By Clint Thompson Last year’s persistent rains contributed to armyworms being more of a nuisance in Alabama’s specialty crop fields. “If you can control weather, you can control armyworms,” joked Ayanava Majumdar, Extension professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. “We had an extremely wet summer. The weather was just perfect for those insects.” Majumdar believes growers can …
Alabama 2022 Private Pesticide Applicator Training Calendar
Alabama Extension has released its Private Pesticide Applicator Training and Testing for the 2022 calendar year. The classes are designed for producers who need to take the private pesticide applicator test in order to purchase restricted use products. They will also be discussing chemical safety and sprayer calibration during the class. Any farmer or applicator who applies pesticides on a …
ABT Populations Vary Across South Florida
According to UF/IFAS, scouts in south Hendry County detected the highest populations of Asian bean thrips (ABT) this week. In south Hendry County, an infestation of 0.2 adult ABT per bloom were reported, though population increases could surge over the next few weeks due to many larvae present. ABT populations were up to 0.1 per bloom in the Moore Haven …
Proclaim Insecticide a Valuable Option for Growers Against Diamondback Moth
By Clint Thompson One of the leading insecticide treatments for diamondback moth could still be vulnerable to overuse and eventual resistance. That’s why John Taylor, agronomic service representative for Syngenta, implores producers to rotate different modes of action so resistance does not develop. “Proclaim® is one of the stalwarts, so to speak, of diamondback moth management. With that being said, …
Pesky Pest: Diamondback Moth Remains Concern for Georgia Growers
By Clint Thompson One pest that Georgia vegetable growers can bank on for the upcoming season is diamondback moth. Its high resistance to insecticides makes it an annual pest that growers need to be wary of, according to Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist. “We have products that when they first come out, they were probably …
High Populations: Pepper Weevils a Concern for South Florida Producers
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, pepper weevils remain moderate to high in various vegetable crops across south Florida. Respondents along the east coast report that weevil populations are high around St. Lucie County. They are moderate at other locations. Populations remain a concern in Manatee and Hillsborough counties. Weevils are showing up in other locations around …
Adult Whitefly Populations Increasing Across South Florida Vegetables
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, whitefly numbers remain low in most crops for this time of the season. But according to growers and scouts, adult populations have increased in multiple places, and nymphs are being observed in older tomato, eggplant and watermelon. The spikes seen in some melon fields have led to cucurbit viruses. Populations will …
Asian Bean Thrips Populations Continue to Vary Across South Florida
According to the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations continue to vary throughout south Florida. The highest populations were detected in south Hendry County, though populations were very low in the Palm Beach County region. In south Hendry County, infestations were numbered at 0.2 adult per bloom. Larvae have been observed at …
Thrips Populations Vary Across Florida
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, thrips populations vary across the state. Chilli thrips are present in pepper crops in central Florida, mostly in low to moderate numbers. But they are higher in other locations. Florida flower thrips, western flower thrips and melon thrips have been observed in low numbers. Asian bean thrips have been reported on …
Strawberry Growers: Scout for Spider Mites
According to the University of Georgia Strawberry blog, it is important for strawberry growers to scout their fields for possible spider mites, especially this early in the production season. “Early detection is important since research has proven that even low numbers of mites can reduce yields,” according to Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent …