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7. CHECK EARLY PLANTED (late April) BEANS for SOY APHID.

By: Chris DiFonzo

 

I was in fields today north of Frankenmuth that are 100% infested,
averaging 70+ SBA per plant.  These were fields planted in April.  V3
plant stage. No buckthorn in the immediate area, but this part of
Saginaw County is downwind from the Shiawassee and Titibawassee Rivers
and the National wildlife preserve south of Saginaw City, all with a lot
of buckthorn.  So far, this seems to be a unique location combining
early planting with early aphid colonization, similar to SE Michigan/
Monroe County in 2005, but its a good idea to concentrate on the
earliest planted fields in your area for scouting this week.

 

There is no cause yet for concern unless fields are 80-100% infested,
and the numbers are high (50-100 per plant).  If you are finding just a
few infested plants in a field or a hot spot here and there, that is NOT
a sprayable population.

 

When should small  beans be sprayed? Honestly I am not sure what to do.
The 250 threshold was tested in larger  beans (say, V5 or greater). I
have no good data to modify the threshold down for smaller beans. The
infested fields I looked at don't look too bad - they have adequate
moisture to replace the aphid feeding, they aren't putting on flowers or
other critical structures. They at least can tolerate 100 SBA per plant,
and maybe even 250.

 

There are some risks of spraying early that have been documented:

** aphid populations can 'flare'.  Predators will all be killed. The
surviving aphids will reproduce fast in the absence of predators. 

Some early-sprayed research trials end up with more aphids than
unsprayed fields.

** because of the flaring, early colonized fields that are sprayed early
may end up being sprayed 3 times instead of twice to achieve the same
yield.

 

Chris

 

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

Dr. Christina DiFonzo

Field Crops Entomology Program

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI   48824

 

 

8. NEW BULLETIN HELPS FARMERS FIGHT 

HONEYBEE PROBLEMS

 

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- One quarter of the U.S. honeybee population has
been lost to colony collapse disorder (CCD), and interest is growing in
alternative pollinators such as native bees.  A new Michigan State
University (MSU) Extension bulletin is available for farmers and other
landowners interested in exploring practices to enhance native
pollinators on their property.

"Conserving Native Bees on Farmland" (E-2985) provides straightforward
information about creating attractive environments for native bees. The
bulletin teaches the reader about various native bee species and gives
recommendations about nesting sites and food resources. 

Honeybees are the most economically important pollinator and are used
widely for pollinating crops, but they are also susceptible to diseases
and parasites. Colony collapse disorder is a mysterious condition that
has appeared recently in which adult honeybees abandon their hives for
what appears to be no reason at all.

"With honeybee health problems, focusing on native bees is a strategy to
reduce the risks of sole dependence on honeybees," said Rufus Isaacs,
associate professor of entomology.  "Our goal is to help growers make
sure they can pollinate their crops and have reliable production on
their farms every year."

Entomology graduate student Julianna Tuell did native bee research with
13 growers in conventional blueberry farms and semi-abandoned blueberry
fields. She studied a variety of native bees, their habitat needs and
feeding preferences. The bulletin compiles her research into
recommendations for farmers, gardeners and anyone growing crops that
rely on bees for pollination. 

"The native bees contribute to pollination, but they won't replace
honeybees," Tuell said. "The good news is that native bees do not seem
to be affected by colony collapse disorder, perhaps because they do not
live in large colonies."

            "Conserving Native Bees on Farmland" (E-2985) can be
purchased through the MSU Bulletin Office for $2 per copy by calling
517-353-6740 or visiting http://www.emdc.msue.msu.edu/
<http://www.emdc.msue.msu.edu/> . Discounts are available if the
bulletin is purchased for use with MSU Extension programming.

Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and
Environmental Needs) funded the entomology research and also supported
another new bulletin describing the relationships between native plants
and beneficial insects.  "Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native
Flowering Plants" (E-2973) was written by Isaacs and Tuell, along with
MSU entomology researchers Douglas Landis and Anna Fiedler.  

Visit www.ipm.msu.edu/plants/home.htm for more information on MSU native
plant and beneficial insect research.

Founded in 1997, Project GREEEN is a cooperative effort between
plant-based commodities and businesses together with the Michigan
Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and the Michigan
Department of Agriculture to advance Michigan's economy through its
plant-based agriculture. Its mission is to develop research and
educational programs in response to industry needs, ensure and improve
food safety, and protect and preserve the quality of the environment. To
learn more about Michigan's plant agriculture initiative at MSU, visit 
www.greeen.msu.edu.

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9. 2007 Select Michigan Farmers' Market Promotion Opportunities

From: Michigan Farmers' Market Managers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Montri, Dru
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 11:43 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject:

The Select Michigan Program, in cooperation with the USDA Agricultural
Marketing Service, Michigan Food and Farming Systems, Michigan Farmers
Market Association, and the Food Bank Council of Michigan, are pleased
to sponsor special farmers' markets this season for Michigan grown and
processed food and agriculture products.  You are invited to participate
in one or all events!  

  

Special Market Dates and Locations:

 

Buy Local Farmers' Market, Michigan State Capitol lawn, Lansing

Thursday, July 12 from 10:30 am - 3 pm 

 

Select Michigan Farmers' Market, Henroy Ford Hospital, Grand Blvd
Campus, Detroit

Wednesday, August 22 from 10 am - 2 pm

 

Michigan State Fair Blue Ribbon Farmers' Market, Michigan State
Fairgrounds, Detroit

Wednesday, August 22 thru Monday, September 3 10 am - 4 pm

 

Select Michigan Day Farmers' Market, Michigan State Capitol lawn,
Lansing

Thursday, September 13 from 10:30 am - 3 pm

 

Please see the attached information to learn how you can get involved
and participation requirements.  You can also contact Jeanne Lipe,
Michigan Department of Agriculture at [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  with any questions.

10.  Pasture walk topic: Grass-fed Beef On August 7 in Mason, MI

Dan Hudson, MSUE Ingham County is hosting a pasture walk at Maynard
Beery's farm. Maynard will show his farm and explain his pasture system.
Please join us for an educational and pleasant evening at Maynard
Berry's farm.

 

Location: 849 N. Aurelius Road, Mason, MI  48854

Date: August 7

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Invitees: Mid-Michigan Grazing Group and other interested community
members

Host: Maynard Beery

Organizer: Dan Hudson, Ingham County MSU Extension

Contact: 517-676-7207

 

'Grass-fed' beef has become increasingly popular in recent years,
especially among those who are health conscious or have philosophical
reasons for not wanting to consume conventionally produced beef.  On
August 7 at 6:00 p.m. we will be meeting at the farm of Maynard Beery, a
local producer of grass-fed beef.  Maynard currently has 15 cows, 8
calves, 8 steers, and a few bulls on 30 acres of perennial pasture and

25 acres of annual forages.  His livestock receive no grain
supplementation.

 

Please join us as we learn about this unique system of beef production!

 

 

Daniel Hudson

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Ingham County MSU Extension

121 E. Maple Street

P.O. Box 319

Mason, MI  48854

 

Office Phone: 517-676-7207 ext 7291

END! Hope your week goes well and we get some rain!

 

 

 

 

Vicki Morrone

Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist

Michigan State University

C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems

303 Natural Resources Bldg.

East Lansing, MI 48824

517-353-3542

517-282-3557 (cell)

517-353-3834 (fax)

http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/

http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/

 

 


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