MSU Listserv


MICH-ORGANIC Archives

MICH-ORGANIC Archives


MICH-ORGANIC@LIST.MSU.EDU


View:

Message:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Topic:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Author:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

Font:

Monospaced Font

LISTSERV at MSU

LISTSERV at MSU

MICH-ORGANIC Home

MICH-ORGANIC Home

MICH-ORGANIC  June 2008

MICH-ORGANIC June 2008

Subject:

What's New in Organic (Part 1 of 2)

From:

Katherine Jane Leitch <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Katherine Jane Leitch <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:49:54 -0400

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (401 lines)

What’s new in Michigan Organic Ag?
June 9 – June 20, 2008
By Vicki Morrone and Kate Leitch

PRODUCTION NEWS AND INFORMATION (In Part 1 and Part 2)
1. New Ag Network electronic newsletter
2. MSU Vegetable CAT Alert (June 4)
3. MSU Vegetable CAT Alert (June 11)
4. MSU Vegetable CAT Alert (June 18)
5. MSU Field Crop CAT Alert (June 5)
6. MSU Field Crop CAT Alert (June 12)
7. MSU Field Crop CAT Alert (June 19)
8. MSU Fruit CAT Alert (June 3)
9. MSU Fruit CAT Alert (June 10)
10. MSU Fruit CAT Alert (June 17)
11. MIFMA and SBAM Partner to Provide Michigan Farmers and Farmers Markets
with Greater Access to SBAM Benefits
12. Bee Colony Available
13. Farm Bill Becomes Law

NOTICE OF POSITION OPENINGS (In Part 2)
14. Free housing- “Have space, need help”
15. Vegetable Specialist Sought by Purdue University

EVENTS (In Part 2)
16. Annual Soil-Building Workshop- Innovations to Build Soils to Feed
Sustainable Communities
17. Organic Producers Needed for Rothbury Music Festival – Sweetwater
Local Foods Market
18. Public Hearing on Act-4-04 (A proposal affecting the Lansing City
Market)
19. Rapid Market Assessment Workshop
20. Grazing Workshop
21. High-Tunnel Tour of England
*******

PRODUCTION NEWS AND INFORMATION
*******

1. New Ag Network Newsletter
Vol. 5, No.4, June 11, 2008

http://www.new-ag.msu.edu/

In this issue:
  An introduction to sustainable floriculture research and extension at
Purdue University
  Cover crops as soil nutrition management tools
  Purdue Farm Sustainability Tour Organic production and processing –
transitioning to organic July 24, 2008
  Minnesota: Ten public agencies join forces in Organic Memorandum of
Understanding
  Integrated weed management on-farm trials
  Reports from organic growers

2. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU
Vol. 23, No. 7, June 4, 2008

http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08veg/v06-04-08.htm#1

In this issue:
  Vegetable insect update
  Managing cereal rye cover crop to reduce crop injury and improve benefits
  Widespread frost/freeze event across Michigan on May 28
  Regional reports
  Weather
*******

3. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU
Vol. 23, No. 8, June 11, 2008
http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08veg/v06-11-08.htm

In this issue:
Vegetable insect update
Recent rains favor Phytophthora development on vegetable crops
Potato late blight risk forecasting and potato disease extension bulletins
Fungicide application opportunity for the control of Rhizoctonia and black
dot in potatoes
Regional reports
Weather
*********

4. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU
Vol. 23, No. 9, June 18, 2008
http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08veg/v06-18-08.htm

In this issue:
Soil conditions contribute to poor plant growth
Vegetable insect update
Section 18 label issued for Carzol SP® use to control thrips in dry bulb
onions.
Regional reports
Weather

Soil conditions contribute to poor plant growth
Darryl Warncke
Crop and Soil Sciences

Growing conditions have been variable and challenging across Michigan; cool
and wet, hot and dry, hot and wet, now cool with scattered showers. Plants
have to be tough and resilient to grow through all these conditions. The
recent heavy rains have provided the most challenging soil conditions.
Soils are compacted by intense rainfall and standing water. Excess water
tends to seal the soil surface, even on some sandy soils. These conditions
impede drying of the soil and movement of air into the soil. The root
environment is oxygen deficient and roots cannot function properly to take
up water and essential nutrients. Many beneficial microorganisms also have
a difficult time functioning when oxygen starved. When these conditions
persist for more than two to three days, roots will become non-functional
and may begin to degrade. Cultivation is essential to open the soil and
allow air to move in. Renewed aeration of the soil will stimulate root
growth and microbial activity that will mineralize nitrogen and other
nutrients. With aeration, new root growth will occur.

During flooded or saturated soil conditions 50 lbs N/a or more may be lost
by leaching or denitrification. Once soils dry sufficiently, sidedress 40
lbs N/a to enhance root and plant growth. Spraying nitrogen and other
nutrients on the foliage of stressed plants may help them get through the
stress period. However, under stress conditions plants are less able to
absorb nutrients through the leaves, so the benefit may not be as great as
anticipated. Urea ammonium nitrate (28 percent nitrogen) is a good source
of nitrogen for foliar application as long as the rate does not exceed three
gallons per acre. Small amounts of nutrients may be able to be added in
with other spray materials, but be sure to check compatibility.

When excess rainfall occurs, the primary nutrient of concern is usually
nitrogen. In sandy soils, significant amounts of potassium may also be
leached out of the root zone so that topdress application may be beneficial
for high potassium requiring crops, celery and tomatoes. Boron is also
subject to leaching out of the root zone in sandy soils and muck soils. For
celery, celeriac, broccoli and root crops consider spraying 0.25 lb actual
boron per acre on the foliage.

Vegetable insect update
Beth Bishop
Entomology

The severe weather during the first week of June brought more insect pests
into Michigan. We continue to catch corn earworm moths in pheromone traps on
campus. Last week (June 10-17), we caught 48 earworm moths in one trap and
54 in the second trap. This is very early for such high numbers of corn
earworm to be present. Most sweet corn is not at risk for infestation, but
any corn in silk is at risk. Furthermore, corn earworm moths lay eggs on
tomatoes in fruit and the larvae (also known as tomato fruitworm) will eat
into the fruit. Growers with sweet corn or tomatoes at vulnerable growth
stages should apply an insecticide to prevent infestation. See bulletin
E312: 2008 Insect, Disease, and Nematode Control for Commercial Vegetables
for insecticides registered to control corn earworm/tomato fruitworm on
these crops. For sweet corn, it is critical to make sure the silks are
thoroughly covered with insecticide. Eggs are laid on the silks and
newly-hatched larvae travel down the silk to enter the ear.

Aster leafhoppers
The storm fronts also brought in new populations of aster leafhoppers. All
leafhoppers collected prior to June 4 and tested by Diagnostic Services were
not infected with aster yellows. However, we received and tested three
samples of leafhoppers that were collected June 9 -11 that had a fairly high
infectivity rate. About eight percent of leafhoppers collected from celery
fields in Hudsonville and Decatur were carrying aster yellows. Over 15
percent of leafhoppers collected from carrot fields in Oceana County were
infected with aster yellows. Consequently, treatment thresholds are much
lower than they were a few weeks ago. Celery fields should be treated if the
number of aster leafhoppers caught in sweep net samples exceeds three to
five leafhoppers per 100 sweeps. Carrot fields should be treated if the
number of aster leafhoppers exceeds three to seven per 100 sweeps. Lettuce
fields should be treated if the number of leafhoppers exceeds two to four
leafhoppers per 100 sweeps. We have not yet received samples from other
parts of the state, but to be cautious growers throughout Michigan should
use these thresholds for now.

European corn borer
The first flight of European corn borer is well underway and growers are
reporting a high percentage of sweet corn plants infested with small larvae.
In general, once the tassel starts to emerge, sweet corn should be treated
through harvest to prevent the larvae from infesting ears. In whorl-stage
corn, larvae are often found feeding deep in the whorl. Growers or scouts
can pull up the whorl leaves and see evidence of feeding. As the tassel
emerges from the whorl, corn borer larvae leave the whorl and travel to the
ears. To prevent this, growers should check whorl-stage corn and treat at
tassel emergence if corn borers are found. Also, if 15 percent or more of
whorl-stage corn is infested with corn borers, a treatment of granular
insecticide may be warranted. A number of insecticides, such as Avaunt,
Capture, Dipel, Lorsban and Pounce are registered for whorl-stage corn.
Granules should be directed into corn whorls.

First alfalfa cutting
A significant event for pest control in many vegetable crops is the first
alfalfa cutting. Alfalfa is a preferred host for many insect pests,
including tarnished plant bug and potato leafhopper. When alfalfa is cut,
these insects are forced to find new homes and may invade vegetable fields.
Potato leafhopper can damage potatoes and snap beans. Tarnished plant bug is
a pest of many vegetable crops, including snap beans, peppers, lettuce,
celery and asparagus. Alfalfa cutting is occurring throughout Michigan.
Growers with vulnerable crops near alfalfa fields should be scouting
regularly for these pests.
Cucumber beetles
With the advent of warmer weather, striped and spotted cucumber beetles are
finally making an appearance. Striped cucumber beetles overwinter as adults
in leaf litter and resume activity when the weather warms. During cool
periods, they are relatively inactive. So far this year, we’ve seen
alternating periods of cool and warm weather, which causes a sudden influx
of these insects into fields when temperatures rise. Cucumber beetles are
pests of curcurbit crops. High populations of adults can severely stunt or
kill young plants in the seedling or cotyledon stages. In addition, cucumber
beetles transmit bacterial wilt disease. Cucumbers, melons, hubbard squash,
butternut squash and processing pumpkins are susceptible to bacterial wilt.
Jack-o-lantern pumpkins, watermelons, and most other squash varieties are
rarely susceptible.

The most effective treatment for early-season cucumber beetles is an
at-planting treatment of carbofuran or a neonicitinoid, such as imidacloprid
or thiamethoxam. If such a treatment has not been made, or if the protection
is no longer effective, a number of foliar insecticides are registered for
control of cucumber beetles. For crops vulnerable to bacterial wilt, the
treatment threshold is 0.1 to 1.0 beetle per plant. For crops that are not
susceptible, the treatment threshold is five beetles per plant. Seedlings
require treatment when large numbers of beetles are feeding. Growers should
scout fields regularly, especially field edges. Early in the season cucumber
beetles may be concentrated along field edges so spot treatments can be
effective. Care should be taken to protect pollinators during flowering by
careful selection of insecticides, applying insecticides at night when
flowers are closed and covering or moving hives.
*********

5. Field Crop CAT Alert, MSU
Vol. 23, No. 9, June 5, 2008

http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08field/fc06-05-08.htm#1

In this issue:
  Insect update
  Aphids appear- Right on schedule
  Ice versus insects
  Improve profits with timely postemergence herbicide applications in
soybean
  Growing non-GMO soybeans? Come to an afternoon session of the 2008 MSU
Weed Tour
  MSU Crop Diagnostic School is July 18
  Wheat scab update
  Enviro-weather can help you time alfalfa cutting
  Regional reports
  Weather
********

6. Field Crop CAT Alert, MSU
Vol. 23, No. 10, June 12, 2008
http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08field/fc06-12-08.htm

In this issue:
Now is the time to check wheat fields for armyworm
Soybean Aphid Overwintering Survey
Common lambsquarters escapes in sugar beets: What are my options?
Optimizing fungicide timing for the control of Rhizoctonia crown and root
rot of sugar beet and issues about mixing Quadris with Roundup.
Volunteer potato control in corn
Managing corn and soybean fields submerged by recent heavy rains
Damage from late May frost now appearing in small grains
Regional reports
Weather
*********

7. Field Crop CAT Alert, MSU
Vol. 23, No. 11, June 19, 2008
http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08field/fc06-19-08.htm

In this issue:
Corn hybrids stressed after glyphosate applications
Yellow corn and soil nitrogen
Anthracnose leaf blight of corn
Pesticide application technology for soybean rust and soybean aphids
Custom machine work rates
MSU Extension history exhibit: Barn models from 1939
Soybean rust update for 2008
New resources available for soybean rust
Ag Expo set for July 15-17
Regional reports
Weather

Yellow corn and soil nitrogen
Darryl Warncke
Crop and Soil Sciences

Following the past couple of weeks of variable rainfall, many corn fields
are showing light yellow areas. Where rainfall was heavy the soil has been
compacted and the surface crusted. Some of the yellow areas are associated
with lower areas in fields where nitrogen was lost by leaching and
denitrification. In addition, the soil compaction and crusting is
contributing to oxygen deficiency that makes it difficult for the roots to
function properly in taking up water and nutrients. Opening up the soil by
cultivation or by knifing in nitrogen will help aerate the soil and
stimulate microbial activity to mineralize nitrogen and other nutrients and
improve root growth.
Some of the nitrogen that was leached downward may still be in the soil
profile where corn roots will eventually be able to access it. Results of
the presidedress soil nitrate tests are presented in Table 1. Some of these
samples were taken prior to the rainy spell, so the levels may have changed
some. Twelve percent of the samples contain enough nitrogen so that
additional N is required (> 25 ppm). In five percent of the samples the
available nitrogen level is very low.

Anthracnose leaf blight of corn
Jackie Smith and Steven Gower
MSU Diagnostic Services

Several corn samples have been submitted to the lab over the past few days
infected with anthracnose leaf blight. All samples have come from fields
where corn was grown last season.

Anthracnose of corn is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum graminicola. This
fungus survives in corn residue, first infecting the lower corn leaves as
the spores are splashed from the soil surface. Leaf spots are round to
irregular, water-soaked lesions with dark tan centers and yellowish-orange
to reddish-brown borders. Lesions usually appear near the leaf tip and mid
rib. Lesions can coalesce causing the lower leaves to shrivel and die.
Fruiting bodies (acervuli) with black, whisker-like setae can be seen with a
hand lens on infected leaves.

Anthracnose fungus survives in corn residue, especially on the soil surface.
Therefore, this disease may be more serious under reduced tillage systems
and in continuous corn.

Anthracnose leaf blight is best controlled through the use of resistant
hybrids along with crop rotation and tillage.
Photos of the disease can be seen in the CAT alert:
http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08field/fc06-19-08.htm#3

Custom machine work rates
Ned Birkey
Monroe Extension ANR educator

Many farmers hire some farm work or perform custom work for others. What is
a fair amount to charge one to do or to pay for such work? Michigan State
University has Extension Bulletin, E-2131, revised October 2002, available
free of charge, which outlines a free labor, tractor and machine rental
rates as determined by a survey of farmers from around the state of
Michigan.

Dennis Stein, MSU Extension farm management educator does a survey of
farmers in the Thumb area of Michigan every year. His survey of numbers is
listed below.

Some spring custom rate numbers for the following items might be helpful for
farmers as they settle up accounts for tillage work. All rates are per acre
unless otherwise noted.

Rates in Monroe County may be higher or lower depending upon several
factors. These can include; field size, ease of access, machine size and
roads, trash, trees or brush hindering work, depth of field drainage tile or
bedrock, payment arrangements or other factors.

Farmers need to consider their current fuel prices and adjust their custom
rate charge according to their actual costs.
Moldboard plowing
$15.50
Chisel plowing
$13.34
Mulch tilling (disk-chisel)
$13.36
V-ripping (14 inches deep)
$15.85
Tandem disking
$11.75
Field cultivator
$10.35
No-till corn planting
$16.00
Drill, no-till soybeans
$13.80
Mowing and conditioning hay
$12.75
Custom spreading lime without GPS
$ 5.25
Pull type pesticide spraying
$ 5.38
Pest scouting
$ 4.50

The Monroe County Extension office has copies of E-2131 and Dennis Stein’s
Saginaw Valley report available free of charge. For a copy, please call the
office at 734-240-3170.
*********

8. Fruit CAT Alert, MSU
Vol. 23, No. 9, June 3, 2008

http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08fruit/f06-03-08.htm#1

In this issue:
  Tree Fruit News
Borer damage sighted in many cherry orchards
TNRC trapline data: Cranberry fruitworm
  Small Fruit News
Disease control in grapes critical during and after bloom
Small fruit meeting
  Other News
Regional reports
Weather news
********

If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar
 http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html

Top of Message | Previous Page | Permalink

Advanced Options


Options

Log In

Log In

Get Password

Get Password


Search Archives

Search Archives


Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Subscribe or Unsubscribe


Archives

March 2024
February 2024
December 2023
August 2023
July 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006

ATOM RSS1 RSS2



LIST.MSU.EDU

CataList Email List Search Powered by the LISTSERV Email List Manager