The 2003 Field Crops and Livestock Insecticide Recommendations are available online. You can select crop or livestock pests from appropriate menus. You will get graphics, scouting information, decision guides, and recommended pesticides.
There are links to publications and fact sheets. Newly
registered products will be placed here as appropriate.
Bookmark it and use it often.
See "Insect Management Recommendations" for insecticide recommendations on crops and livestock.
A substantial number of acres have been planted to corn in
portions of western Kentucky where soil conditions have
turned cool and wet. These environmental conditions tend
to slow the metabolism and emergence of corn plants and
allow more exposure time of corn seed and emerging
seedlings to herbicides in soil solution. Prolonged exposure
to certain herbicides can lead to injury.
The following is a brief discussion of some of the herbicides and symptoms associated with early-season corn injury during cool wet soil conditions:
Chloroacetamide / Oxyacetamide Herbicides: Chloroacetamide herbicides are widely used for weed management in corn. Examples of herbicides in this class of chemistry are acetochlor (Degree, Harness, TopNotch, Degree Xtra, FieldMaster, Ful Time, Harness Xtra, or Keystone,); alachlor (Micro-Tech, Partner, or Bullet); dimethenamid-P (Outlook or Guardsman Max); and S-metolachlor (Dual II Magnum, Cinch, Bicep II Magnum, Cinch Atz, or Lumax). Flufenacet (Define, Axiom, or Epic) is classified as an oxyacetamide and is similar to chloroacetamide herbicides.
Although all of these herbicides can injure corn, acetochlor and S-metolachlor tend to have a greater potential to cause injury compared with alachlor, dimethenamid-P, or flufenacet.
All S-metolachlor products with the Roman numeral "II" included in the trade name and all acetochlor products are formulated with a safener to limit the risk of corn injury.
Symptoms of corn injury from chloroacetamide and oxyacetamide herbicides include malformed and stunted seedlings with twisted leaves that do not unroll properly. Plants that are severely injured may eventually die because leaves cannot unroll.
Synthetic-Auxin Herbicides. Products containing 2,4-D and dicamba (Banvel, Clarity, Oracle, or Sterling) are often referred to as synthetic-auxin or growth-regulator herbicides. They can be used to as a part of a burndown weed control program in no-tillage corn. Their activity is based primarily on foliar uptake in emerged weeds; however, they have limited soil-residual activity that can sometimes result in corn injury.
Corn injury from synthetic-auxin herbicides occurs during seed germination and resembles symptoms associated with chloroacetamide and oxyacetamide herbicides. Synthetic- auxin herbicides often cause abnormalities of both shoots and roots of corn plants; whereas, chloroacetamide and oxyacetamide herbicides tend to affect only the shoot growth.
Products containing 2,4-D generally should not be used during the period from 7 to 14 days prior to planting until 3 to 5 days after planting and before corn emerges. Products containing dicamba may injure corn if seed is planted less than 1.5 inches below the surface.
Isoxaflutole: Injury from products containing isoxaflutole (Balance Pro or Epic) is seldom an issue in Kentucky but has occurred when soil conditions were cold and wet and weather was cloudy for several days following planting. Corn injury symptoms associated with isoxaflutole range from minor yellowing or complete bleaching of plants to significant stand loss. Isoxaflutole does not directly affect roots but may indirectly limit root growth by inhibiting photosynthetic activity of plants. Injury from isoxaflutole is usually short lived but can cause yield loss if corn stands are reduced.
Pendimethalin: Preemergence applications of pendimethalin (Prowl) can result in significant injury where corn seed are exposed to the herbicide. This typically occurs when corn is planted shallow (less than 1.5 inches deep) or when the seed furrow is not completely closed or sealed. Injured corn plants have stunted roots with swollen tips. Corn stands can be reduced in severe cases. Surviving plants are usually stunted and may turn purple, particularly during prolonged cool soil conditions after plant emergence.
Flumetsulam: Extended cold wet conditions (soil temperature below 50 0 F and excessive rainfall with wet soil conditions) increases the chance of injury from flumetsulam (Python) during germination and early development of corn. Injury symptoms caused by flumetsulam are similar to those caused by other ALS-inhibiting herbicides and include yellowing of leaves and /or stunted shoots and a reduced root system.
For more information about corn pests, visit "Insect Management Recommendations".
The increasing presence of certain broadleaf weeds has
rekindled the interest in using 2,4-D in early preplant
burndonwn treatments in soybeans. This herbicide is
relative inexpensive and enhances the control of marestail,
prickly lettuce, and dandelion when used in approved
burndown combinations.
Burndown applications of 2,4-D control weeds primarily through foliar uptake in emerged plants, however, it has limited soil-residual activity that can injure soybeans. Early- season soybean injury from 2,4-D occurs as swollen stems and roots. Leaves tend to be malformed and elongated and in severe cases plants will die.
In order to limit the risk of crop injury from 2,4-D, consult the product label for specific recommendations and precautions. Be aware that some 2,4-D products are not labeled for preplant applications in soybeans. As a general rule, ester formulations of 2,4-D are preferred because of the less restrictive waiting periods relative to those associated with amine formulations.
The importance of waiting after application is to allow time for the herbicide to dissipate before planting soybeans. The length of waiting period will depend on a number factors including rate and formulation of herbicide.
When applying ester formulations of 2,4-D, delay planting soybeans 7 days for rates up to 0.5 lb ae/A and 30 days for rates greater than 0.5 lb ae/A up to 1 lb ae/A. Consult the product label for specific rates and restrictions. The following table shows a few examples of different products and waiting period for planting no-till soybeans.
| PRODUCT | WAITING PERIOD |
|---|---|
| Salvo (5 lb ae/gal) | 7 Days (Product rate /A): 12.8 oz/A 30 Days (Product rate /A): 25.6 oz/A |
| Weedone LV 4 EC (3.84 lb ae/gal) | 7 Days (Product rate /A): 1 pt/A 30 Days (Product rate /A): 2 pt/A |
| Weedone LV6 (5.4 lb ae/gal) | 7 Days (Product rate /A): 0.67 pt/A 30 Days (Product rate /A): 1.33 pt/A |
| Weedone 638 (2.8 lb ae/gal) | 7 Days (Product rate /A): 1.33 pt/A 30 Days (Product rate /A): 2.67 pt/A |
There is always a risk of crop injury, consequently, growers who are not willing to accept this risk of injury are advised to not use 2,4-D in early preplant applications.
For more information about soybean pests, visit "Insect Management Recommendations".
A number of individuals have asked about (True) armyworm populations for this spring. It appears that memory of our outbreak of two years ago lingers.
Armyworm moth flight has begun for the year. If you check your Kentucky Pest News you will note that a small number of moths were caught near the third week of March. Trap catch appears to be on the rise this week. How does this compare to the normal?
Visit the IPM website at: http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/IPM/ipm.htm and select "Pheromone Traps" from the left side navigation bar, this will take you to our historic insect flight data. Select "True Armyworm" from the insects listed. On these pages you will find flight data for several years as obtained from pheromone-baited traps. On the bottom of the "True Armyworm" page you will see a graphic representation of the average capture for the last five years. This is the average of two traps for each date. Both of these traps are on the UK - College of Ag. farm in Princeton, KY. Note that we are in the 14th week of the year.
The trap counts recorded today on the UK-REC were 1 and 60 for an average of 31. If you look at the Five year average counts you will see that it is about 100. If you check the data for 2001 (the outbreak year) you will find that the peak catch came on what is roughly equlivient to next Friday (04/11/04) with a counts of 398 & 28 for an average of 213. It appears we are below both of those marks.
However, the story is not completely told yet. During the out break of 2001 on the peak moth capture date of April 13th, 302 Day Degrees had accumulated. As of this writing 259 Day Degrees have accumulated. The predicted accumulation for next week is for a total of 312 by Friday 4/11/04. This indicates that Friday April 11th 2003, will represent about the same calender date and Degree Day accumulation as the peak capture date of the 2001 outbreak.
So we need to keep a careful watch on the moth flights for the next two weeks to see if they increase to the levels of 2001. Moth capture is not a guaranteed indicator of pest outbreak but is certainly worth watching.
IF we see significant increase in moth capture you should certainly start checking for armyworms in your small grains and pastures (though you should do this anyway!!). Normally, we expect peak armyworm feeding to be about four weeks after peak moth flight. If moth capture takes a big up-turn start watching for the worms about two weeks after peak moth flight. You'll want to discover them well before peak feeding.
Remember armyworm populations (and all insects) are not governed by calender date but by temperature. So it is the Day Degree accumulation that is most important. To see a write up on this go to KPN #918, May 29, 2001. We would expect peak worm feeding about 239 DD after peak moth flight. But, once again that is too late. You need to be checking your fields well before this event.
See "Insect Management Recommendations" for more wheat pest information.
Kentucky apple growers will need to be aware that on April
6 and 7, just before bloom for most apples, rainfall was
prolonged enough for moderate to severe apple scab
infection to occur. Eradicant and protectant fungicides, if
used in a timely way, can be used to prevent symptoms
from developing from these infections and to protect apples
from new infections. With trees in full bloom at the start of
the recent rain, pears in many orchards were exposed to fire
blight primary (blossom) infections. Flowering crabapples
and flowering pears were also in bloom and could develop
fire blight from last week's infection event.
Q: Where do ticks come from and how can I avoid them?
A: Ticks thrive in woods, uncut fields and brush. They
climb onto lower portions of vegetation and attach to a
suitable host passing by. To reduce tick encounters, follow
these precautions:
Insecticide sprays containing pyrethroids (e.g., Bayer Advanced Home/Garden Multi-Insect Killer, Spectracide Triazicide , Ortho Home Defense System ) or carbaryl (Sevin) are effective. Such products are sold at hardware/lawn and garden shops. For better wetting and coverage of vegetation, it's often best to purchase these products as concentrates, so that they can be diluted and applied with a pump up sprayer, hose end sprayer, etc. A single application during late-April/May, or when ticks are detected, is often all that's required.
Q: What's the best way to remove an attached tick?
A: Using a tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as
possible and pull it straight out with gentle even pressure.
Petroleum jelly, hot matches and other "folk" methods of
removal should be avoided. Wash the bite area, apply
antiseptic and cover with a band-aid. Attached ticks should
be removed promptly to reduce the chance of infection and
disease transmission.
Q: Some clients use the terms "deer tick" or "turkey
mite" ... what are they referring to?
A: These terms are often used when referring to immature
(larval) lone star ticks, a common tick throughout much of
Kentucky. A person who walks through infested vegetation
may find hundreds of the tiny ticks (about the size of the
period at the end of this sentence) crawling on them.
Unattached larvae can be removed by bathing or showering.
However, once ticks are attached, removal is difficult, and
their bite can be very irritating. The lone star tick is not
considered to be a vector of Lyme disease, although it can
transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Q: Should I be concerned about getting Lyme Disease or
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
A: Each year about 20 to 40 cases of Lyme disease/Rocky
Mountain spotted fever are reported statewide. Some of
these victims may have been infected while traveling out-of-
state. In Kentucky, probably tens of thousands of people are
bitten by ticks each year; so the likelihood of contracting a
disease is very low. In most cases, a tick must be attached
for at least 18 to 24 hours for infection to occur. One cannot
become infected simply by having a tick crawl over the skin
or clothing. Concerned callers should be informed of the
early symptoms of tick-borne disease, so they will know
whether to seek medical attention.
Q: What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
A: Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose clinically because
early symptoms mimic the flu, e.g., fatigue, headache, fever,
or swollen glands, pain or stiffness in the neck, muscles or
joints. The most definitive early symptom is a gradually
expanding, circular or oval-shaped red rash, often (but not
always) at the site of the bite. This rash only develops in
about 70% of infected individuals, however, and may be
overlooked. Persons who experience any of the above
symptoms after being bitten by a tick, or after spending time
in an area where ticks are abundant, should see a physician
immediately. In the earliest stages, Lyme disease can be
successfully treated with antibiotics.
The mechanism by which Lyme disease is transmitted in Kentucky is unclear. The primary tick vector, Ixodes scapularis, has rarely been found here, although several of the ticks were found last November while surveying deer herds in southeastern (McCreary Co.) Kentucky. It's likely that more will be found in the future.
Q: What are the symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted
fever?
A: Symptoms of RMSF are flu-like, accompanied by
headaches and a very high fever (104-106 degrees F), two to
12 days after being bitten by a tick. The most characteristic
sign of RMSF is a rash that appears on about the second to
fifth day on wrists and ankles, later spreading to other parts
of the body. When promptly diagnosed, RMSF can be
successfully treated with antibiotics. In the absence of
treatment, victims may die.
Q: I don't have a rash but still feel "crummy" are there
other tick-borne diseases I should be concerned about?
A: Tick bites can result in diseases other than Lyme disease
and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Human ehrlichiosis is one
important, emerging disease complex, believed to be
transmitted by the species of ticks (e.g., lone star tick)
common in Kentucky. Symptoms of ehrlichiosis in humans
include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and
vomiting. There is usually no rash. Early treatment with
antibiotics is generally prescribed. It's rather common to
experience localized itching and irritation at the site of a
tick bite. But when in doubt, it probably pays to see a
physician.
(For more information on this topic, see ENT-35, Ticks & Disease In Kentucky)
Q: How important is Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
A: Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) has not received
the media attention of Lyme disease, but it is potentially
more serious. Each year there are about 10 to 30 cases
reported statewide. The primary vector of RMSF is the
American dog tick, although lone star ticks can also
transmit the disease pathogen.
Symptoms of RMSF are flu-like, accompanied by headaches and a very high fever (104-106 degrees F), two to 12 days after being bitten by a tick. The most characteristic sign of RMSF is a rash that appears on about the second to fifth day on wrists and ankles, later spreading to other parts of the body. When promptly diagnosed, RMSF can be successfully treated with antibiotics. In the absence of treatment, victims may die. In most cases, the tick must be attached for at least a day for infection to occur.
Phlox (Phlox paniculata, Phlox spp.) is a favorite perennial
for Kentucky gardens, but is often disappointing to grow
because of devastation caused by powdery mildew disease.
Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Erysiphe
cichoracearum, covers the leaves with white fungal growth
late in the season and weakens affected plants. Under our
warm, humid growing conditions in Kentucky, powdery
mildew can be quite severe on susceptible Phlox. Kentucky
gardeners will want to plant powdery mildew resistant
cultivars.
There are some powdery mildew resistant Phlox cultivars available in the trade. Phlox disease evaluations were made recently in Arkansas (E. Taylor, et. al.) and North Carolina (R. Bir, et. al.) and published in the 2002 proceedings of the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. The following cultivars were evaluated for powdery mildew resistance in one or both of these tests. Cultivars designated with an asterisk (*) were included in both tests. Highly resistant cultivars are not immune to powdery mildew, so expect to see a little disease should those be chosen for the garden. Susceptible cultivars would need to be sprayed regularly with fungicides to keep them looking good.
Highly resistant. 'Blue Boy', 'Darwin's Joyce', 'David'*, 'Delta Snow'*, 'Eden's Crush', 'Natascha', Phlox caroliniana, 'Red Magic', 'Robert Poore'*, and 'Speed Limit 45'.
Moderately resistant - moderately susceptible. 'Bright Eyes', 'Eva Cullum', 'Fairest One'*, 'Flamingo', 'Laura', 'Magnificence', 'Miss Ellie', 'Miss Jo-Ellen', 'Miss Katherine', 'Miss Kelly', 'Nicky', 'Nora Leigh', 'Orange Perfection', 'Pink Gown', 'Prime minister', 'Red Super', 'Rosalinde'*, 'Snow White', 'Starlight'.
Susceptible. 'Andre', 'Franz Schubert', 'Little Boy', 'Little
Princess', 'Miss Jill', 'Miss Karen', 'Miss Margie', 'Miss
Mary', 'Miss Pepper', 'Miss Universe', 'Mt. Fujiyama',
'Nikki', 'Russian Violet', 'Sir John Falstaff', 'Starfire'*,
'Tenor', 'The King', 'White Admiral'.
UKREC-Princeton, KY, March 28 - April 4| Black cutworm
| 1
| True armyworm
| 31
| | |
NOTE: Trade names are used to simplify the information presented in this newsletter. No endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not named.
Lee Townsend
Extension Entomologist
