The Dakotan: This is Ag Issues with Neil Roberts. Neil Roberts: Welcome to another edition of Ag Issues. Our guest this week is Mountrail County Ag Agent Jim Hennessy. And Jim, let's talk fungicides and insecticides right now. We'll talk fungicides first. It's a new year with borer moisture. And that's a real game changer, right? Jim Hennessy: Well, this year, definitely a different year. I mean, we're seeing moisture that we haven't seen in the previous four to five years. We've seen a lot of hot, humid days. We've seen rainfall wells picking up a half inch a week or better. And it really adds to as far as what the crops need. But it also sets up as far as the disease cycle. And I think a lot of guys got out of the practice of really thinking about fungicides. And this year, one where we definitely need to consider the fact that the disease outmuscle fungicide application is a must. Neil Roberts: All right. Good stuff. And with that, we'll talk insecticides as well. 9 The Dakotan: You're listening to Ag Issues with Neil Roberts on the Dakotan Network. Neil Roberts: Talking Crop Application today with Jim Hennessy on Ag Issues. And Jim, advice on insecticides looks like grasshoppers will be an issue typically. Jim Hennessy: You know, we started the season off and everybody was a little concerned because they started seeing a few. But it was real spotty throughout, you know, as far as in the county here. But as we started getting more into the season and we're starting to look around, grasshoppers are getting to be an issue. And the only way you're going to find out is get out and walk those field perimeters. Once you do that, good recommendation is if you're applying a fungicide or want to put that insecticide tank mix, the two of them, get your field perimeters, get grass edges. You can take care of a lot of them grasshoppers by doing that. And the other thing is, don't give up on your other crops. Make sure you walk those fields. Also, there's going to be plenty you can on insects, watch soybeans and so on. Neil Roberts: All right. Good stuff, as always. Thanks, Jim. And hey, that brings this report to a close. Until next time. I'm Neil Roberts. the Dakotan: You're listening to the Dakotan Network. Real. Honest. Local news.
