the beetles feed. Again, carbaryl (Sevin) applied as a dust or spray will pro- 

 vide control. 



SMALL GRAINS 



Armyworms . Don't push the panic button yet on armyworms. Although an occasional, 

 small grain field was observed in the south-central section this week with suffi- 

 cient armyworms to cause problems, most fields didn't have enough to warrant con- 

 cern. Many worms are still small and will continue to feed for several days. The 

 cool weather has slowed down their feeding and development. 



Continue to check small grain fields carefully for another two weeks. Cool, wet 

 weather is favorable for armyworm development. High temperatures help produce 

 a disease that may kill many of the worms. 



To determine the need for treatment in a grain field, look first in the thick, 

 lodged spots. Then strike the plants vigorously to dislodge the worms and count 

 those on the ground or in the debris between the rows , or in the cracks and crev- 

 ices in the soil. If you find many worms, make counts in several places in the 

 field and figure the average number per linear foot of row. If the average is 

 six or more worms per linear foot of row throughout the field, chemical control 

 is justified. If you do not find worms or only a few in the thick or lodged 

 spots, treatment is not necessary. 



Leaf-feeding is not serious when worm populations are low, but an average popula- 

 tion of less than 6 worms per linear foot of drill row can still cause damage if 

 the worms are cutting off the heads of wheat. Also, if most worms are about 1-1/4 

 to 1-1/2 inches long and are fat, they are through feeding. Do not use insecti- 

 cides then. It is too late. 



Applications of 1 to 1-1/4 pounds of malathion, 1 pound of trichlorfon (Dylox) , 

 or 1-1/2 pounds toxaphene per acre will control armyworms. Do not feed forage or 

 straw treated with toxaphene to dairy cattle, livestock being fattened for slaugh- 

 ter, or poultry. After using trichlorfon, do not forage or feed the wheat within 

 three days. There is no waiting period between the application of toxaphene and 

 grain harvest; a week is required when applying malathion, 21 days for trichlorfon. 



Where the worms are migrating into corn, spray the infested rows as well as a 25- 

 to 30 -foot strip of wheat or grass adjacent to the corn. 



FORAGE INSECTS 



Alfalfa weevils . The larvae are pupating in the southern section, and populations 

 are leveling off or declining. If damage is present, the best approach now is to 

 cut and remove the hay and watch the new growth of the second crop for damage. If 

 it does not green-up within 2 to 4 days after cutting and if worms are noticeable, 

 spray the alfalfa promptly. Alfalfa weevil larvae will be present for several 

 weeks in southern sections, but the peak period for damage is over in this area. 



In the central and northern sections, larval populations are still low and non- 

 economic. See Report No. 7 for insecticide suggestions. 



WEEDS 



WEED CONTROL IN GRAIN SORGHUM 



The southern corn leaf blight caused farmers to take a closer look at grain sor- 

 ghum this year as an alternate crop. Several herbicides are cleared for grain 

 sorghum, but few for forage sorghum. 



