The scent of linden trees has been extra heavenly this spring! Am also grateful for the rains received and that we avoided a repeat of June 7, 2022.

Ground squirrels: The biggest question/complaint/concern I’ve received this spring is on ground squirrels as it seems they’ve been especially destructive to corn. In talking with various farmers and extension people about additional options for management, I heard the following: plant deeper (a couple plant 2 ¾” as they will dig to 2 ½”), get a badger!, and the majority try to bait holes and then replant. Zinc phosphide is labeled for use for ground squirrels. Nathan Mueller shared a pre-plant option with me (ZP® Rodent Bait AG) for consideration for next year. That product can be applied pre-plant or at planting according to labeled instructions.

Pill bugs/Roly Polys: I hadn’t mentioned this as a problem as I wasn’t aware anyone in our area was dealing with this. We did hear of some issues of pill bugs impacting soybeans in the Saline Co. area, but received a few comments about this in nearby counties last week too. Pill bugs are crustaceans that decompose organic matter. Often we see them under leaf litter, rocks, etc. in gardens and around homes. They are not considered a pest in general as they just decompose residue. However, there’s been reports of them munching on soybean hypocotyls in fields with a high amount of corn residue this year. More information can be found in this article: https://go.unl.edu/52n8.

Lawn clippings around plants: Many homeowners apply herbicides (or pay a company to apply them) to their lawns. Herbicides include products that control dandelions, clover, and other weeds in lawns. They are also contained in “weed and feed” products. Most of these herbicides have restrictions that require at least 3-4 mowings of the lawn (so essentially think 3-4 weeks) before lawn clippings can be placed around garden plants. Samples and pictures I’ve received of dying and/or curling leaves on tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and flowers the past few weeks have all been attributed to people placing lawn mulch around plants too soon.

Mulch and termites: Does using wood mulch around the home attract termites? No as the chipping process kills termites. The most noted study was conducted by Long, et al. in 2001 which compared different types of mulches. They found termites prefer higher nutrient woody materials like cardboard placed under inorganic mulches like pea gravel compared to wood or needle mulch. However, mulches can create a hospitable environment for subterranean termites already established in the soil near the home or building. Termites prefer a moist environment, so soil desiccation (letting the soil dry) near the house foundation is an important barrier. Some keys with applying mulch include: don’t apply more than 2” thick layer of mulch in landscape beds, ensure a 6” gap between the top of the mulch layer and the house siding, and avoid watering mulch or soil close the house foundation walls. Mulch can be applied up to the house foundation to within 12” of the foundation. One may also consult a professional to set up monitoring or barrier control methods for termites around the home or building. The following guide has additional helpful thoughts on termite prevention and control: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1277.

Second Tuesday at 9 Weather Updates: Join Eric Hunt, agricultural meteorology and climate resilience extension educator, at 9 a.m. CT/8 a.m. MT on the second Tuesday of each month to hear insights on weather conditions across the state of Nebraska and Midwestern region, and updates on the long-range outlook. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the webinar, using the Q&A function in Zoom. Questions will be answered near the end of the webinar, as time permits. First webinar is this Tuesday, June 11th. Registration and recordings at: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/second-tuesday-9 .