common stalk borer at an increased rate.
Estimating Corn Emergence With Growing Degree Days: Data from May 7, 2021
With corn planting well underway in South Dakota, the next step is monitoring its emergence. One of the factors that can speed up or delay corn emergence is air temperature.
Alfalfa Weevils Are Active, and It’s Time to Scout
Scouting and managing alfalfa weevils when they reach the determined thresholds can prevent yield loss and encourage healthy regrowth of infested alfalfa stands.
Small Aphid Populations Observed in Wheat
This week we received the first report of aphids in wheat for the 2021 season. The populations won’t be increasing rapidly until the daily temperatures warm up, but it is still a good idea to scout fields and determine if aphids are present.
Watch Closely for Weed Emergence
Cool, dry conditions have slowed weed emergence and growth, but dry conditions also have limited the activation of preemergent chemicals. Given this scenario, fields need to be scouted closely to ensure that weeds do not get away.
Should I Get Rid Of My Dandelions?
While there is much appeal to having a lawn that is free of other plants, there can be benefits to having some early-season diversity. Some weeds that are sprayed out of lawns, including dandelions, can serve as early-season food sources for pollinators.
Alfalfa Weevil Activity Prediction Update: May 20, 2021
This week we accumulated degree days for alfalfa weevils at a rapid rate. As a result, we observed many areas of the state potentially move through more than one larval life stage.