Month: May 2014

Week of May 19 – 23 Scout Summary

AGRONOMIC CROPS:

  • Corn and Soybeans: Although there is still much corn yet to be planted, there are some acres with corn at the emerging up to v2 stage of development.  Slug feeding was noted on emerged corn at light levels of 3-11% defoliation.  Scouts will also be looking for black cutworm damage in the coming weeks.  None of the enrolled soybean acres have been planted yet.

 

  •  Alfalfa: Scouts noted alfalfa weevils at first through 3rd instar larval stages.  Stem counts averaged from less than 1 up to 1.4 weevil larvae per stem.  This is below threshold treatment levels for the development stage of alfalfa.  Alfalfa height noted in scout reports ranged from 8 to 28 inches. Some new seeding stands were at the 2 – 3rd trifoliate leaf stage of development.   Leaf spot was noted in some stands.

Week of May 19 – 23 Scout Summary

VEGETABLES:

  • Asparagus: Scouts are noting the presence of both asparagus beetles and eggs.
  •  Cole crops: Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli:  Overall cole crops are looking good. Scouts noted the presence of light to moderate levels of flea beetles in some plantings and also detected a few eggs of the imported cabbage worm on some plants.  Some light slug feeding damage on some broccoli was noted.
  •  Onions and Garlic: Scouts noted the presence of thrips below threshold level on some plants.
  •  Peas:  Doing well at this time with no problems noted.
  •  Lettuce: Some lettuce planted under row cover was doing well and approaching harvest stage with no pest problems noted.
  • High tunnel tomatoes:  Scouts reporting tomatoes at bud, bloom and fruit set stage of development. There was some botrytis gray mold noted as well as some aphid eggs.  Overall, high tunnel tomatoes developing well.
  •  Sweet corn planted under row cover or early field planted: ranged in size from  1 inch to 8 to 10 inches tall on some row covered sweet corn.  Some light slug damage and light cutworm damage observed by scouts in sweet corn under row cover.
  •  Cucumbers: Scouts noted cucumbers in high tunnels at bloom and fruit set stage and other cucumbers planted under row cover at bloom stage of development.

  → Other crops noted as planted under row cover include green beans, melons, squash. 

  •  Potatoes:  Planted, scouts noted most have emerged.  No pest problems at this point.

Week of May 19 – 23 Scout Summary

FRUIT:

  • Apples:  Biofix date for codling moth control was set as May 12.  Growing degree day (GDD) accumulation since that date is 124 until May 23.  By early next week growers should be applying an insecticide for codling moth control. Depending upon variety, apple stage of development ranged from petal fall to the beginning of fruit development.
  •   Peaches:  Oriental fruit moth (OFM) bio-fix date of May 7 was set.  GDD are being tracked and 260 have accumulated since biofix.  Due to winter injury and lack of blooms and fruit set most growers do not need to spray for OFM control.  There does exist a possibility that the second generation of OFM may move into nearby apple orchards and damage fruit.  Beginning around 700 GDD since biofix scouts will monitor apple orchards for OFM 2nd generation flight.
  •  Strawberries: Scouts noted strawberries ranged from bloom to fruit set.  It is important to use fungicides during the infective bloom period to prevent botrytis gray mold of strawberry fruit.  Scouts also noted a few spittle bugs, some light slug feeding damage and some leaf spot on strawberry plants.
  •  Grapes:  Scouts noting some cluster development.  Scouts noted some early symptoms of grape black rot in some locations. Early season fungicide spray for control of grape black rot and phomopsis cane blight needs to continue.
  •  Brambles, Blackberries and Raspberries:  Brambles are at the pre-bloom stage of growth. Scouts noted the presence of the lesser carpenter bee, which bores into bramble canes.  Orange rust was found in some locations, but the spore stage of this disease development has not yet been reached.  Control recommendations include the removal of infected plants.

  •  Blueberries:  Most plants are in full bloom and in some locations plants are beginning fruit set.  Phomopsis twig blight was found on a few plants.  Control is pruning out infected branches.

Cucumber/ Lettuce

Scouts have been seeing a bit of development and in the photo above you will see a couple of cucumbers developing.

Scouts have been seeing a bit of development and in the photo above you will see a couple of cucumbers developing.

Here is a head of lettuce that is looking great. The growers really, are doing a great job despite the cold weather and the excessive rain.

Here is a head of lettuce that is looking great. The growers really, are doing a great job despite the cold weather and the excessive rain.