Author: Payton Strawser

Jeff Taylor, Founder of Event 38’s Visit to the Fields

On Thursday, Jeff Taylor who is the founder of Event 38 came out to a field with Rory to visit Chris, Art and I. He wanted to get a closer look at what he needs to program the drone to do and learn more about the agricultural world. We are all excited to where this project goes and I’m sure Jeff will do a great job with the drone.

IPM scout Payton checking corn whorl for corn borer larvaeIPM scout Art with Jeff Taylor, event 38IPM scout Chris with Event 38 founder talking scouting procedureIPM scout Chris explaining scouting to Jeff Taylor, Event 38

IPM scouts Chris and Payton with Jeff Taylor, Event 38corn borer larvae in leaf whorl

Week of 7 – 11 Scouting Report Summary

AGRONOMIC CROPS:

  • Corn: Scouted fields ranged from v5 to v14 stage of development.  Grey leafspot showed up in several fields, not widespread or heavy.  Corn borer, armyworm and Japanese beetles damage was all at light levels.
  • Soybeans:  Scouted soybeans ranged from V4 to V8 stage of development.  Japanese beetle feeding damage ranged from light to moderate in some fields. Septoria brown spot was found. Pokeweed escapes are becoming large in some fields.
  • Alfalfa: Potato leafhoppers and Japanese beetles were noted at low levels.

Week of July 7 – 11 Scouting Report Summary

VEGETABLES:

  • Cole crops: Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli:  Most cole crops look good.  Imported cabbage worm larvae and cabbage looper were found in some fields at low levels.
  • Onions and Garlic: Thrips are generally present but at low levels, well below threshold.  Botrytis leaf and neck rot are present in some plantings.
  • High tunnel tomatoes: Botrytis, early blight and fusarium wilt have been found.  Timber rot is being identified in some high tunnels.  This week scouts found climbing cutworm, tomato fruitworm and corn borer larvae all attacking tomato fruit.
  • Field tomatoes:  Bacterial speck, spot and canker all being found.  Early blight and septoria leaf spot incidence is increasing.  Timber rot on a few plants was found.  Blossom end-rot is also being found.
  • Sweet corn: Corn is silking and corn pollination is underway in some plantings.  Corn borer damage was noted, still below economic treatment threshold.  Corn borer moth counts are very low, probably between generations.  Although no corn earworm moths have been caught in pheromone traps,  scouts did find a corn earworm larva in some silking corn.
  • Cucumbers:  Cucumber beetles being found.  Some bacterial wilt symptoms are being observed in older plantings.  Angular leaf spot, a bacterial disease, is common in many plantings.
  • Zucchini and Summer Squash:  Cucumber beetles are light in most fields.  Japanese beetles are present and feeding at low levels.  Squash bug adults and eggs can be seen in some fields at low levels.  Angular leaf spot is common and some powdery mildew has been found.  Blossom end rot can be found as well.
  • Winter Squash and Pumpkins:  Cucumber beetles were at low levels along with Japanese beetles.  Angular leaf spot is common and anthracnose is also being found.
  • Melons: Anthracnose and bacterial wilt have been found.  Angular leaf spot has also been detected by scouts and confirmed with lab diagnosis.
  • Potatoes:  Colorado potato beetles (CPB) and leaf hoppers were light in fields scouted this past week.  Some early blight has been found.
  • Peppers:  Bacterial spot was found in several pepper plantings this past week.  Cercospora leaf spot is present in some plantings.
  • Eggplant: Potato leaf hopper (PLH), CPB, and Japanese beetles were all found on eggplant.  Some plantings exhibited heavy defoliation damage due to CPB feeding.
  • Green/Snap Beans:  Bean leaf beetles were very light, Japanese beetle feeding damage ranged from light defoliation to moderate defoliation.

Week of July 7 – 11 Scouting Report Summary

FRUIT:

  • Apples:  Scab showing up on developing apple fruit in some orchards.  Red mites are over economic threshold level in some orchards.  Certain varieties of apples appear to be more susceptible.  Some green apple aphids have also been found.
  • Grapes:  Scouts noted symptoms of grape black rot in some locations.  Light defoliation due to Japanese beetle feeding has been found across vineyards.
  • Brambles, Blackberries and Raspberries: No spotted wing drosophila or brown marmorated stink bugs found in traps yet.  Some Japanese beetle defoliation occurring on some plants.
  • Blueberries:  Some early varieties are turning color, no problems noted by scouts.  No spotted wing drosophila found in any of the traps.