Save the date for January 27. The SC Peanut Growers’ Annual Meeting is coming back to Santee in 2022 live and in-person. See the attached announcement for additional details. Pesticide/CEU credits will be offered at the meeting. Meeting sponsorship opportunities to be announced in the near future. Please contact Marianne Catalano (mcatalano@scda.sc.gov) or myself with any questions.
South Carolina Crops
Harvest Season Considerations – Soybean
As of this week, about 60% of our soybean crop has begun dropping leaves, a good sign of full maturity and harvest in the near future. As of October 25, around 10% of the soybean crop has already been harvested. As we progress into harvest a few things to keep in mind are as follows: […]
2021 State Corn and Soybean Meeting – 12/8 – In-Person
The South Carolina Corn and Soybean Growers Meeting will resume in 2021. This year’s meeting will consist of an in-person event at the Santee Conference Center in Santee, SC on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021. An updated announcement and agenda will be released in the coming weeks as speakers and schedules are confirmed. If you have […]
Demonstration of Soil Health Through NRCS-Funded Project
There is an opportunity to involve cotton growers in on-farm extension studies to test conservation management practices through an NRCS-funded grant. The first step of the process is to identify growers for this study. I have designed a short survey that should not take more than two minutes to help identify potential partners. Kindly help […]
Paper published regarding peanut sound splits
A paper was recently published on sound splits associated with grading practices.
**Cancelled – Peanut, Horticulture, and Agronomic Crops Field Day – Edisto REC & Agronomic Crops Field Day – Pee Dee REC**
After much discussion and careful consideration for the health and wellbeing of the public, Clemson University has decided to cancel the 2021 Edisto REC Peanut, Horticulture and Agronomic Crop Field Day planned for September 16th and the 2021 Pee Dee REC Field Day planned for September 29th. We look forward to resuming this field day […]
Soybean Growth Staging Timeline – Fungicide Timing/Recommendation
I hope everyone has had a good weekend. In response to this weekend’s Soybean Rust Update from Jonathan Croft, Joe Varn, and Dr. Mueller about confirming soybean rust on soybean in Bamberg, South Carolina, I wanted to provide a few recommendations as we begin applying fungicides or considering doing so. The crop progress report from […]
South Carolina Soybean Rust Update – 8/28 – **Rust Detected in SC**
SOUTH CAROLINA SOYBEAN RUST NEWS NOTE 28 August 2021 FROM: Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, Joe Varn, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, and Dr. John Mueller, Extension Soybean Pathologist, Edisto Research and Education Center. SOYBEAN RUST HAS BEEN DETECTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA. During the week of August 23rd – August 27th samples were examined from […]
Post-Harvest Weed Control Options in Corn
Corn harvest in South Carolina typically begins in August. The weeds remaining after harvest can contribute to future infestations. This is because we have several months of good growing conditions for weeds after harvest. For example, Palmer amaranth, sicklepod, and annual morningglory can continue to grow and produce seed. Palmer amaranth is capable of producing […]
2021 Fall VC Peanut News
The 2021 Fall edition of the Virginia-Carolinas Peanut News is now available online at: https://www.aboutpeanuts.com/phocadownload/Peanut-News/2021%20Fall%20Peanut%20News.pdf
Peanut – Sprays and pods near end of season
Peanut planted near the end of April are near 110 to 120 DAP. Depending on cultivar maturity development and requirements in individual fields, the growing season is starting to draw to a close with harvest of earliest planted fields beginning in the coming weeks. Later plantings and longer maturing runners’ time will come later on. […]
**POSTPONED – Peanut, Horticulture, and Agronomic Crops Field Day – New Date 9/16**
Due to safety concerns Clemson University has decided to delay the 2021 EREC Field Day by 2 weeks. The new target date is Thursday, September 16th. If developments between now and then further affect the situation or result in a cancellation, this information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.
Corn and Soybean Turnrow Drop-In – Holly Hill, SC 8/20
On August 20th from 10:00am-Noon a drop-in will be held at the dryland corn hybrid strip trial located in the field at the intersection of Mt. Olive Rd and Hwy 176. This directly across Hwy 176 in front of Mt Olive Ame Church (4630 Old State Rd, Holly Hill, SC 29059). Dr. Michael Plumblee, Extension […]
South Carolina Soybean Rust Update – 8/14
SOUTH CAROLINA SOYBEAN RUST NEWS NOTE 14 August 2021 FROM: Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, Joe Varn, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, and Dr. John Mueller, Extension Soybean Pathologist, Edisto Research and Education Center. SOYBEAN RUST HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS OF 14 August 2021. During the week of August 8th – […]
Peanut, Horticulture, and Agronomic Crops Field Day – Sept. 2nd – Blackville, SC
Clemson University has scheduled an in-person field day at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, SC for September 2nd, 2021. Registration will be from 8-9AM. The morning program will consist of concurrent peanut and horticultural crop programs followed by lunch. After lunch an agronomic crops (cotton, corn, soybean) session will begin and conclude at 4PM. Please […]
Soybean Update – Foliar Fertilizer Use in Soybean
Overall, our soybean crop in South Carolina is off to a decent start. Rains in early June delayed some small grain harvest thus delaying planting of our double crop soybean acres. The August 2nd crop progress report for South Carolina has SC at 60% bloom and 15% setting pods. At these growth stages, (R1-R3) soybean […]
Planter Evaluation – Now is the time
Over the last few years, interest in “yield improving” row crop planter modifications, add-ons, and technologies have been topics of discussion for growers. While there is benefit from various technologies in specific row crops, the jury is still out on every technology and new product contributing to yield (and profit) in every crop grown in […]
Scouting for Diseases, VBC
Lesions on the Leaf Late leaf spot is starting to be found in more fields this week, including those with timely and expensive fungicide programs. Switching modes of action and/or including Bravo or sulfur in with the next fungicide application, or tank mixing a systemic product with bravo (e.g., if the previous spray was bravo) […]
South Carolina Soybean Rust Update – 7/30
SOUTH CAROLINA SOYBEAN RUST NEWS NOTE 30 July 2021 FROM: Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, Joe Varn, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, and Dr. John Mueller, Extension Soybean Pathologist, Edisto Research and Education Center. SOYBEAN RUST HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS OF 30 JULY 2021. During the week of July 26th – […]
South Carolina Soybean Rust Update – 7/26
SOUTH CAROLINA SOYBEAN RUST NEWS NOTE 26 July 2021 FROM: Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, Joe Varn, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, and Dr. John Mueller, Extension Soybean Pathologist, Edisto Research and Education Center. SOYBEAN RUST HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS OF 25 JULY 2021. During the week of July 19th – […]
Grain Combine Yield Monitor Calibration
As we continue to progress through the growing season, many growers are beginning to service and set up equipment for corn harvest. This is an excellent time to check yield monitor components if you wish to collect and record yield data. The July 19th crop progress report for South Carolina estimates that 26% of the […]
Corn, Cotton, and Soybean Disease Update
In the last two weeks, most of us have received large amounts of rainfall. Daily rainfall of over 2 inches was observed in many areas and several places got 5+ inches of rain in those two weeks. In general, the rainfall was good for crops. However, it also increased our odds of getting foliar diseases […]
South Carolina Soybean Rust Update – 7/21
SOUTH CAROLINA SOYBEAN RUST NEWS NOTE 21 July 2021 FROM: Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, Joe Varn, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, and Dr. John Mueller, Extension Soybean Pathologist, Edisto Research and Education Center. SOYBEAN RUST HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS OF 21 JULY 2021. On July 19th, Asian Soybean Rust (ASR) […]
Cotton, Soybean, and Peanut Scouting Schools – Scheduled
Scouting School dates are set for our 2021 in-field, in-person workshops devoted to scouting for insect issues in cotton, soybeans, and peanut. The dates and locations for these scouting workshops are below. See attachments to preregister and for more details. • 28 July in Manning, SC, at the Clarendon Extension Office (21 West Rigby Street, […]
South Carolina Soybean Rust Update – 7/16
SOUTH CAROLINA SOYBEAN RUST NEWS NOTE 16 July 2021 FROM: Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, Joe Varn, Clemson Extension Agronomic Agent, and Dr. John Mueller, Extension Soybean Pathologist, Edisto Research and Education Center. SOYBEAN RUST HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS OF 16 JULY 2021. During the week of July 12th – […]
Fungicides, Pre-Harvest Weed Control, Stinkbugs, and Irrigation
Corn Everyone had to watch as Elsa passed over South Carolina over the last few days. Fortunately, for the most part if you were off the coast rainfall and winds stayed in the manageable levels. However, it very well may have blown spores into our state for several diseases including Southern rust on corn, soybean […]
Peanuts – Patch of Dead Peanuts, CV Pictures
More than one way to skin a cat, more than one reason a patch of peanuts can be dead in a field. Drowned in a bottom, struck by lightning, killed by disease, terminated by herbicide, and other woes… Zinc toxicity can also be fatally toxic. Aside from a soil test report indicating elevated levels, visual […]
Peanuts – Yellow in the Canopy
More rain coming in and out of the week ahead. Hurricane Elsa is estimated to approach near SC in about 5 days, with some bands possibly earlier. Making use of opportunities as we have them to maintain fungicide coverage will help all the more to put our disease management in a more secure position. Playing […]
Corn and Soybean Update – Fungicides, Irrigation, and Tassel Nitrogen
CORN Fungicides As we close in on the 4th of July, we need to consider our possible fungicide applications on corn and soybean. Weather is one of the big drivers for foliar diseases in both of these crops. The worst-case scenario is not a mid-afternoon thunderstorm which delivers 1+ inches of rain but then the […]
Peanuts – Spider Mites
Drake Perrow, crop consultant in Cameron, SC, found spider mites in peanut today. For the obvious, yes this is early, and the more obvious, yes we are dry. Good things going for us now are the relatively cooler temperatures (low-mid 80s) this week, clouds, and the decent chance of rain hopefully we will receive. Especially […]
Update – Foliar Diseases in South Carolina Corn
The majority of our corn crop is at VT or R1 and this is the appropriate time to start making the decision whether or not to spray a fungicide. Observations from South Carolina corn fields: At the Edisto REC Dr. Plumblee and I have walked several fields and the corn is very clean when it […]
Water Requirements for Activating Preemergence Herbicides
With rain visiting our state today, the topic of how much rainfall does it take is timely. Surface applied herbicides, such as Prowl or Valor, typically need a minimum amount water after application to properly “activate” in the upper soil profile. Activation means the herbicide is dissolved in the soil water solution and readily absorbed […]
Peanuts – 45 DAP Fungicides and More
Peanuts planted the last week of April are reaching 45 DAP this week. Fungicide programs for leaf spot should begin no later than 45 DAP and starting closer to 40 or 30 DAP can be warranted in fields with a history of challenging disease pressure, later plantings, volunteers nearby, and similar risk factors. If rains […]
Mid-Season POST Herbicides in Peanut
With most of the state getting an abundance (some places an over-abundance) of rain over the past week, expect weed flushes to begin in earnest. As most plantings are approaching or past the 28-to-30-day mark, there are several options for us once field conditions permit over-the-top spraying. A paraquat program in peanut either tank mixed […]
Stubby Root Nematode in Corn
I am sure that many of you are getting reports of “bad/sad” looking corn in a range of growth stages. As we all know this year’s corn crop has been through every possible type of stress. Don’t forget to look at the roots! Stubby root nematode is very common as are Columbia lance, lesion, Southern root-knot […]
Fungicides and Southern Rust in Corn
With extensive rains occurring across much of South Carolina in the last week our corn crop is getting back on track and more than half of it is in the process of tasseling. This is the growth stage where most growers will be deciding whether to spray a fungicide for foliar diseases. Here are a […]
2021 Reminder – Dicamba Spray Guidelines
As folks gear up (early planted crops may have already sprayed) for using dicamba (Engenia, Xtendimax, Tavium) in cotton and soybean, some reminders for applicators. These herbicides can only be applied by certified applicators (restricted use pesticide) that have taken the required dicamba training in 2021. The last day of permitted applications of these dicamba […]
2021 South Carolina Soybean Production Guide – Now Available
The South Carolina Soybean Production Guide has been updated for 2021 is now available online on the Clemson Agronomic Crops Website. In this guide you will find information and recommendations related to soybean production in South Carolina. The link to to view a PDF of the production guide is below. www.clemson.edu/extension/agronomy/soybeans/html
2021 Pest Management Handbook – Available Online
The Pest Management Handbook is a set of recommendations developed by Clemson University Extension pest management specialists and university researchers for South Carolina growers. These recommendations were derived from various sources of information available to these contributors at times prior to publishing this handbook and represent their current views on managing field crop pests based […]
2021 Corn and Soybean Production Virtual Meeting – Posted
Virtual Meetings were held in February 2021 to provide an update on corn and soybean production in South Carolina. By participating in this program, producers were updated on new information for the 2021 growing season. At the conclusion of the panel update, time was available for any questions related to corn or soybean production. The […]
Assessing and Response to Freeze/Frost Injured Corn
As many of you know, temperatures across the state did drop below freezing last Thursday and Friday nights. I have heard some reports of temperatures dropping to 28 F or below in specific areas that had corn planted. Since we have had 5-7 days since the freezing weather, we should now be able to assess corn stands and mortality […]
Corn Response to Cold/Freezing Temperatures
As a follow-up to my previous post on Sunday (3/28) I wanted to discuss what we can expect from the cold temperatures tonight and tomorrow regarding recently planted and young corn. The National Weather Service is now projecting the low for Blackville, SC to be 34 F, 32 F & 36 F over the next […]
Considerations for Planting Corn into Cool/Freezing Conditions – 3/28
I hope everyone’s 2021 planting season or fieldwork season has started off smooth. I wanted to reach out with a few things to consider this week with regards to planting corn. If you have noticed the 7-day forecast for this week (3/28 – 4/4), our Easter cold snap is right on time. Nighttime temperatures will […]
2021 Pee Dee Cotton Virtual Meeting – Posted
A Virtual Meeting was held on February 25th, 2021 to provide an update on cotton production in South Carolina. By participating in this program, producers were updated on new information for the 2021 growing season. At the conclusion of the panel update, time was available for any questions related to cotton production. The speakers for […]
