Research Update (August 3, 2026)

 

Research Update (August 3, 2026)

 

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

UPCOMING EVENTS:

SWSS Weed Contest, Knoxville, TN (August 5-6, 2026) 

UT Cotton Tour, Jackson, TN (September, TBD)

 

CROPPING SEASONS:

Foliar fungicide applications in corn and soybeans are largely done with a few exceptions for later-planted trials or those with later application timings.  Disease pressure is off to a good start, but the weather going forward will likely have a greater influence on disease development than the rains we have received so far.

Our weed trials are in many different stages ranging from completed to just initiated.  All our crops for insect trials are established and we are monitoring some of these to determine the proper application timing.

 

UPCOMING TRIAL REMINDERS:

WINTER WHEAT

Wheat planting in west Tennessee normally runs from about October 15 to November 10.  We need to start working on any trials that focus on the fall (i.e. any trials that have treatments at planting or before winter dormancy).  We can wait a bit later on trials that have treatments targeted at next spring.  We typically have extra wheat to work with and spring trials can be established at that time.

Please let us know soon about any wheat fertility trials you might be considering so that we can match the location and maintenance program to your needs.

 

WEATHER INFO:

We finally managed to get all our current field trials underway.  June and the first half of July presented a challenge with frequent showers that often made planting and spraying difficult.  However, I continue to hold to the belief that too much rain is better than too little.  With too much rain, progress is slow.  With too little rain, progress is stopped.  And if most every August is any indication, we will be asking for rain again soon.

 

PEST INFO:

We have had no shortage of weeds this season.  In fact, one of our biggest challenges has been cleaning up fields in order to get other types of trials established.  The frequent rains made the weeds grow fast and made it difficult for us to get in the fields and clean them up.

Our major diseases (gray leaf spot in corn, frogeye leaf spot in soybean) have progressed well to date.  However, it is generally August before these diseases really come and on and we start to see which treatments are working.

We may be spraying cotton plant bugs before long.  At present, we are just waiting for “research grade” populations to build.  Insecticide applications to corn and soybean will be made later in the season.  It is generally beneficial to plant those trials late which tends to result in higher pest populations.

 

If you need a late trial this summer, let us know.  We can usually find a spot to run another trial or two.

Tim, Jackson, Jake, Will, Jim, & JT

 

Proverbs 12:24

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, but the slothful shall be put to forced labor.

 

Research Update (July 6, 2026)

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

Once again Larry Steckle and crew put on an excellent weed tour at the experiment station in Jackson.  His is one of a few tours that continues to have good attendance in an era where tour attendance is declining overall.  As such, it is a great opportunity for us to catch up with old friends and learn what is on the horizon in the world of weed control.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Milan No-till Field Day (July 23, 2026)

Agricenter Feast on the Farm, Memphis, TN (August 1, 2026)

SWSS Weed Contest, Knoxville, TN (August 5-6, 2026) 

UT Cotton Tour, Jackson, TN (September, TBD)

 

CROPPING SEASONS:

Except for possibly a few late soybean trials, all our yielded trials are finally in the ground.  Both May and June were filled with scattered and frequent rain showers that made planting progress sporadic.  We have managed to start a few weed control and insect trials along the way, but there are still several that remain to be established.  We even have a few cucumbers to plant for some late-season fungicide work.

 

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

Most of our greenhouse work is wrapping up now and barring some unexpected requests, we may be largely out of the greenhouse until this fall.  We appreciate all the greenhouse trial work this past season, but the logistics of conducting greenhouse trials in the heat of field season are quite challenging.  Maybe we can slow down in the greenhouse for a while and pick things back up in the fall.

  

UPCOMING TRIAL REMINDERS:

COTTON DEFOLIATION

Depending on the speed of cotton maturation and our original planting dates, we generally spray defoliation trials in late September and early October.  Therefore, if you are looking to get in a cotton defoliation trial this season, please let us know as soon as possible.

Also, do not hesitate to contact us even if you were not aware of the trial when we were planting cotton.  We have access to some large blocks of cotton that can be cut into research trials.  Just let us know before defoliation season so we can save you a spot.

 

WEATHER INFO:

As mentioned earlier, frequent showers have been a major challenge this spring.  While it certainly beats the alternative, it has also made us later getting some of our trials established.  Many thanks to those who have waited patiently for their trials to get established.

 

PEST INFO:

Weeds have been a challenge this season.  Many of the sites that were tilled early in the season require additional burndown and tillage to get new trials established.  This just makes everything go that much slower.

Insect populations seem to be building in cotton much better than last season.  Last year we had difficulty finding research grade populations of plant bugs.  At least for now, things are looking much better on the insect front for this season.

 

Let us know if you have any late trials that we help with.  It seems there is always room for one more.

Tim, Jackson, Jake, Will, Jim, & JT

 

Proverbs 27:23-24

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds; for riches are not forever.

Research Update (April 1, 2024)

 

Research Update (April 1, 2024)

 

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

Ready or not, the season is upon us.  We spent the past month easing back out into the field as weather allowed.  Wheat is being sprayed, burndown trials are going out, and preparations for corn planting are underway.  Things should get real busy over the next month.

 

CROPPING SEASONS:

Wheat trials are marked out in preparation for fungicide trials later this month.  Some burndown trials have been sprayed with others going out in the near future.

Row crop planting season is upon us as we have the second week of April targeted to begin corn planting.  Later in April we hope to be establishing several weed trials before moving on to cotton in early May.

 

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

The greenhouse is still surprisingly busy as we enter what is normally the last month of greenhouse season.  We have a few more soybean, cotton, and vegetable trials to wrap up before we shut the greenhouse down for the season and move back to spending all our time in the field.  Many thanks to all that brought us greenhouse trials over the winter.  We are very grateful to be able to stay busy through the cold months.

 

WEATHER INFO:

The weather has been quite nice so far this spring.  We have had several warm days scattered in among the normal cool spells.  Rain has been fairly consistent so far and we are entering planting season with good soil moisture.  Now we just hope the trend will hold as we start to put seed in the ground.

 

PEST INFO:

With the warm weather, we are beginning to see some summer annuals in the fields a bit earlier than normal.  Otherwise, we still have a collection of winter annuals until we get them all burned down.  Aphid pressure in wheat has been light this year and we have not had much to talk about on the insect front for a while.

We are looking forward to another safe and productive research season.  Let us know how we can be of service to you in the coming year.

Tim, Jake, Will, & Jim

 

Proverbs 12:24

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, but the slothful shall be put to forced labor.

 

Research Update (March 4, 2024)

 Research Update (March 4, 2024)

 

Diligence Technologies Inc., West Tennessee

EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH:

We spent the last month pretty close to home.  Winter meeting season was winding down as we made our way to the West Tennessee Grain Conference, Cotton Focus, and the Gin Show.  Nice to have meetings that allow you to see your friends but still spend the night in your own bed.  Now is when we shift our focus back to the field and start making plans for the upcoming year.

 

CROPPING SEASONS:

We are beginning the 2024 field season by doing a little work in wheat.  Wheat herbicide work was started during one of the warm stretches we have had recently.  We have also begun to apply fertilizer and locate spots for fungicide trials this spring.  If you have any wheat fungicide work still on the list, let us know. We still have wheat available that can be converted to plots.  Our most common wheat foliar fungicide trials deal with Septoria leaf spot and head scab.

 

GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES:

The greenhouse is still very active with a few more trials to start before the season ends.  Consider this to be “last call” for greenhouse work this spring as we begin to transition to the field.  However, we will be glad to slide in a late winter trial if you have the need.

 

WEATHER INFO:

We can’t tell if it is summer or winter.  We have been blessed with some excellent days where we were looking for an excuse to get outside.  In contrast, we are still getting cold, windy days where we just want to hide in the greenhouse.  Such is the joy of spring in the south.  At least we have been getting rainfall this spring which should help when it comes time to plant.

 

PEST INFO:

Things are quiet on the pest front right now (as would be expected in early March).  However, we have been scouting for good burndown spots and the normal collection of winter annuals seems to be present.  Let us know if you have a burndown protocol that needs a home.

 

As we move into the 2024 field season, we look forward to working with each of you again this year.  A little break in winter is not a bad thing, but it does not take long to start missing being outside and working in the fields.  If we can help with your research program this season, please let us know.  That’s what we’re here for.

 

Tim, John Louis, Jake, Will, & Jim

 

Proverbs 10:4

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.