Wednesday, July 27, 2011

NC Pest News for July 22

Sorry this is a little late. The latest edition of NC Pest News is now available.

In the July 22 issue:
  1. My tomato plants are wilting...then they die
  2. New website to report brown marmorated stink bug sightings in North Carolina

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Downy Mildew Confirmed in Buncombe County

Downy mildew has been confirmed at very low levels in a 2-acre cucumber field in Buncombe County. Growers are encouraged to begin treatment.

Review this post from June on the current recommendations: Pest News June 24

Don't forget to review the Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting website for more information.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Spotted Wing Drosophila Alert July 17

On June 29 I posted on the threat of a new pest, the spotted wing drosophila (SWD). This post is on the latest development of SWD in NC from Dr. Hannah Burrack.

Spotted Wing Drosophila Alert
For commercial fruit growers

Suspected
spotted wing drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzkii) larvae have been found in North Carolina grown caneberries. Growers in areas with a known history of SWD should undertake an aggressive management program for this potentially devastating pest. Growers in areas without a history of SWD should determine the status of SWD on their farm by sampling fruit and trapping adult flies.

SWD in North Carolina

SWD has been detected in the following 23 North Carolina counties:
Anson, Ashe, Burke, Bladen, Craven, Davidson, Edgecombe, Greene, Henderson, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Montgomery, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Person, Randolph, Rowan, Sampson, Wake and Wayne.

SWD larvae have been found in fruit in the counties indicated in bold. In all of the listed counteis, adult SWD have been captured in traps.

SWD can feed on blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes figs, peaches, cherries, and many other soft skinned fruits, both cultivated and wild.

Growers of these crops in and around the 22 counties where SWD has been detected should consider themselves to be in areas witha history of SWD and manage accordingly.

SWD Management

Because SWD is new to North Carolina, our current management strategy relies on insecticides. You can find lists of registered insecticides and their probable efficacy against SWD at www.ncsmallfruitsipm.blogspot.com.

Select insecticides that will be effective against SWD (those expected to provide "excellent" control), and apply insecticides at the high end of the labeled rate range. Apply insecticides every 7 days, ideally rotating between at least two insecticides with different modes of actions (MOAs).

Always observe proper preharvest intervals and be aware that many insecticides have maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the United States and other countries. These residue levels may potentially occur before the maximum number of allowable insectice applications per season is reached. USDA maintains a database of MRLs (http://www.mrldatabase.com/).

Check with your marketer or wholesaler before using a new insecticide on your crop to ensure that it is acceptable in all locations where your fruit may be sold.

SWD larvae take 7-10 days to mature, so larvae found in fruit now are the result of egg laying activity over 1 week prior. Larvae inside fruit cannot be controlled; only adult SWD can be killed with insecticides.

Sanitation is crucial for SWD management. All ripe fruit (marketable or not) must be removed from the field and disposed of. Culls should not be left on the ground or plant. Freezing or "baking" in clear plastic bags placed in the sun will kill larvae, Burying or composting may not.

Vegetable Production Workshop July 27, Mountain Research Station

Mountain Research Station

There will be a Vegetable Production Workshop on July 27 at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville.

Please take this opportunity to see the exciting research being conducted on the test farm.

What: Vegetable Production Workshop

Where: Mountain Research Station, 265 Test Farm Road, Waynesville, NC. 828.456.3943

Agenda: 1:30-2 pm Registration

2pm - Welcome - Kaleb Rathbone, Superintendent of Mountain Research Station

2:15 pm - East Coast Broccoli Production, Dr. Jeanine Davis, NCSU Horticulture

2:35 pm - Tomato Insect Control, Dr. Jim Walgenbach, NCSU Entomology

2:50 - Drip Irrigation, Dr. Greg Hoyt, NCSU Soil Science

3:10 - Tomato Breeding Program, Dr. Dilip Panthee, NCSU Horticulture

3:25 - Organic Research Overview, Dr. Jeanine Davis

3:45 - Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting, Mike Adams, NCSU Plant Pathology

4:05 - Pumpkin Variety Trial, Dr. Jonathon Schultheis, NCSU Horticulture

4:20 - Sweet Corn Variety Trial, Dr. Terry Kelly, Harris Moran Seeds

4:35 - Vegetable Disease Control, Dr. Kelly Ivors, NCSU Plant Pathology


Registration is free.


Pesticide credits are available. 1.5 hours N, O, D, X

Pest New July 15


The latest edition of NC Pest News is now available.

In this edition you'll find:
  • Plant Disease and Insect Clinic Information on the Internet
  • Worm Control in Sweet Control: 2011 Edition
July 15 Edition of NC Pest News.