Integrated Crop Pest Management

1. Integrated Crop Pest Management Montana Small Grain Guide

2. ICPM • combines chemical, biological and cultural pest control methods with crop management strategies designed for Maximum Profit • Management should efficiently convert water into grain

3. Is ICPM for you? • In years of abundant rainfall, do my yield levels increase by 7 bushels per inchof additional moisture for barley (4-5 for wheat)? • Do I select a variety that yields best for my location, and has the specific insect and disease resistance necessary? • Is my fertility program based on soil test results, soil moisture, & probable rainfall?

4. Is ICPM for you? • Do I plant early enough and use adequate seeding rates and row spacing to allow maximum yields? • Does money spent on fertilizer produce profit? • Can I identify weed seedlings, plant disease symptoms and various types of insect damage

5. Is ICPM for you? • Other than chemical control, do I know additional methods to control crop pests? • Do I examine fields during the growing season other than from the pickup? • Do I accurately measure and record precipitation? • Can I manage crop residue to minimize disease and weed problems, while conserving water?

6. Is ICPM for you? • If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, ICPM could be for you.

7. Field Scouting • Crop and pest monitoring should be based on four or more locations within the field. • avoid field borders, fence rows, ditch banks • weeds, insects, disease etc. • keep written records • When to scout • seedling-tillering • tillering-jointing • jointing-heading • heading-maturity

8. What to look for when scouting • Seedling stage • weeds • soil moisture • plant population • leaf diseases • cutworms • wireworms • aphids

9. What to look for when scouting • Tillering stage • weeds • plant population • viruses • leaf diseases • cutworms • wireworms • aphids • hessian fly

10. What to look for when scouting • Jointing stage • viruses • leaf diseases • aphids • hessian fly • sawfly adults

11. What to look for when scouting • Heading stage • smut • root rots • viruses • leaf diseases • wheat stem maggots • aphids

12. What to look for when scouting • Maturity • plant height • weeds (especially perennials) • plant head • population • smut • root rots • sawfly

13. Collecting a plant sample • gently pull or dig plant (keep soil intact) • press soil and roots into a firm ball, place in plastic bag and seal. keep leaves outside bag • keep cool until taking to the county agent or mailing to MSU

14. Estimating Grain Yield • select appropriate length of row to measure 1 sq. ft. of land (Table I-3) • select at random 10 sites and measure the predetermined length of row (from step #1) • in each of the rows, count the number of heads • determine the number of kernels per head by obtaining 25 heads from the field at random and counting the kernels in each head

15. Estimating Grain Yield • calculate the number of seeds per sq. ft. (hds/sq ft) x (seeds/hd) = (seeds/ft) • calculate yield, divided seeds per sq. ft. by the following: • wheat = 20 • 2-row barley = 12 • 6-row barley = 14 • yield = (seeds/sq. ft) / conversion factor

16. Estimating Grain Yield • Example: • 6” row spacing • Row length = 24” • Avg. Number of heads in row = 37 • Avg. number of seeds/hd = 26.1 • seeds/sq. ft. = 37 x 26.1 = 966 • 966 / 20 = 48.3

17. Crop Management Information • Field Season Summary Sheet: • Precipitation information (at least every 15 days) oil will prevent evaporation • Stored soil water at planting time • Potential yield • Harvested yield, test weight, protein • Cropping history (Sp. Wht / SF/ Barley)

18. Crop Management Information • Field situation (variety & planting info) • Soil test summary • Fertilizer treatments & dates • Herbicide treatments & dates

19. Yield Evaluation • compare harvested yield to predicted • if potential is not achieved, determine yield limiting factors • herbicide damage can cause yield loss up to 7 bu/ac