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 …
Attention Florida Blueberry Producers: Pests, Diseases to Look Out for This Season
By Clint Thompson Florida’s blueberry crop is starting to bloom across the state. Harvests will commence in just a few months. Growers need to be mindful of multiple pests and diseases that could impact this year’s production, says Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences blueberry Extension coordinator. “The things that growers are concerned about or …
Blueberry Gall Midge: UF/IFAS Scientists Studying Insect’s Behavioral Patterns
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are studying one of blueberries’ main pests to provide better management options for Florida growers. The blueberry gall midge has become more problematic for blueberry growers in the past two decades. Its larvae feed on southern highbush blueberry and rabbiteye floral and vegetative buds. Severe feeding …
Words of Advice: Sanitation Important in Limiting Pests, Diseases
By Clint Thompson Proper sanitation of fields will reduce insect infestations and disease pressure. That’s the message Ayanava Majumdar, Extension Professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University, wants Alabama producers to understand as they transition from one season to the next. “The first thing for any grower or any crop is making sure farmers have cleaned up the …
Sweet Corn Insect Management: Scouting Important Against Fall Armyworms
By Clint Thompson Scouting remains the main key for Florida sweet corn farmers in fending off fall armyworms this season. Julien Beuzelin, a University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) entomologist, said appropriate management of fall armyworms starts with making sure you have a problem to begin with. “For armyworms, scouting is very important because you …
UF Research: Bags on Peaches Help Keep Pests, Diseases Away
Peaches are popular, especially in the Southeast, with annual national production of about 806,000 tons. Growers can help keep pests and diseases from damaging the fruit by placing bags around individual peaches, University of Florida researchers say. David Campbell, a UF/IFAS post-doctoral researcher, led new research, funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic Research and Extension Initiative grant. UF/IFAS …
Hemp Pests: UF/IFAS Offers ID Tool
The first step in tackling a pest problem in hemp is proper identification. A new University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agriculture Services (IFAS) hemp pest identification tool helps producers take the guesswork out of identifying some of those pests. The hemp pest identification guide, available for purchase through the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore, includes 20 of the most …
High Insect Pressure Reported in Alabama
By Clint Thompson Insect pests continue to increase in numbers across Alabama. According to the Alabama Insect Pest Monitoring Report, as of Saturday, Aug. 21, moth numbers collected at 19 locations across the state continue to be high for fall armyworm, southern armyworm, tobacco budworm and squash vine borer. There were 1,230 fall armyworm moths, compared to 252 this time …
Pollinator Protection While Using Organic Insecticides
Organic Corner By Ayanava Majumdar, Dani Carroll and Olivia Fuller As the summer temperatures soar, insect activity in vegetable crops rises dramatically with several overlapping generations of pests feeding on crops. During this time, need-based insecticide applications may be necessary when other pest management measures like trap crops and exclusion systems are exhausted or unfeasible. Tremendous strides have been made …
Japanese Beetles: Insects a Concern for Grape Producers
Grape producers in Georgia and Alabama need to be on alert: Japanese beetles are starting to show up in vineyards. According to the University of Georgia Extension Viticulture Blog, if there is a severe infestation, the Japanese beetles can be severe pests of grapes this summer, feeding mostly on the foliage. What’s of most concern is their impact on young …