The Southern Tier Wheat Field Day will be held Thursday, May 14, 1998 at Don Halcomb's Walnut Grove (WG) Farm in southeast Logan County. University of Kentucky specialists will talk about no-till wheat in regards to seeding rates, nitrogen rates, herbicides, pest control and seed treatments as well as information on harvesting and storage of wheat and economics of different management systems. Farmers will have an opportunity to tour research trials on nitrogen rates, herbicides, pest control, seed treatment, drill comparisons as well as conventional and no-till wheat variety trials.
From Russellville:
Take 431 South to 664 (about 5.8
miles). Turn left and go 5.4 miles thru Schochoh.
Stay on 664, the farm is on right 1/2 mile east of
intersection with 663.
From Adairville:
Take 431 North to 663 (about 2.6
miles). Turn right and go 4.3 miles to 664. Follow
664 one-half mile to WG farm on right.
From Franklin:
Take 100 West to 665 (about 9.4
miles). Turn left and go 1.7 miles to 664: turn right
and go about 3.8 miles to WG farm on left.
Registration 9:00 AM (CST), tours begin at 9:30 AM. Lunch will be provided by the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association. For more information, contact Dottie Call at University of Kentucky (502) 365-7541, ext. 234.
Annual ryegrass (also known as Italian ryegrass) can be a major problem in no-till corn. Plants that overwinter and become well established are difficult to control. Fields that are heavily infested with annual ryegrass may require sequential applications of "burndown" herbicides. The first "burndown" treatment in a sequential herbicide application program should include Gramoxone Extra (2 pt/A), Roundup Ultra (2 pt/A), or Touchdown 5 (1.25 pt/A). These should be applied approximately 7 to 10 days ahead of planting.
Apply the second "burndown" before or after planting, but before corn emergence. This treatment should include Gramoxone Extra (2 pt/A) plus atrazine. Include a nonionic surfactant (0.25% v/v) with Gramoxone Extra or Touchdown 5. Herbicides for residual grass control may also be included. Observe label directions for approved tank mixtures.
There may be instances where a sequential "burndown" herbicide program is not a feasible option. A single application o Roundup Ultra at the rate of 3 pt/A in a spray volume of 10 gallons of water per acre can aid in controlling annual ryegrass. Plants that are drought stressed or have an abundance of growth from spring nitrogen fertilizer may be difficult to control with this treatment. The addition of ammonium nitrate may improve control when Roudup Ultra is tank mixed with certain residual herbicides.
Fields with a history of annual ryegrass should be checked periodically to determine if the "burndown" treatments were successful in managing this problem weed. The recent rainfall will likely encourage regrowth if the "burndown" herbicide treatment did not control emerged plants.
Accent is the only herbicide option available to manage this weed after corn has emerged. It is unlikely that Accent will provide complete control of annual ryegrass at this time of year, however, it may help limit further regrowth and competition. The success of Accent will likely depend on how much regrowth has occurred since the "burndown" herbicide treatment was applied. Plants with well developed crown tissue are likely to have more regrowth and be more difficult to control compared with plants with just a few tillers emerging from the crown.
A quick check of some Fayette county alfalfa turned up some tip feeding and a few small to medium- sized alfalfa weevil larvae. Pea aphids are beginning to increase in numbers. These large green aphids can be abundant during the cool, early spring but disappear as the temperature rises. Straw-colored aphid mummies are apparent now, indicating that small wasps are active in the biological control of this insect. Now is the time to check established fields if you haven't yet.
The most effective approach to soil insect control, a preplant incorporated insecticide treatment about three weeks before planting, is not an option in no-till tobacco production. A transplant water treatment is the only way to provide protection in this situation. It creates a small "pocket" of insecticide-treated soil near the base of each plant. The insecticide may act to repel soil insects moving to the plant or may actually kill them. Given the limited area that is treated, it is reasonable to expect only a moderate degree of control against insects such as hard-bodied wireworms, while soft-bodied cutworms are probably more susceptible. Fortunately, wireworm problems are rare, especially in fescue sods. Products available for use in the transplant water include Admire, Orthene, and Transplant Water Solution (lindane).
Admire is labeled for suppression of wireworms at 1.4 to 2.8 fl oz per acre. In situations where low wireworm pressure is expected, the lower end of the range (1.4 fl oz) is the most economical alternative. This is true if the grower is planning to use Admire for preventive aphid control. The additional cost of the slightly increased rate will be relatively low. The transplant water application of this product probably would be more effective against wireworms than the float drench because the treated area would be larger than just the root ball. This approach will provide early flea beetle control.
A transplant water application of Orthene (1 pound per acre) is labeled for cutworms and has provided very good protection of transplants from these insects in artificial infestation trails at UK. There is no Kentucky data evaluating this product, or any of the others, against wireworms. This Orthene application will provide very good tobacco flea beetle control for the first three to four weeks after transplant.
Transplant Water Solution (lindane) is labeled for wireworm control. It has not been effective against cutworms in UK trials and does not control flea beetle feeding on new transplants.
Either Admire or Orthene is a good choice as transplant water treatments in no-till tobacco. They protect new transplants from flea beetle injury, a threat in all tobacco fields. Unless there is a history of chronic wireworm injury in a field, it is unlikely that a problem will appear. In fields with a known wireworm problem, conventional field preparation and application of a broadcast soil insecticide application is the only effective way to deal with the problem.
Slugs are a potential problem in no-till tobacco, and one for which there are no good control alternatives. A thick mulch of killed grass will keep the soil cool and relatively moist, and provides an excellent protective cover for these slimy creatures. If slugs are present, they may turn to tobacco transplants as the only food source in the field.
Slugs tend to have a clumped distribution in fields so the damage is often limited to "hot spots". Slug baits can provide good control but are too expensive to apply to large areas on a preventive basis. Regular field checks after the crop is set will allow early detection of slugs. A slug bait can be applied and severely damaged plants can be replaced.
No-till tobacco production may actually provide some help in terms of aphid control. Researchers at the recent Tobacco Workers Conference reported lower aphid populations on plants in no-till fields. This may be associated with control by a fungus that attacks several species of aphids. Apparently, resting spores of this insect pathogen remain on the soil surface of tobacco fields over the winter. They are buried by tillage so the disease is slow to attack aphids if the field is tilled conventionally and set in tobacco.
There are three main types based on the active ingredient(s) that they contain.
The two groups of tags contain insecticides that attack the nervous system of the fly in different ways. Seasonal rotation between an OP and an SP insecticide can be useful in combating insecticide resistance that has developed in horn flies in some areas of the state. Resistance, indicated by a failure in horn fly control, can develop when tags containing the synthetic pyrethroid permethrin have been used for several consecutive seasons. No resistance to organophosphates, or the new synthetic pyrethroids, has been seen.
Are there any safety precautions associated with using
insecticide ear tags?
Non-permeable gloves should be
worn when tagging animals. This is clearly shown in
the application pictures on the containers of some tag
brands. The hands shown applying the tags clearly
have gloves. Comparable pictures with other brands
do not obviously show gloves, although label
statements indicate that they should be worn.
Insecticidal ear tags should not be handled bare-handed. The concentration of insecticide in the tags varies from 8% to 36%. The tags are manufactured so that the insecticide is rubbed off the surface and onto the animal. Any handling of the tags leaves some insecticide on the hands. The insecticide then can be transferred easily to the mouth, eyes, face or other areas of the body. Some individuals may be very sensitive to the active ingredients in the tags.
Signal words on the label range from CAUTION to WARNING. Several products carry statements about the potential for allergic reaction following exposure. Many are easily absorbed through the skin or eyes, some have irritation vapors. Wear protective gloves and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after tagging or when taking a break.
The best way to avoid tick bites is to follow these precautions:
Clover mites are accidental invaders that can be a temporary nuisance during the early spring. These very small, reddish brown creatures appear only as moving dark spots to the naked eye. Sheer numbers, plus the resulting red-brown stain left behind if they are crushed, make them unwelcome visitors. Clover mites are not blood feeders and will not harm people or pets, nor will they infest household products. Once inside a home or building they will soon die.
Clover mites feed on clover and grasses. They can be especially abundant in the heavy, succulent growth of well-fertilized lawns. They usually enter a home around windows or doors so they are usually seen crawling along sills or thresholds.
A soapy rag or wet sponge can be used to clean mites off of surfaces. Wipe carefully to avoid crushing the mites and causing stains. The crevice tool of a vacuum cleaner may also be used to pick up mites. Rely on non-chemical control indoors. Do not apply insecticides to kitchen counters or other interior surfaces.
There is an increased potential for invading structures when grass extends up to the foundation. A plant bed or open area will provide a barrier that will stop many mites and provide a long term solution to persistent problems. Avoid overfertilizing lawns. This creates situations that are ideal for mites to increase to tremendous numbers.
The following is a brief summary of the key cultural practices to minimize diseases in established lawns of Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue.
Avoid heavy applications of fertilizer during
spring and summer.
Heavy doses of nitrogen
fertilizer during spring and summer can aggravate
several diseases, such as brown patch of tall fescue
and patch diseases of Kentucky bluegrass. It also can
enhance sensitivity to drought stress. Apply no more
than 3-4 lb nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year;
less is often enough in a good loamy soil. Apply
most (at least 75%) of the fertilizer during the
autumn to promote good root growth and minimize
pressure from destructive diseases.
Mow at a 2-to 3-inch height.
Very short mowing
heights can stress lawn grasses during the hot
months, while very high mowing heights can create
other problems. Within this recommended range,
aim towards the high end where patch diseases are a
problem in Kentucky bluegrass lawns. In tall fescue,
the higher mowing height favors foliar brown patch,
but UK research suggests that mowing below two
inches may favor a more destructive phase of brown
patch: tiller death from infections in crowns.
Irrigate deeply and infrequently during periods of
drought.
Lawn grasses can be allowed to go
dormant during dry weather, especially if they have
not been "over-managed", so irrigation is not
required to maintain the lawn. However, if one
chooses to irrigate during dry weather, avoid light,
frequent waterings, which aggravates various leaf
and root diseases. When watering, saturate the soil
to a depth of three to four inches. You won't have to
water as often, and it helps discourage diseases.
Dethatch where the thatch layer exceeds one-half
inch.
See ID-105 for a discussion of dethatching
techniques. Avoid using pesticides that research
has shown increase thatch accumulation, such as
thiophanate methyl, thiram, and carbaryl. Note that
leaving clippings DOES NOT aggravate thatch
accumulation, nor does it seriously impact most
lawn diseases. Leave clippings on the lawn as free
fertilizer. Don't send clippings to the landfill, where
they won't decompose.
More Information
More information on disease management in the
home lawn is available in the following UK
Extension Publications:
ID-105, Disease Management in the Home Lawn
ID-122, Patch Diseases in Kentucky Bluegrass
Lawns
ID-112, Brown Patch Disease in Kentucky Lawns.
Brood XIX (19), largest of the broods of 13-year cicadas, will emerge this summer. Distribution in Kentucky is primarily limited to Carlisle, Graves, Hopkins, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg counties. In neighboring states, the brood also includes the southern 2/3 of Illinois, most of Missouri, the south east tip of Indiana, and a smattering across Tennessee. See ENT-52, The periodical cicada in Kentucky, for more information.
Adults should emerge from the ground between late April and early May. About a week after emergence and mating, females will use a knife-life structure at the end of the abdomen to make slits in small branches and twigs. They then will lay eggs in these wounds. This activity is the damaging aspect of these particular insects and occurs over a 4 to 6 week period. Small branches may turn brown and die, some may break off completely. Heavily damaged trees look as if they were beaten severely with a big stick. Damage will be greatest in and around heavily-wooded areas.
Female cicadas are not too picky but often select oak, hickory, apple, peach, pear, and grape vines as egg- laying sites. Newly planted shade trees, shrubs or fruit trees are most susceptible to damage. There area three general strategies to dealing with this threat.
Scots pines and white pines are commonly grown as Christmas trees; occasionally trees in these plantations develop infectious diseases. Be looking now for symptoms of some of these diseases and be prepared to take action as needed.
Scots pine needle casts. There are three important needle cast diseases of Scots pines grown as Christmas trees in Kentucky. In general, the needle cast diseases caused by parasitic fungi begin with infections during moist periods; needles then develop dead spots or bands a few weeks or months later. Within a few more months, needles turn brown and drop from the tree, leaving only the newest growth unaffected.
Since the weather last spring and early summer was very moist, infections of Naemacyclus needle cast caused by Cyclaneusma minus may have occurred. Growers should now be observing that needles are turning brown and dropping, indeed they have been turning brown and dropping over the entire winter. These dead needles are producing spores for new infections now, so if fungicides are to be applied, they are needed now through June.
Needles with the diseases brown spot needle blight caused by Mycosphaerella dearnessii and needle cast caused by Lophodermium seditiosum are not turning brown yet, but they do have brown spots on them. These needles are due to turn brown and drop in summer. Brown spot infections occurred last year in late spring and early summer while Lophodermium needle cast infections occurred in late summer and early fall. Growers need to know which of the three diseases is most important in their plantations so they can time their fungicide sprays to prevent infections by the needle cast fungi.
Needle cast disease management:
a) Cut and
remove severely infected trees.
b) Remove and
destroy live, infected branches on stumps of
harvested trees.
c) Shear healthy plantings first to
reduce movement of fungal spores.
d) Do not shear
infected foliage during wet weather.
e) Remove
weeds from the planting to promote better air
movement.
f) Remove old diseased Scots pines
from windbreaks or fence rows.
g) Plant disease-
resistant types, avoiding short needled French and
Spanish varieties.
h) If fungicides are needed, apply
them at the proper time to get best results.
White pine root decline. Now is the time to observe early symptoms of white pine root decline, caused by the fungus Verticicladiella procera. As new candles are elongating, look for individual trees with delayed candle emergence. These trees are already infected and will soon begin to turn yellow, then brown as the trees die. Growers may be able to see that the shoot growth for the last year or two has been reduced compared to healthy trees. Clear away the grass around the base of the trunk and look for white patches of pitch or resin on the surface of the bark. Symptoms of discolored inner bark and cambium and even dark streaks in the wood may be revealed by cutting away the bark on the trunk. We have found in Kentucky that white pine root decline is often associated with wet areas in the field.
White pine root decline disease management.
a)
Remove and destroy infected trees.
b) Grow white
pines in good growing sites.
The Environmental Protection Agency has suspended the 24C Special Local Need Registration for using Mesurol as a hopper box seed corn treatment for protection against birds attacking seedlings. It is important that dealers and applicators be aware of this recent decision. More details later.
A total of 4,875 inspections of certified private applicator records were conducted during the 1997 fiscal year. In addition to the standard inspections, there were 145 follow-up inspections. The follow-up inspections were held to inspect those private applicators who were found to be out of compliance the program. There were 159 completed inspections in Kentucky, 4 warning letters were issued. It is likely that additional inspections will be made this year in Kentucky as a continuing part of the program. The pesticide recordkeeping program has a home page- http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/sdpr.htm
Samples with environmental injuries ranged from greenhouse tobacco and tomato transplants showing sunscald and heat injury from recent warm sunny days to scorch and bronzing of foliage of taxus and holly from earlier cold temperature extremes. Also on holly were fungal leaf spots (various species), black root rot and oedema from insufficient transpiration.
We saw the first of peach leaf curl in the western part of the state last week and also the first expansion of the orange "spore horns" of cedar-apple rust on juniper.
| Princeton | |
| Black cutworm | 8 |
| True armyworm | 197 |
Lee Townsend
Extension Entomologist