You probably won’t use your sprayer again until next spring. To avoid potential problems, frustration, and major headaches next year, it’s wise to give your sprayer some TLC (Tender Loving Care) this time of year. While there may still be other important matters demanding your attention, don’t forget to winterize your sprayer. Don’t delay if you haven’t done so already. You want to prevent a cracked pump or reduced efficiency caused by not properly winterizing before temperatures drop below freezing. Here are some essential steps to take with your sprayer now.

Rinsing
You probably did the right thing when you last used the sprayer: thoroughly rinsed the entire system (tank, hoses, filters, nozzles). If you didn’t, be sure to do this before storing the sprayer. An unrinsed sprayer after each use, especially after the spraying season ends, can lead to cross-contamination of products applied to different crops next spring. Pay special attention to avoiding cross-contamination, which can cause severe crop damage, especially when using some of the newer 2,4-D and Dicamba herbicides. Another issue caused by not properly rinsing all sprayer parts is clogged nozzles. Once nozzles are clogged and remain that way for a long time, it becomes difficult to restore them to their normal working condition, which is what you expect from a properly cleaned nozzle. Leaving chemical residues in nozzles often causes changes in flow rate and spray pattern, resulting in uneven chemical distribution on the target.

The ease of properly rinsing a tank’s interior depends on its type. It is very simple if the tank is relatively new and has special rinsing nozzles and mechanisms inside. If not, manual rinsing becomes more difficult and can pose safety risks, such as inhaling fumes from leftover chemicals during the process. To avoid these issues, you can either replace the tank with one that has interior rinse nozzles or install an interior rinse system in your current tank.

For effective rinsing of all sprayer parts, circulate clean water through the entire sprayer for several minutes first with the nozzles off, then flush out the rinsate through the nozzles. Rinsing should ideally be done in the field or on a concrete chemical mixing/loading pad with a sump to recover rinse water. In any case, dispose of the rinsate following the instructions on the pesticide labels you have used. Always check the label for specific directions. Most labels recommend the following procedure: if rinsing on a concrete rinse pad with a sump, return the collected rinsate to the tank, dilute it with water, and spray it in the field where it cannot reach ditches or other water bodies. If rinsing is done in the field, make sure you are not flushing rinsate in one area. It’s best to dilute the rinse water in the tank further and spray it on the field in places where it won’t contaminate nearby water bodies or ditches.

Cleaning
Rinsing the system with water, as explained earlier, may not completely remove chemicals from the sprayer. This could lead to cross-contamination issues. Residues of certain pesticides left in the sprayer might cause serious problems when applying a spray mixture containing those residues to a crop highly sensitive to that pesticide. To prevent such issues, it’s best to thoroughly clean and rinse the entire spraying system with a cleaning solution. Usually, a mixture of 1 part household ammonia to 100 parts water works well for cleaning the tank. However, if the tank hasn’t been cleaned for weeks or immediately after the last spraying, you might need to start with a detergent solution. Some chemicals require specific rinsing solutions. Always check the product label for the latest cleaning instructions.

Cleaning the outside of sprayer components deserves equal attention. Remove compacted deposits with a bristle brush. Then flush the exterior parts of the equipment with water. A high-pressure washer can be used if available. Wash the exterior of the equipment either in the field, away from ditches and nearby water sources, or on a specially constructed concrete rinse pad with a sump. Again, the rinsate should be disposed of according to the label recommendations. As I mentioned earlier, most labels recommend the same practice: put the rinsate collected in the sump back into the tank, dilute it with water, and spray it in the field where there is no potential for the rinsate to reach ditches or other nearby water bodies.

Inspecting sprayer during winterization.

Winterizing
Recheck to ensure no liquid remains inside any of the sprayer parts to prevent freezing. The pump, as the core of a sprayer, needs special attention. You don’t want a cracked pump or one that isn’t working properly due to inadequate winterization before temperatures drop below freezing. After draining the water, add a small amount of oil, then turn the pump four or five revolutions by hand to coat the inside. Ensure this oil won’t harm rubber rollers in a roller pump or rubber parts in a diaphragm pump. Refer to the operator’s manual. If oil isn’t recommended, pouring one tablespoon of radiator rust inhibitor into the pump’s inlet and outlet can also help prevent corrosion. Alternatively, use automotive antifreeze with rust inhibitor in the pump and other sprayer parts. This helps protect against corrosion and freezing if any water remains. To prevent corrosion, remove nozzle tips and strainers, dry them thoroughly, and store them somewhere dry. Another option is to submerge them in a can of light oil, such as diesel fuel or kerosene.

Storage
Find ways to protect your sprayer from the harmful effects of snow, rain, sun, and strong winds. Moisture in the air, whether from snow, rain, or soil, causes rust on the metal parts of all types of unprotected equipment. This is especially true for a sprayer, which has various hoses, rubber gaskets, and plastic components. While the sun can help reduce moisture in the air, it can also cause damage. Ultraviolet light weakens and softens rubber parts like hoses and tires, and degrades some tank materials. The best way to protect your sprayer is to store it in a dry building. Keeping sprayers inside also allows you to work on them anytime during the off-season, regardless of the weather. If storing inside isn’t possible, cover the sprayer with a material that shields it from sun, rain, and snow. For trailer-style sprayers, place blocks under the frame or axle and reduce tire pressure during storage.

Finally, double-check all sprayer parts before leaving it behind. Identify parts that may need repairs or replacement. Inspect the tank and hoses for any signs of cracks or damage. Check the painted surfaces for scratches and touch up with paint to prevent corrosion. Also, remember to cover openings to prevent birds from nesting in the sprayer and to keep insects, dirt, and other debris out of the system.

Erdal Ozkan
Professor and Extension State Specialist
The Ohio State University

Monitoring weather is vital for effective plant disease and insect pest management. Ohio grape growers can apply to receive support to purchase and install an on-site weather station.  Access to a weather station will allow growers to monitor weather conditions (e.g. temperature, rain, wind speed and direction, leaf wetness, and solar radiation) in their vineyard in real-time; use the integrated pest management (IPM tools) available through the network for environment and weather applications (NEWA); improve fungicide and insecticide application timing; and provide vineyard specific data to regulators in the case of herbicide drift injury.

A grant reimbursement program for the purchase and installation of a weather station compatible with NEWA is now open. This grant program was initiated by the OSU Fruit Pathology and Specialty Crop Entomology programs and funded by the Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC).  The program will cover up to 60% or a maximum of $850 towards the base price of a weather station starter kit that is compatible with NEWA from KestrelMet or HOBO.  Approved growers are responsible for shipping fees, cellular or Wi-Fi charges, the cost of sensors or other add-ons that are not included in the starter kit and maintain the weather station at the end of the funding period.  To qualify for the grant program approved growers must meet the following requirements:

• Vineyard must be located in Ohio.
• Weather station must be connected to NEWA (newa.cornell.edu).
• Weather station data must be publicly available through the NEWA website.
• Proof of purchase and delivery is required.
• A grower feedback survey must be completed.

Once all requirements have been met the approved grower will assume ownership of the weather station.Additional program guidelines can be found here: OSU-OGIC Weather station Grant Program Guidelines

For more information on the cost share program please contact Christy Eckstein at christy.eckstein@agri.ohio.gov

For more information on selecting a weather station and onboarding to NEWA please contact Melanie Lewis Ivey at ivey.14@osu.edu.

The powdery mildew fungicide trial plot at South Charleston (WARS) are 100% orange and beginning the natural process of senescence. It has been dry at the station for the past few weeks and the Plectosporium blight has slowed down considerably. In the picture below, the top 15’ is a no-spray untreated check (near the grass border), then the main PM trial treatments and then a few PMT hybrids on the end of each row for comparison. The different susceptibility of Plectosporium to pumpkin hybrids can be seen in the image although now even the relatively tolerant hybrid is now severely infected and collapsing.

Plectosporium damage to powdery mildew trial.

At the station, PM infection in general seems light this year so far. Squash bugs are very active still, with all stages readily found in the field. Some striped and spotted cucumber beetles are feeding on the foliage, flowers and fruit.

Special Guest – Andres Sanabria Velazquez, OSU’s specialty crop plant pathologist, came down from Wooster and toured the plots with me last week. He pointed out many diseased plants which later were confirmed to be bacterial infections, likely bacterial leaf spot.  This disease is common in Ohio, attacking both foliage and then fruit. Unfortunately there is no effective treatment but certain hybrids do have a higher tolerance to the bacterial infection.

The tar spot sweet corn study has been scouted for the past few weeks but no lesions have been reported at any of the locations; Piketon, South Charleston or Willard. A fungicide application was made today on one of the South Charleston trials at full tassel stage despite there not being any tar spot, to see if slowing down other fungal pathogens would make a yield difference.

Spider sprayer going through Tar Spot trial with a fungicide.

While scouting these tar spot plots, it was quite evident that fall armyworm, corn leaf aphids and flea beetles were quite plentiful, damaging the tassels and emerging leaves on a substantial number of plants. There were also quite a few natural enemies feeding on the aphids in particular, including several species of ladybugs and green lacewing larvae.

Fall armyworm larva and leaf damage.

Ladybug with corn leaf aphids in tassel.

Corn earworm numbers have been spiking the past few weeks, with 3-5 day trap catch counts exceeding 120 moths. Sweet corn growers surrounded by drying field corn fields are at higher risk of infestation as their field is functioning like a trap crop due to it’s relative greenness. Recall CEW should be treated at fresh silking stage using a combination of moths caught per day and daily temperature above or below 80F to set the spray interval. Once silks have turned brown, those ears are relatively unattractive to egg laying CEW moths. Recommended products to treat for CEW caterpillars can be found in the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide here: https://mwveguide.org/results/crop/589/pests/3279

CEW treatment table.

Hartstack trap for corn earworm moths.

Among their many tasks, farmers engage in informal research regularly. Trying a new variety, a new technique, a new product requires background research, forming a good question, testing the new approach, and keeping records for comparison. For the past three years the Ohio Organic Farmer Researcher Network has offered support for farmers to develop their on-farm questions, connect to research resources, and share results with other farmers and farm educators.

This fall the network has organized a series of Fall Farmer Exchanges. Each event will provide opportunities to see farmer-led research that focuses on organic and regenerative farming practices. Tour organizers encourage attendance from others who have experimented or wondered about these or similar research questions. Events will include ample time for questions and discussion. To register or learn more, visit: go.osu.edu/oofrn-fall25  or contact Cassy Brown at 330-263-3634 or brown.1844@osu.edu.

Woodlyn Acres Farm in Dalton, Ohio (Wayne County) will host an August 27 tour on their current project comparing plow-down vs. harvest of leguminous cover crops. Scott Myers will share how this on-farm research project was designed with other area farmers and what questions they hope to answer. He will discuss other conservation practices they have tested on-farm. This research is part of a larger multi-institution project creating farmer-led research nodes across Ohio and Missouri to improve the performance of conservation practices. Read more about the From the Ground Up Project at ftgup.org. Registration for this tour is encouraged to help with planning.

On September 3, Rose Hill Farm in Roseville, Ohio (Muskingum County) will share their investigations of managing cucurbit pests with cover crops. Henry Peller will share the ways Rose Hill has used cover crops to impact their operation’s weed management and how it impacts soil health and other production concerns. Registration limited due to parking constraints.

In collaboration with Rural Action, Blue Owl Hollow in Newark, Ohio (Licking County) will host a tour of their forest farm on October 16. After the tour the focus shifts to a current on-farm mushroom spawn production trial which received a Warner grant from Ohio State’s Agroecosystem Management Program. Janell Baran and educators from Blue Owl and Rural Action will lead a Technical Woods Walk on forest farming from 12-3 p.m. From 4-6:30 p.m., participants can join a demonstration and discussion about the research project with Baran and other research team members Andy Gedeon of Soulshine Earth and Erika Lyon of Ohio State Extension Harrison County. Between the tour and research presentation we’ll have refreshments and time for one-on-one conversation. Registration for this event is limited. Carpooling is strongly encouraged!

The Ohio Organic Farmer Researcher Network is a group of farmers, agricultural professionals, and researchers who meet regularly to discuss emerging issues, possible projects, and recent or ongoing research on organic and other under-researched low-input practices. The group relies on farmer leadership but is facilitated and supported by staff at Central State University, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association, and The Ohio State University. Learn more or sign up for updates at offer.osu.edu/oofrn.

When people mention the Big Three auto manufacturers in Detroit, Michigan, most people think Ford, GM and Chrysler. When someone mentions the Big Three soil borne diseases in pumpkins, you should think of Phytophthora, Fusarium and Plectosporium. All of these fungal diseases can cause plant death and significant fruit loss. The spores can live several years in the soil, requiring proper moisture and weather conditions to initiate the infection cycle on a susceptible host, such as pumpkin.

This past week at the Western Ag Research Station in South Charleston, there was a spectacular infestation of Plectosporium blight on pumpkin leaves, veins, petioles, vines and fruit handles. This disease has previously been called white speck or Microdochium blight. After weeks of periodic heavy rains splashing infected soil onto the plants, a small percent of lesions were noted on a few plants July 30. Five days later, about 90% of the plants in the trial had a full blown infestation, severely damaging foliage and killing some plants in the trial. Because this disease attacks all parts of the plant, including the fruit handle and rind, it can lead directly to marketable fruit losses. Once infected, the leaves and petioles become very brittle and can snap off easily when handled or moved.

Plectosporium signs on pumpkin leaves. Note tiny white specks / spots on early infestation.

Note spindle or diamond shaped lesions on the lower leaf surface veins and petioles. These lesions will expand and coalesce into a large bleached area as the signs progress.

This infected fruit handle has become bleached over time. Notice all plant parts can be infected (leaves, veins, petioles, vines, fruit and handle) on right hand image.

Lighter colored foliage in this field wide image is infected and will eventually turn necrotic and fall off of the plant. Based on severity of infection, the entire plant may die.

Protectant fungicides used in powdery mildew applications such as Manzate should help prevent infection but after disease is identified, other chemistries such as the strobilurons (FRAC 11) are quite effective at control. Cultural management includes rotation away from cucurbits for at least three years to reduce soil borne inoculum. Biofumigation with mustard cover crops was researched for two years (2019-20) as a potential mitigating practice but was not found effective in reducing plant and fruit losses. A video outlining the biofumigation process can be seen on the OSU IPM Video Library on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Taz-PhDphhA?si=U11CrjsdAJXR01TD).

Cover crops such as rolled or crimped winter rye left on the soil surface forming a mat between the soil and the plants/fruit should help reduce soil splash and therefore limit disease progression on plants. Winter rye should help reduce Fusarium infections by preventing soil contact but will not be very effective against Phytophthora. Most pumpkin hybrids have very little resistance to Plectosporium blight but squash hybrids tend to be more resistant to infection, so looking for resistant hybrids in seed catalogs won’t yield any results.

Older pesticides for disposal.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will be sponsoring three collection events for farmers to dispose of unwanted pesticides. This year, the collections are available in Fulton, Lake, and Greene counties on the following days and locations:

• August 13 – Fulton County Extension
  8770 State Route 108, Wauseon, Ohio 43567, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
• August 14 – Perry Coal and Feed (Lake County)
  4204 Main Street, Perry, Ohio 44081, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
• August 27 – Greene County Fairgrounds
  100 Fairground Road, Xenia, Ohio 45385. 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

The pesticide collection and disposal services are free of charge, but only farm chemicals will be accepted. Paint, antifreeze, solvents, and household or non-farm pesticides will not be accepted.

The pesticide collections are sponsored by ODA in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To pre-register, or for more information, contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture at (614) 728-6987.

Pumpkin growers are in the middle of their season now, with plants still flowering, fruit being set, and set fruit sizing up. We’ve been getting steady rains in South Charleston for the past two weeks, and the pumpkin plants are as large as I’ve ever seen. My research plots with small vining hybrids are planted on 15′ centers but are now nearly 12′ wide, even after vine training!

Steady rains have favored pumpkin growth.

Powdery Mildew has been detected at the station on 7/22 but is still at very low levels, under 0.5%. This is the equivalent of 1-2 white powdery colonies per leaf which is a very low level. Growers are encouraged to begin their spray schedule oevery7-14 days when they see the first colonies, as this disease multiplies very fast in the canopy.  For a list of PM fungicides, see the Cucurbit chapter of the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide (https://mwveguide.org/uploads/pdfs/Cucurbit-Crops_2024-12-03-155451_othe.pdf) or take a look at some of the results performed at OSU over the past few years (https://u.osu.edu/jasinski.4/pumpkins/).

Early powdery mildew infections on upper leaf…only a few percent in this image.

While Downy Mildew has been reported in Ohio over the last two weeks, it is the clade that affects cucumbers not pumpkin. Protective applications of chlorothalonil or mancozeb will help protect against infection; recall that FRAC M fungicides like chlorothalonil and mancozeb can be added to every spray with only minimal chance of resistance development. Once DM has been positively identified in a field, switch to more specific and systemic products found in the MVPG.

Squash bug activity has been picking up in the plots over the past few weeks, with all stages readily seen on foliage; eggs, nymphs and adults. The threshold is one egg mass or adult per plant to justify an application. There are not squash bug specific sprays per se, and any insecticide application made at this point needs to consider if the plants are flowering or not. If flowering, legal pollinator protections and guidelines must be followed to minimize impacts on pollinators and other beneficial insects in the field. Applications of pyrethroids or other insecticides will kill many of the beneficial insects and most likely spike secondary pests like aphids. Do not add a blanket insecticide unless you have a specific pest insect above threshold that needs to be controlled. If an insecticide is needed, do not tank mix with a fungicide as this will increase bee mortality in most cases; apply late in the evening to lessen impact on pollinators. Available insecticide options can be found in the MVPG.

Squash bug life stages.

Other News from Around the Research Station and Beyond
The Tar Spot sweet corn study is nearly ready to begin evaluating. Tar Spot is a relatively new disease on corn, first detected on field corn in Ohio in 2018. Currently the plants are at V7. When the plants reach V10, the evaluation for dark brown stroma on leaves will begin. This project is also being trialed at Piketon and Muck Crops station. We’ll keep you updated as the season progresses.

OSU researchers are working with FarmSense to evaluate a new kind of insect monitoring device that does not rely on a sticky card or compartment to trap the insect. Instead, the experimental FarmSense device reportedly can identify the pest moth as it flies through the sensor. Pest detections are then uploaded via cellular connection to the cloud where growers can access trap counts on a website without taking time to visit the trap. This technology is being compared to standard Heliothis traps for squash vine borer and corn earworm. Stay tuned for more results.

FarmSense traps differ from other conventional traps.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug traps are being set to record the late summer migration toward tree fruit and other vegetables, especially sweet corn, tomato and pepper. Keep an eye out for these pests as you work around your fields.

BMSB traps deployed.