WATCH FOR:
By Lee Townsend

JAPANESE BEETLES reported emerging in western Kentucky;
leaf spotting damage from FOUR-LINED PLANT BUG;
SAN JOSE SCALE CRAWLERS moving;
APHIDS on a variety of ornamental plants

CROP FIELD SCHOOL (June 30)
By Lee Townsend

A Crop and Pest Management Field School will be held June 30, 2005 (8:45 am - 4:00 pm) at the Agronomy Research Farm (Spindletop) in Lexington. This field school is designed to provide a hands-on learning experience with crop, soil, and pest management issues in grain crops

This educational training session has been approved for 6 CEU credits for Certified Crop Advisers (3 hrs Pest Management, 2 hrs Crop Management, and 1 hr Soil & Water) and 4 hours of Pesticide Applicator Training recertification credits (1 general hour and 3 specific hours) for Category 1A, 10, & 14. Preregistration is requested by June 17. Contact Dr. J. D. Green for more information ( jdgreen@uky.edu ) (859) 257-4898. A registration form can be obtained at the following website: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Agronomy/Extension/FieldSchool05.pdf .

The UK Agronomy Research Farm (Spindletop) is located at 3250 Ironworks Pike (Hwy 1973) on the north side of Lexington between Newtown Pike (Hwy 922) and the Kentucky Horse Park.

TRIANGULAR TRAPS ON TREES
By Lee Townsend

Triangular cardboard traps are tacked to trees along roadsides in selected areas of the state each summer to survey traps for the gypsy moth. Each trap, baited with a pheromone and tacked to a roadside tree, is collected later in the summer to see if it has caught any male gypsy moths. The system is in place to provide an early warning system for this important forest and shade tree pest. There is nothing toxic in the trap and its presence will not attract gypsy moth infestations.

BLUE MOLD STATUS REPORT AND DISEASE UPDATE
By Kenny Seebold

Blue mold has not been reported in the United States as of June 6. If present in Texas, there appears to be a moderate risk of movement of blue mold into Oklahoma. We'll continue to monitor the blue mold status and provide regular updates.

We've gotten a report of spotted wilt (TSWV) on tobacco from western KY. A brief write-up on the disease can be found at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/robeson/agriculture/tomspotwiltvirus.pdf. Please contact us if you see suspicious symptoms.

For the latest blue mold status and other tobacco disease information, check the KY Blue Mold Warning System online.
http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/kpn/kyblue/kyblue.htm

For more information about tobacco pests, visit "Insect Management Recommendations".

ARMYWORMS IN CORN
By Ric Bessin

With the cool start this year, corn growers should be watchful for insect pests. One early season pest to monitor is the armyworm. Armyworm infestations usually develop in small grain or grass. Larvae crawl into corn fields and damage is usually first noticeable around the field margins. Cool, wet, spring weather usually favors armyworm development. While it hasn't been wet, May was cool and corn grew slowly.

Armyworms usually feed at night and damage corn by striping leaves. During the day armyworms are found on the ground. Ragged feeding around leaf margins is evidence of armyworm feeding. Before deciding whether to treat for armyworms with an insecticide there are a few things to consider. First, what sizes are the armyworms. If the armyworms are longer than about 1-1/4 inch they have completed most of their feeding. Controlling larvae of this size is not profitable because the damage is already done. However, if 35% of the plants in the field are infested and larvae are 1/2 to 3/4 inch, then a treatment would be recommended.

When scouting for armyworms, look on the armyworms for parasitic eggs. These small, oval, yellowish eggs are usually located just behind the head of the larva. These are eggs of a fly parasite. When scouting for armyworms during the day, look on the ground under the debris or in the whorl of the plant.

For information about corn pests, visit "Insect Management Recommendations".

SOYBEAN RUST FUNGICIDE UPDATE
By Don Hershman

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky, the Environmental Protection Agency, and a host of fungicide manufacturers have been hard at work this past year to make sure farmers have plenty of fungicides cleared to use to fight soybean rust should the need arise this summer. I am, of course, referring to the extensive section 18 activity which has taken place over the past 15 months. Most of the activity has been targeted at getting approval for multiple triazole fungicides and strobilurin-triazole combo products (premixes and co-packs).

At present, the following 17 fungicides are now available for farmers to deploy to manage soybean rust should the need arise in Kentucky:

I. Chloronitrile
A. Chlorothalonil

• Bravo WeatherStik®
• Echo®720
• Echo®90DF
• Equus®DF

• Bumper® 41.8 EC
• PropiMax™ 3.6 EC
• Tilt® 3.6 EC

• Laredo™ 25 EC
• Laredo™ 25 EW

• Folicur® 3.6 F
• Orius® 3.6 F

• Domark®230ME
  

• Quadris®
  

• Headline®
  

• Quilt™ 1.66 EC
  

• Stratego® 2.08F
  

• Headline® SBR
  

Additional products may become available later this summer, but this is uncertain. The reason there has been such a push to get as many soybean rust fungicides available as possible, has to do with the huge number (75,000,000) of soybean acres in the US. To give you some sense of why this is critical, consider that approximately 45,000,000 acres equivalent of all crops combined get treated by all fungicides in the US. Now, can you imagine what turmoil could be caused, nation- wide, should a significant acreage of soybean need to be treated, perhaps multiple times? This situation is not necessarily probable this year, but it is possible.

What happens if soybean rust does not spread into Kentucky by the time the soybean crop reaches the mid-reproductive stages? Most producers will continue to monitor all available information and choose NOT TO SPRAY if risk of soybean rust remains LOW. Others, whether right or wrong, will spray a fungicide as an "insurance measure". The basis of this decision is body of data which indicates that soybean yields are occasionally, but not predictably, "enhanced" when certain strobilurins are applied at R3-R5, in the absence of disease. There apparently is a physiological basis for occasional yield enhancement when certain strobilurins are applied to soybean and other crops, under certain conditions. However, the unpredictability of yield results and economical return on investment, suggests that it is risky to apply any strobilurin to soybean if disease pressure does not support treatment.

Unlike strobilurins, there is no evidence that I am aware of which suggests that triazoles incite the same occasional yield benefit in the absence of disease. In addition, triazoles in general do not have much activity against the so-called late-season soybean diseases. The bottom line with triazoles is that they should be considered to be soybean rust fungicides only.

My suggestion at this time is to get the sprayer ready and identify a source of fungicide. The key is to be able to move quickly should soybean rust develop significantly in the US over the next two months. However, if rust stays put in the Deep South, and all predictions indicate that the risk of infection is low, it is probably best to keep the sprayer parked and your money in the bank.

For more information about soybean pests, visit "Insect Management Recommendations".

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GETTING TO STORE WHEAT
By Doug Johnson

It's time to start your pest management program for potential stored grain insects. A sound program is very important for wheat because that is Kentucky's most difficult grain crop to protect. Even though wheat is generally not held as long as soybeans or corn, it is stored through the warmest and most humid months. Also, there is the additional concern about pesticide use on grain that is sold and processed for human consumption.

My single mantra, "Store clean, dry grain in clean dry bins", is still the basic starting point for good storage. As simple as this might seem, it sets the stage for maintaining insect populations below the detection level. Starting early and using a simple checklist like the one Dr. Sam McNeill and I have put together (see below) can go a long way toward preventing problems. You may want to add your own items to this list. There is no doubt that preventing problems is MUCH easier and more cost effective than trying to control a large pest population in the bin!

See the "Field Crops" section of our Entfact series for publications addressing stored grain insect control at: http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/efpdflst.htm

UK-IPM CHECKLIST FOR CONTROLLING INSECTS IN STORED WHEAT (June 2005)
By Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist and Sam McNeill, Extension Ag Engineer, UK

Before Harvest

• "Clean all equipment used to handle grain (Examples: combines, carts, trucks, receiving pits/hoppers) thoroughly to remove old grain, trash, and debris that might contaminate the new crop. Use pressurized air/water.
• Remove all "old" grain from inside storage bins. Use a shovel, broom and vacuum. Every Kernel counts!
• Check for holes and cracks in bin roofs and walls. Seal them to prevent leaks and entry of insects and rodents. (Look closely around ladders, roof vents and other openings).
• Treat the interior floor and bin walls with an approved insecticide.
• Remove spilled grain around pits/hoppers, and storage bins.
• Mow, spray or remove weeds/grass/vegetation around storage bins.
• Treat the outside base of bins and the surrounding area with an approved insecticide.
• Fumigate the space beneath the perforated bin flooring.
• Warning!!! Fumigation is complicated and dangerous. If possible hire a commercial fumigator. Restricted use pesticide certification is required for purchasing the fumigants. Specialized training from a commercial applicator is strongly recommended. Specialized equipment, including gas masks, self-contained breathing apparatus, and fumigant gas detection equipment is required for safe, effective and economical applications. Obtain and read the product label and manufacturer's instructions.

During Harvest / Binning

• Clean grain.
• Store wheat at 12.5% moisture.
• Consider applying a grain "Protectant" to the bulk grain mass. Only apply to unheated wheat. Do NOT apply to hot grain!! -OR-
• Consider applying a "Cap Out" treatment to the grain surface (Do not apply if a Protectant is used).

Post Binning

• Use "Pitfall traps to monitor insect activity. Use three traps per bin. Check traps weekly in July and August. In colder months trap for four days each month.
• Monitor wheat temperature and moisture.
• Operate fans any time there is an opportunity to reduce temperature or humidity.
• If insects are detected have them identified and classified as primary or secondary feeders. Be especially interested in Lesser grain borer or true "weevils".
• If insects are numerous enough to result in a discount or you are planning to hold the gain into the next warm season, consider having the grain fumigated.
• In September, run fans to cool wheat to near 60 degrees F.
• In October, run fans to cool wheat to near 50 degrees F.
• In November, run fans to cool wheat to near 40 degrees F.
• After cooling to near 40 degrees F, seal fans with plastic to prevent air movement in the bin.

Insecticides and Fumigants Recommended for Wheat - 2005
Note: labels of insecticides used in stored grain are undergoing a great deal of change. Consult the label for any product you consider using as it may have (probably has) changed since the last time you purchased the product.

We recommend that you do NOT use malathion for any treatments. Most forms of malathion are no longer labeled for use. More importantly, the product no longer provides adequate insect control. See ENT-47 Insecticide Recommendations for Small Grains.

Empty bins - applied to walls and floor:

• Reldan - Note: This product is likely to be unavailable. The company is marketing Storcide II.
• Storcide II (Chlorpyrifos-methyl + deltamethrin) - Note: Storcide (chlorpyrifos + cyfluthrin) has been replaced with Storcide II. If you are going to apply Storcide II as a grain protectant, do not use it as an empty bin treatment.
• TalstarOne (bifenthrin) - DO NOT APPLY TO GRAIN!
• Tempo (cyfluthrin) - DO NOT APPLY TO GRAIN!
• Under Floor Fumigants* -
• Chloro-pic - Note: Small quantity containers cannot currently be shipped. You will only find small containers if your local dealer has some on hand. Large containers, e.g. 200 lb. bottles, are available but of use only to large scale operations.
• Methyl-Bromide,
• Phostoxin,/Fumtoxin.

*Warning: Fumigants are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS !!!

Protectants - applied directly to the bulk grain
Storcide II and Reldan are registered. This application is often not needed if sound management practices are employed. An additional option is treating the first and last loads.

"Cap out" treatments - applied to the top 4" of grain -
Note: Do not make this application if a protectant has been applied to the bulk grain. Reldan for beetles or Reldan or products containing Bacillus thuringiensis e.g. Dipel , Javelin , Sok- B.t. etc. for Indian meal moth.

Bulk Grain Fumigants Phostoxin / Fumtoxin .

See "Insect Management Recommendations" for more wheat pest information.

ARE FUNGICIDES NEEDED FOR FRUIT DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN DRY WEATHER?
By John Hartman

For the past five weeks Kentucky fruit growers have faced less disease pressure than has been experienced in recent years. Aside from two moisture-driven infection periods May 13 - 15 and 19 - 21, there have been few or no other disease-favorable weather events. Many Kentucky locations have received less than two inches of rain since the first of May. During this same period in 2004, many locations received ten or eleven inches of rain, and in 2003, seven or eight inches. Fruit crop disease management was difficult in 2003 and 2004.

Growers might be wondering whether or not there is a need to continue spraying their fruit trees or grapes if the fungicide residue is still visible on the leaves. The lack of rain for several weeks has limited the washing-off of fungicide residues. Since fruits are still enlarging and new foliage is still emerging, unexpected rains could still provide foliage and fruit rot infection opportunities. Thus, one should probably continue spraying. However, it depends.... It depends on the type of fungicides used and it depends on what kinds of diseases are likely to cause problems in the orchard or vineyard. It depends on whether diseases are currently under control. With scattered pop-up showers in the forecast, it depends on how much rain falls and how long leaves would remain wet.

Diseases and disease pressure:

• Apple scab - If, because of diligent early-season management, apple scab is absent from the orchard, secondary infections from prior scab lesions are not likely. In addition primary inoculum from last year's infections is likely all gone. Scattered showers often don't provide prolonged leaf wetness to cause infection problems in any case. Should the weather change, the scab fungus, if it is present in the orchard (disease pressure), will resume activity. Growers can use a fungicide such as Nova, Rubigan, or Procure to eradicate resulting infections even after the wetting event.
• Grape black rot - Grape vines are still elongating and large amounts of unprotected plant tissue are vulnerable to attack. The fruits, at or just past bloom, are also vulnerable. Continued fungicide applications are advised, but if diseases are absent from the vineyard, application intervals can be stretched during dry weather.
• Peach scab - The critical shuck-split spray period is past, but fungicide use needs to continue, especially for brown rot management as fruit begins to ripen.
• Apple and grape powdery mildew - For infection to occur, this fungus does not need leaf wetness, just high humidity, and we have plenty of that. If there is a history of powdery mildew in the orchard or vineyard, then growers should reapply their mildew fungicides because the captan or mancozeb residues don't control powdery mildew anyway.
• Apple fruit rot diseases - Enlarging fruits are not well protected because new surfaces appear each day. Relatively short periods of wet weather are needed for infection, and "pop-up" thundershowers could provide that opportunity. This might be the most compelling reason to continue with fungicide sprays.
• Apple Sooty blotch and flyspeck - These diseases are not likely to become active until much later in the season if dry weather persists.