Local Governments • U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Dave’s Ramble Fall 2011 A life and death reality of every livestock owner is balancing animal welfare with the availability and economics of veterinarian care. Animal husbandry requires proper planning for the emergency care of an injured, sick or down livestock. One of the toughest questions a farmer faces is, “At what point should a vet be summoned for the welfare of an animal?” A beautiful afternoon while tending the small kitchen garden this keeper of ducks kept a watchful eye over the free ranging flock. In a flash, the rascal fox snatched a Muscovy attempting escape. A shout from the garden only momentarily paused the fox, who now more determined, rolled the duck and sunk his upper canine under the ducks wing and deeply into the ducks chest before fleeing into the woods. However, I was now in hot pursuit with duck staff in hand, gaining on the fox. This farmer now releasing the wail of the hounds of Baskerville, convinced the fox to release the bird and vanish into the woods. The poor soul duck staggered to me, mouth agape with blood dripping from its nostrils and mouth. I picked her up, and tucked her gently under my arms, as I penned the rest of the duck troop. Then to our duck sickbay we hasted. She was now gurgling with each breath, as I prepared the hospital area in the cool and calming basement. I lifted her wing and discovered the ¾” gash directly into her lung. I could hear the air entering and exiting with each breath. A sucking chest wound; possibly beyond my capabilities of doctoring! While the duck rested, I Goggled information for treating a sucking chest wound, and called my wife to ask when my surgical nurse would be arriving home. She immediately asked, “What have you done to yourself this time!” My daughter and I have a routine for healing sick and injured ducks, and following the directions found on-line that Roman field surgeons used for treating chest wounds, I gently snipped the feathers around the wound and placed a large glob of antibiotic ointment directly over the wound and taped it closed on three sides with duct tape. The air entry stopped immediately, and the wound was already clotting. The duck did now appear comfortable and less stressed; although, she was in shock and still gurgling. I gave her some oral antibiotics, water and food; we all went to bed. In the morning, as I peered into the laundry room, to my amazement I discovered an alert duck, with her newly laid egg; the gurgling had ceased. For the next five days the dressing and oral antibiotics were repeated twice daily. On day six she returned to the flock, healed! Strong medicine for us all!

Calendar of Events Mark Your Calendars --- Plan To Participate

♦ November 15-17- Crop Mgmt. School - Ocean City ♦ November 30 - Southern MD Crops Dinner - Waldorf ♦ December 12 - Crops IPM Workshop NM/PAT - DFRC ♦ January 18 - Southern MD Forage Conference - Waldorf ♦ January 9 - Pesticide Certification Training - DFRC ♦ January 23 - Pesticide Certification Exam – DFRC ♦ January 27 - Central MD Vegetable Meeting-Upperco ♦ February 8 - So. MD Vegetable & Fruit Mtg – St Mary’s Co. ♦ March 26 - Pasture & Field Crop Workshop NM/PAT- DFRC ♦ April 13 - On-Line Nutrient Voucher Recertification ♦ April 20 - On-Line Pesticide Applicator Recertification

Inside This Issue

• Fall and Winter Meetings • Vegetable Crop Insect Update • Controlling Downy Mildew & Alternaria • Spotted Wing Drosophila • Flooding & Vegetables • Agronomic Crop Updates • Grain Marketing Highlights • Suburban Deer Management Presentations • Washing Pesticide Contaminated Clothing • Brown Marmorated Stinkbug in Corn Fields • Organic Weed Control & Ecology at CMREC • Blueberry Variety Research Trial • Spiders for Pest Control • Apple Varieties Fire Blight Resistance Trials • MDA & USDA News • Food for Profit • Reporting Tips for Crop Insurance • On-Line Farm Education Series • On-Line Pesticide Applicator

Pre-Exam Self Study

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FALL & WINTER MEETINGS Mark your calendars now and plan to be a part of the fall and winter meetings.

Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School November 15-17, 2011

The Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School will be held at the Princess Royale Hotel in Ocean City on November 15-17, 2011. Individuals seeking advanced training in soil and water, soil fertility, crop production and pest management will have an opportunity at hands on, intensive sessions that also provide continuing education units (CEU’s) for the Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Program. You may also register on line at: http://www.psla.umd.edu/extension/crops/home.cfm

Southern Maryland Crops

Dinner Conference November 30, 2011

The Southern Maryland Agents would like to invite everyone to join with our University specialists to have your questions answered about crop production and pest control at the

Southern MD Crops Conference on November 30, 2011, 4:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Baden Firehouse Hall in Brandywine, MD. Attendance at this conference will satisfy the requirement for the Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification & Nutrient Management Voucher. Please call your local Extension office to register.

Crop Sustainability & IPM

Workshop Pesticide Recertification &

Nutrient Management Voucher Training

December 12, 2011

Make plans to attend the Crop Sustainability & IPM Workshop, Monday, December 12, 2011 at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center (DFRC), 3789 Queen Anne Bridge Rd, Davidsonville, MD from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This workshop will explore advanced crop production practices focusing on sustainability, food security and integrated pest management tactics. Topics will include: Crop selection; integrated crop management; soil fertility; weed control; insect control; and disease control for field crops, fruits and vegetables.

Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification & Nutrient Management Voucher Recertification will be awarded for full class participation. To register for this event contact the Anne Arundel County Extension Office at 410 222-6759.

Maryland/Delaware Forage Council Southern MD Hay & Pasture Conference

January 18, 2012

Make plans to attend the Southern Maryland Hay & Forage Conference, January 18, 2012, at the Isaac Walton League Conference Facility in Waldorf, MD. Topics will be presented covering all aspects of hay and pasture production. The programs will address key issues and concerns facing hay and pasture producers. The conferences also features displays and exhibits by numerous agribusinesses. Attendees will be able to obtain information on seed, fertilizer, equipment, fencing, etc. needed for hay and pasture production and management. More detailed program information on the Southern Maryland conference will soon be available on the Web at: http://www.mdforages.umd.edu or through local county Extension and NRCS/Soil Conservation District offices in Maryland.

Become a MD Certified Private Pesticide Applicator

If you have allowed your Private Pesticide Applicator Certification to expire or are a new applicant, then you are invited to attend the Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Training and Examination. It’s a two step process:

Step 1: A Private Applicator Certification Training will be conducted at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center (DFRC) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on January 9, 2012.

Step 2: A Private Pesticide Applicator Exam will be given at the Davidsonville Family and Recreation Center (DFRC) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on January 23, 2012.

Central Maryland Vegetable Growers Meeting

January 27, 2012

This well sponsored, large grower meeting always offers a great deal of vegetable industry information. The Central Maryland Vegetable Growers Meeting will be held on January 27, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Friendly Farm Inn, located on Foreston Rd. in Upperco, MD. Pesticide recertification credits are awarded for attending this meeting. For full meeting details, and to register call the Baltimore County Extension Office at 410 666-1024 today.

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Southern Maryland Vegetable & Fruit Production Meeting

February 8, 2012

Make plans to attend the Southern Maryland Vegetable and Fruit Production Meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. This year the meeting will be held in Anne Arundel County at the Bowie Elks Lodge from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This meeting will provide Private Applicator Recertification & Nutrient Management Voucher Recertification. Speakers will provide IPM updates and present on a broad range of production topics.

Also meeting sponsors will showcase their products and services, and state vegetable organization leaders will be present to recruit and answer your questions. Please attend and make this meeting the best ever.

For full conference details, contact Dave Myers, Extension Agent, Anne Arundel County Extension Office at 410 222-6759. Please register no later than February 6, 2012.

Field Crops & Pasture IPM Workshop March 26, 2012

Make plans to attend the Field Crops & Pasture IPM Workshop, Monday, March 26, 2012 at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center (DFRC), 3789 Queen Anne Bridge Rd., Davidsonville, MD from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This workshop will explore advanced concepts of pasture and field crop production in the Southern Maryland region from establishment to harvest, including animal utilization. Topics will include: Crop selection; integrated crop management; soil fertility; weed control; insect control; and disease control for soybeans, corn, wheat, barley and hay crops.

Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification & Nutrient Management Voucher Recertification will be awarded for full class participation.

To register for this event contact the Anne Arundel County Extension Office at 410 222-6759.

Live On-Line Session Nutrient Management

Voucher Recertification April 13, 2012

If you would like the opportunity to learn from home, yet still be engaged, then be sure to enroll in the On-Line Nutrient Management Voucher Recertification Training, scheduled for April 13, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. This session will focus on fertility and production related topics for all field crops, fruits and vegetables. This Adobe Connect recertification session will be live via the internet directly from the University of Maryland. Adobe Connect is a student interactive system that will document your attendance. To participate in a live Adobe Connect session a high speed cable or satellite internet connection is required. Nutrient Management Voucher Recertification credit will be awarded for full 2-hour session participation. Registration by April 11th is required in order to receive Adobe Connect login instructions. To register for this on-line event contact the Anne Arundel County Extension Office at 410 222-6759.

Live On-Line Session Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification

April 20, 2012 If you would like the opportunity to learn from home, yet still be engaged, then be sure to enroll in this New On-Line Private Pesticide Recertification Training, scheduled for April 20, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The session will focus on pesticide use and related topics for all field crops, fruits and vegetables. This Adobe Connect recertification session will be live via the internet directly from the University of Maryland. Adobe Connect is a student interactive system that will document your attendance. To participate in a live Adobe Connect session a high speed cable or satellite internet connection is required. Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification credit will be awarded for full 2-hour session participation. Registration by April 18th is required in order to receive Adobe Connect login instructions. To register for this on-line event contact the Anne Arundel County Extension Office at 410 222-6759.

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Vegetable Crop Insect Update By Joanne Whalen

DE Extension IPM Specialist jwhalen@udel.edu

Cabbage Continue to sample for cabbage looper, diamondback larvae, fall armyworm, beet armyworm and Harlequin bug. Be sure to select controls options based on the complex of insects present in the field, especially beet armyworm which are difficult to control.

Lima Beans Continue to scout for stink bugs, lygus bugs, soybean loopers, beet armyworm and corn earworm. Moths can still be found laying eggs in fields. A treatment will be needed if you find one corn earworm larvae per 6 ft-of-row.

Peppers At this time of year, corn borer, corn earworm, beet armyworm and fall armyworm are all potential problems in peppers. So be sure to select the material that will control the complex of insects present in the field. Be sure to check local corn borer and corn earworm moth catches in your area by calling the Crop Pest Hotline (in state: 1-800-345-7544; out of state: 302-831-8851) or check our webpage at http://ag.udel.edu/extension/IPM/traps/latestblt.html. We continue to see economic levels of aphids, especially in fields where pyrethroids have been used on a weekly basis. Materials labeled for aphids are only effective if applied before populations explode.

Snap Beans With the sustained high trap catches, you will need to consider a treatment for both corn borer and corn earworm. You should also watch for beet armyworms and soybean loopers. Sprays are needed at the bud and pin stages on processing beans for worm control. With the diversity of worm pest that may be present in fields, be sure to scout fields and select materials that will control the complex of insects present. For the most recent trap catches in your area and to help decide on the spray interval between the pin stage and harvest for ECB control in processing snap beans, you will need to call the Crop Pest Hotline (in state: 1-800-345-7544; out of state: 302-831-8851) or check our website at:

http://ag.udel.edu/extension/IPM/traps/latestblt.html and http://ag.udel.edu/extension/IPM/thresh/snapbeanecbthresh.html

Spinach Both webworms and beet armyworms moths are active at this time and controls need to be applied when worms are small and before they have moved deep into the hearts of the plants. Generally, at least 2 applications are needed to achieve control of webworms and beet armyworm.

Sweet Corn With the continued high corn earworm trap catches, be sure that a spray is applied as soon as ear shanks are visible on plants (i.e. before you see any silk). If fall armyworms are present in the whorl, you will need multiple whorl sprays for this insect before the ear shank spray to achieve effective control and to prevent larvae from dropping into the ear zone. Once fields are silking, you will need to check both blacklight and pheromone trap catches for silk spray schedules since the spray schedules can quickly change. Check our website at: http://ag.udel.edu/extension/IPM/traps/latestblt.html or call the Crop Pest Hotline (in state: 1-800-345-7544; out of state: 302-831-8851). Be sure to check all labels for days to harvest and maximum amount allowed per acre.

Vegetable Disease Update Bob Mulrooney

DE Extension Plant Pathologist bobmul@udel.edu

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Cucurbit downy mildew was confirmed on pumpkin, summer squash and winter squash this week in DE. It will likely be more widespread following the storm. Maintain fungicide sprays specific for downy mildew if the foliage is still green and harvest is still planned.

Late Blight Late blight was reported in a central New York county this past week on tomatoes in a homeowners garden. After the hurricane we might see some late blight develop on tomatoes.

Lima Bean Downy Mildew Be sure to scout for lima bean downy mildew after the hurricane. Symptoms may take 7-10 days to develop after the rain ended. See previous issues for recommendations, or the 2011 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendation.

Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Maryland EB 236 On-Line at: http://mdvegetables.umd.edu/files/2011%20COMPLETE%20MARYLAND%20BOOK%20.pdf Also available in a new very interactive format at the Delaware Extension site at: http://ag.udel.edu/extension/vegprogram/publications.htm#vegrecs

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Controlling Downy Mildew and Alternaria in Cole Crops

Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist; bobmul@udel.edu

Symptoms of downy mildew include purple to yellowish- brown spots on upper leaf surfaces. A grayish-white spore mass will develop and cover the underside of leaves under ideal temperatures (night temperatures of 46 – 61°F and day temperatures below 75°F. Downy mildew can kill young plants. Heavily infected leaves may drop providing entry points for bacterial infections (black rot and soft rot). Symptoms of Alternaria on infected leaves include small, expanding circular lesions with concentric rings that may have a ‘shot-hole’ appearance as lesions age. Heavily infected seedlings may result in damping-off. Control of Downy mildew and Alternaria begins with pre ventative fungicide applications. Use one of the following at the first sign of disease and continue every 7 to 10 days (Please refer to the pesticide table on page F21 of the 2011 DE Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations to determine which fungicide is labeled for each specific crop.): ● Quadris (azoxystrobin, 11) at 6.0 to 15.5 fl oz 2.08SC/A, or ● chlorothalonil (M5) at 1.5 pt 6F/A or OLF, or ● Cabrio (pyraclostrobin, 11) at 12.0 to 16.0 oz 20EG/A, or ● Endura (boscalid, 7) at 6.0 to 9.0 oz 70WG/A, or ● Ridomil Gold Bravo (mefenoxam + chlorothalonil, 4 + M5) at 1.5 lb 76.5WP/A (14-day schedule), ● Manzate Pro-Stick (mancozeb, M3) at 1.6 to 2.1 lb 75DF/A, or ● Switch (cyprodinil, 9) at 11.0 to 14.0 oz 62.5WG/A (Alternaria only). For downy mildew only, apply either: ● Actigard (acibenzolar-S-methyl, P) at 1.0 oz 50WG/A (begin applications 7-10 days after thinning and re-apply every 7 days for a total of 4 applications per season.), or ● Aliette (fosletyl Al, 33) at 3.0 to 5.0 lb 80WDG/A (on 14-day schedule).

Observations After the Hurricane Gordon Johnson

DE Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist, gcjohn@udel.edu

Hurricane Irene caused less damage than expected in the region. However, there were still significant impacts on crops in Delaware. The most obvious is lodging in field corn. On the vegetable side, lodging in sweet corn varied considerably from field to field, with many escaping damage.

High winds had the potential to batter many vegetables. The largest acreage currently in the field is lima beans and looking at many fields, they weathered the storm well with minimal pod drop and foliage damage. Cucurbit fields (watermelons, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins) were much more variable with significant foliage damage in many fields. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants also suffered considerable damage.

Peach and apple growers had considerable fruit drop and bruising of fruits due to wind and branch contact that will reduce marketable volumes.

Rainfall totals ranged from 6 to 14 inches depending on the site but flooding was much more limited than expected. However, wet fields have led to disease issues and quality problems in snap beans, tomatoes, pickles, and other crops with increases diseases such as white mold and Phytophthora. In pickles, excess soil makes washing much more difficult and has increased fruit rots. Excess water has caused severe cracking in tomatoes and cantaloupes with much of the late summer crop ruined.

The storm has affected later watermelons to a great degree. In 2010, because of the dry year, farmers were able to keep vines healthy and continue cropping past Labor Day in many fields. Later planted fields yielded well. This year, because of the extra heat stress in July and early August followed by Irene and the current cold night temperatures, vine health has declined greatly in many fields and growth has slowed, limiting late yields. Excess water has increased water-soaking in some varieties. Later plantings that were wind damaged by Irene have open canopies causing bleaching in some fields. Volumes are down, quality has suffered, and some buyers have left the region.

While it could have been worse, Irene has cost vegetable and fruit growers significant economic losses in the region.

Spotted Wing Drosophila Found in Central Maryland

By Jerry Brust IPM Vegetable Specialist, UME

jbrust@umd.edu

A sample of fruit flies was given to me by Bob Rouse, a horticultural consultant, from fruit farms he consults for in Central Maryland; these flies were identified by me and then verified by the USDA as Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) Drosophila suzukii, the first find in our state. This is not good, but this pest has been moving steadily east over the last few years. The SWD is a temperate-zone fruit fly; native to Southeast Asia that prefers temperatures of 67-85° F. Adults are small (2-3 mm) flies with red eyes and a pale brown thorax with black stripes on the abdomen. The most distinctive trait of the adult male is a black spot towards the tip of each wing; the female does not have any wing spots (Photo 1). Larvae are tiny (up to 3.5 mm), white, cylindrical maggots that are found feeding in fruit. This pest was first identified in the western U.S. in 2008. In 2009 it was found in

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California, Florida, Oregon, Utah and Washington. In the last year or so it has been found in the Midwest and Pennsylvania. Long-distance dispersal usually occurs with the movement of infested fruit to new areas. While it is not unusual to find fruit flies in late summer infesting overripe or decaying fruit these particular fruit flies are considered nuisances, not crop damaging pests. However, the spotted wing drosophila female lays her eggs inside healthy unblemished fruit with her saw-like ovipositor (Photo 1). The adult female can damage fruit when she oviposits while larvae contaminate fruit at harvest, causing it to become soft and unmarketable. It infests thin-skinned fruit such as grape, cherry, raspberry, blackberry (raspberries and blackberries appear to be very susceptible fruit), blueberry, and strawberry, etc. SWD overwinters in the adult stage and flies become active in spring, mate, and lay eggs in the thin-skinned fruit. Multiple generations develop each year wherever this insect can overwinter. At a constant temperature of about 75°F it takes only 9 days from egg to adult. This rapid developmental rate allows it to quickly develop large populations and inflict severe damage to a crop.

Photo 1. Male (left hand side) and Female (right hand side) spotted wing drosophila flies

The best thing to do is monitor for this pest if you have small fruit. Monitoring will help time insecticide applications for greatest effectiveness. You can use homemade traps to monitor for SWD. There are several sites that explain how to make the traps: http://swd.hort.oregonstate.edu/files/webfm/editor/Wine_Grape_SWD_Bulletin_WSU.pdf http://jenny.tfrec.wsu.edu/opm/gallery.php?pn=165 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in839 or you can buy commercially made traps: http://www.contech-inc.com/ or http://ipm.wsu.edu/small/pdf/Spring2011MonitorIDControlSWD.pdf

For any of these traps you will need to add 1 or 2 inches of apple cider vinegar to the bottom of the trap with a drop of unscented dishwashing soap to break the surface tension so the flies will drown. Hang the trap in the shade near berries preferably before fruit begins to ripen. Check the trap weekly for small flies with dark spots at the tip of their wings floating in the fluid. These will be male SWD. Put fresh apple cider vinegar and a drop of soap in each week or so. You also should observe your fruit regularly as it begins to ripen. On cherries and blueberries start checking fruit for punctures the female creates when she lays eggs as soon as fruit begins to develop any color. SWD stings are

tiny and a hand lens helps. Pull open suspect fruit to see if there are larvae inside. If you find infected fruit you should spray to prevent the damage from increasing. The infestation level can increase quite rapidly if left untreated. Remove and destroy infested fruit as you monitor. Stings are not readily visible on berries so it is difficult to detect an early infestation by monitoring the fruit alone for damage. Chemical Management: Malathion will control SWD and has a short PHI, but is very toxic to bees and natural enemies. If monitoring indicates a need to spray, the application should be made as soon as possible. In raspberries or strawberries, sprays may need to be repeated to keep SWD populations low during their prolonged fruiting period in summer and fall. Other possible alternatives to Malathion with fewer negative environmental effects are the spinosyns and neonicotinoids. To get satisfactory control with these alternatives two sprays may be required; the second applied 5 to 7 days after the first. Additional sprays may be needed for berries with a prolonged fruiting period. Be sure to check the label before applying any chemical as the specific chemicals that can be used on one fruit can’t always be used on others.

Flooding and Vegetables Gordon Johnson

DE Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist

gcjohn@udel.edu

There is still considerable acreage of watermelons,

sweet corn, pumpkins, beans, cabbage, potatoes, and other fresh market vegetable crops in the field on Delmarva. On the processing side, the majority of lima beans have yet to be harvested and there are significant acres of pickles, snap beans, and other processing crops in the field. Many of these crops will be at risk in the coming days due to hurricane Irene.

A late summer hurricane or tropical storm with both wind damage and excess rain can cause major issues in vegetable crops, most notably: ● Damage due to flooded soils in all vegetable crops

● Increased disease incidence in all vegetable crops

● Lodging damage in crops like sweet corn

Other articles will address diseases in with excess rainfall. I will focus on flooding effects on the physiology of vegetable plants.

Flooded and Waterlogged Soils In flooded soils, the oxygen concentration drops to near zero within 24 hours because water replaces most of air in the soil pore space. Oxygen diffuses much more slowly in water filled pores than in open pores. Roots need oxygen to respire and have normal cell activity. When any remaining oxygen is used

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up by the roots in flooded or waterlogged soils, they will cease to function normally. Therefore, mineral nutrient uptake and water uptake are reduced or stopped in flooded conditions (plants will often wilt in flooded conditions because roots have shut down). There is also a buildup of ethylene in flooded soils, the plant hormone that in excess amounts can cause leaf drop and premature senescence.

In general, if flooding or water-logging lasts for less than 48 hours, most vegetable crops can recover. Longer periods will lead to high amounts of root death and lower chances of recovery.

While there has not been much research on flooding effects on vegetables, the following are some physiological effects that have been documented:

● Oxygen starvation in root crops such as potatoes will lead to cell death in tubers and storage roots. This will appear as dark or discolored areas in the tubers or roots. In carrots and other crops where the tap root is harvested, the tap root will often die leading to the formation of unmarketable fibrous roots.

● Lack of root function and movement of water and calcium in the plant will lead to calcium related disorders in plants; most notably you will have a higher incidence of blossom end rot in tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, and several other susceptible crops.

● Leaching and denitrification losses of nitrogen and limited nitrogen uptake in flooded soils will lead to nitrogen deficiencies across most vegetable crops.

● In bean crops, flooding or water-logging has shown to decrease flower production and increase flower and young fruit abscission or abortion.

● Ethylene buildup in saturated soil conditions can cause leaf drop, flower drop, fruit drop, or early plant decline in many vegetable crops.

Recovering from Flooding or Waterlogging The most important thing that you can do to aid in vegetable crop recovery after floods or water-logging is to open up the soil by cultivating (in crops that still small enough to be cultivated) as soon as you can get back into the field. This allows for oxygen to enter the soil more rapidly. Nutritionally, sidedress with 50 lbs of N where possible.

In fields that are still wet, consider foliar applications of nutrients. According to Steve Rieners at Cornell “Use a low salt liquid fertilizer to supply 4 to 5 lb nitrogen, 1 lb phosphate (P2O5) and 1 lb potash (K2O) per acre. Since nitrogen is the key nutrient to supply, spraying with urea ammonium nitrate (28 % N solution) alone can be helpful. These can be sprayed by aerial or ground application. Use 5 to 20 gallons of water per acre. The higher gallons per acre generally provide better coverage”. As with all foliar applications, keep total salt concentrations to less than 3% solutions to avoid foliage burn.

Agronomic Crops Joanne Whalen, Extension IPM Specialist; jwhalen@udel.edu

Agronomic Crop Insects – September 9, 2011

Soybeans We continue to find corn earworms in soybeans. If you have not checked your fields, be sure to sample fields so you do not miss a late hatch of larvae. We can still find moths laying eggs in fields. Although trap catches appeared to be declining on Sept 5, our most recent trap catches showed an increase again. You should also check the recent report from VA regarding their high trap catches and recent, new infestations (http://www.sripmc.org/Virginia/).

A number of defoliators are still present in double crop beans including bean leaf beetles, grasshoppers, and in some cases hot spots of beet armyworm. The threshold for defoliation will need to be reduced if a mixed population is present. Although soybean looper populations still remain low, there are reports from the southern states of building populations. Be sure to check my comments from last week’s newsletter regarding soybean loopers. In addition, the following link also provides useful information for managing this important defoliator. http://www.arkansas-crops.com/2011/08/30/loopers-loom-be-ready/

This past week I received a question about lodging in double crop soybeans. It appears that damage may have been caused by an insect pest that is rarely seen in soybeans, the lesser corn stalk borer. Although I have never observed this pest in soybeans in Delaware, there have been a number of reports of this pest in states to our south this past season (especially North Carolina and Tennessee). Information from the south indicates that it is primarily a problem in late planted fields grown in sandy soils. In addition, it is most often found in areas of the field where there is little or no small grain stubble. The following links provide information on this insect pest. http://www.utcrops.com/news/2011/08/lesser-cornstalk-borer-in-soybeans/

http://agfax.com/Content/north-carolina-lesser-corn-stalk-burer-08192011.aspx

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/11PestNews/11News15/pestnews.pdf

Small Grains As you make plans to plant small grains, you need to remember that Hessian fly can still be a problem. Since the fly survives as puparia (“flax seeds”) in wheat stubble through the summer, you should still consider this pest as you make plans to plant small grains. In our area, damage has been the result of spring infestations. Plants attacked in the spring have shortened and weakened stems that may eventually break just above the first or second node, causing plants to lodge

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near harvest. Warm fall weather conditions can extend fly emergence and egg-laying beyond the fly-free dates, but these dates should still be used as a guideline for planting. Since we rarely see plants stunted in the fall, we still feel that most of the damage we see is occurring from spring infestations. Plants attacked in the fall at the one-leaf stage may be killed outright. Wheat attacked later in the fall will be severely stunted, with the first tillers killed and plant growth delayed. Plants infested in the fall can easily be recognized by their darker than normal bluish coloration and leaves with unusually broad blades. Combinations of strategies are needed to reduce problems from Hessian fly:

● Be sure to completely plow under infested wheat stubble to prevent flies from emerging.

● Avoid planting wheat into last season’s wheat stubble, especially if it was infested with Hessian fly.

● Avoid planting wheat next to last season’s wheat fields – the most serious infestations can occur when wheat is early planted into wheat stubble or into fields next to wheat stubble.

● Eliminate volunteer wheat before planting to prevent early egg-laying.

● Do not use wheat as a fall cover crop near fields with infestations.

● When possible, plant after the fly-free date. (Oct 3 – New Castle County; Oct 8 – Kent County; Oct 10 – Sussex County).

● Plant resistant varieties. You should look for varieties that have resistance to Biotype L. You will need to check with your seed dealers to identify varieties that our adapted our area.

Agronomic Crop Disease Updates Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist;

bobmul@udel.edu

Soybean Rust Update Nothing new has developed north of the North Carolina find on August 30. Florida had its first soybean rust detection on soybeans on September 14. Needless to say, soybean rust is not going to be an issue in most of the US this season.

Cover Crops Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Dr. Bob Kratochvil, Extension Agronomist University of Maryland Extension

rkratoch@umd.edu

Governor O’Malley recently announced a record signup (~550,000 acres) for participation in Maryland’s cover crop program for 2011. Since so many of you are going to plant cover crops this fall, I want to address some of the FAQ’s:

1. Which cereal cover crop is best, rye, wheat or barley? Rye is typically the best scavenger of residual nutrients. However, in a number of research trials I have conducted, I have seen wheat perform comparable to rye. I measure performance by the amount of nitrogen that the different species can sequester. Planted early (prior to mid-October), a good stand of wheat is capable of consuming as much nitrogen as rye. If the planting date is after mid-October, rye will typically do better than wheat. Barley generally will not perform as well as either rye or wheat unless it is planted very early (mid-September).

2. What is the best date for planting a cover crop? This question has an easy answer, the earlier a cover crop is planted, the better opportunity it will have to sequester nutrients. Crop growth (no matter what the crop) is related to temperature. Temperatures during mid-late September are warmer (and daylength is longer) compared to one month later. The more heat units that a cover crop can accumulate per day, the more growth it will attain during the fall. Plant as early as possible but don’t rush harvesting your corn when it is too wet just to get the cover crop planted.

3. Does this mean planting during late October is a poor practice?

No. The late planted cover crop will not attain as much growth but it will still consume some of the nitrogen that otherwise would be lost during the winter and early spring. This is particularly true for cover crops that are planted behind drought-stressed corn. Drought results in more residual nitrogen remaining than during years when your yield goal is either met or exceeded. It is to your benefit to trap as much of the residual nutrients in the cover crop as possible. You will get these nutrients back as the organic matter decomposes and mineralizes. Think of a cover crop like an advance purchase of a slow release fertilizer.

4. What is the best planting method for cover crops? You will get the most from your cover crop if you ensure that you get good seed to soil contact when you plant it. I know that many of you do not dragging steel through the field but doing so is still the best way to get a good cover crop stand. Now, this can be accomplished in different ways; i.e. planting with your no-till drill, broadcasting the seed and lightly disking, or broadcasting the seed and using a vertical tillage implement are all planting methods that can give you good seed to soil contact if done correctly. The amount of residue you have remaining following the previous crop can make a difference in the performance of these various techniques so no matter what method you use, be sure to have the equipment properly adjusted so you can attain your goal of holding on to those residual nutrients.

5. If the soil is excessively dry when I want to plant, should I wait for rain?

No, go ahead and plant. I have seen small grain seed that has been planted into extremely dry soil, germinate and establish a good stand. Seed of cereal species need to imbibe a very

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small amount of moisture to initiate germination. It is better to get the seed planted than to wait. I have seen “waiting for rain” to result in a 2-3 week delay while awaiting field conditions to again become suitable for planting.

6. What is the best kill date? The cover crop program does not allow the termination of the crop before March 1. Allowing cereal species to grow beyond this date will increase the amount of nutrients that are sequestered. It is my observation that you generally have gotten the lion’s share of the benefit from the cover crop if you allow it to grow until early to mid-April.

Grain Marketing Highlights Carl German, Extension Crops Marketing Specialist;

clgerman@udel.edu

USDA September Supply and Demand Report to Rule the Day USDA’s September U.S. and World Supply and Demand report will be released next Monday, September 12th. Most private firms have made forecasts expecting USDA to lower their production estimates for 2011 U.S. corn and soybean production, with one exception where the soybean production estimate was higher than USDA’s August forecast. On Monday we will know the answer to whether the corn and soybean production estimates are lowered or not, and to what extent? Production concerns and outside market forces have kept commodity markets in an extremely volatile mode over the past couple of weeks. Recent highs for new crop corn and soybeans were set on August 30th and 31st. New crop corn closed at $7.75 per bushel with a high for the day at $7.77 on August 30th. New crop soybeans closed at $14.57 per bushel on August 31st with the high for the day at $14.65. Monday’s report will determine the next price move. If the production forecast is lowered significantly then we could see the recent highs taken out. Currently, before the open, Dec ’11 day trade corn futures are at $7.48; Nov ’11 soybeans at $14.20; and July ’12 SRW wheat at $8.10 per bushel. Position squaring/profit taking, demand reduction, and economic uncertainty in the U.S. and Europe are all contributing factors to the break in commodity prices ahead of the report. Market Strategy This may not be the year that a farmer would want to store the physical commodity in hopes of achieving a higher price. As long as basis bids are firm, it is likely to be advisable to take the cash sale at harvest. Quoted this morning, the new crop corn basis bid into Salisbury was 15 under DEC and the new crop soybean basis was even. If for some reason STAYING POWER were to become an issue

one could consider selling the cash commodity and purchasing call options. For example, the premium for a Mar ’12 corn call with a strike price of $8.00 is currently costing 50 cents per bushel and the premium for a $15.00 Mar ’12 soybean call is costing 57 cents per bushel.

For technical assistance on making grain marketing decisions contact:

Carl L. German, Extension Crops Marketing Specialist clgerman@udel.edu Department of Food & Resource Economics 208 Townsend Hall University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-2130 Phone: 302-831-1317 Fax: 302-831-6243

A new issue of Branching Out is now available! www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Publications/BranchingOut/2011vol19no2.asp

Branching Out, Maryland’s Forest Stewardship Education newsletter, is published four times per year by University of Maryland Extension. Branching Out provides educational information, current news and events and is intended to reach anyone interested in forest stewardship including landowners and natural resource professionals.

We encourage you to share this free newsletter with others and invite them to subscribe and review past newsletters by visiting the Branching Out Newsletter Page at http://www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Newsletter.html

PPRREESSEENNTTAATTIIOONNSS FFRROOMM UUMMDD SSUUBBUURRBBAANN DDEEEERR MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT

WWOORRKKSSHHOOPP PPOOSSTTEEDD Posted by Joe Brown on Jun 21st, 2011 9:26am

The following is a repost from our Patriot LWM Blog:

The University of Maryland Extension Office has posted all the presentations and information from the last months "Suburban Deer Management: Options and Choices for Decision-Makers" of which Patriot Land & Wildlife President Joe Brown was a guest speaker. The Forestry Resources Website has all the information you could need when it comes to making an educated decision regarding your suburban deer management issues. CLICK HERE FOR PRESENTATIONS

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The Woods In Your Backyard Extension forestry program has been ongoing since release of the manual in fall 2006, which has sold over 4,000 copies. Details on the program are available at www.naturalresources.umd.edu

Earlier this year we produced a four-minute video to elicit interest by landowners and professionals to convert lawn into a natural area or enhance existing woodland, by attending educational programs and/or purchasing the self-assessment manual. The video just won first place for the video category from the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (www.anrep.org).

The video can be seen on our website or youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSrj_ps0q6M I encourage you to take a look.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, in partnership with and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Image Matters LLC, unveils the online Native Plant Center for the Chesapeake Bay Region. The online guide allows for the identification and selection of native plant species for habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, an effective method for reducing pollution in the Bay. Replacing portions of lawn areas and typical landscapes with native plants that suit local conditions reduces or eliminates the need for fertilizers and pesticides which wash into our streams, rivers and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. Once in our waterways, these pollutants fuel the growth of excess algae, which clouds the water and threatens the health of fish, crabs and the entire Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Users to the portal, www.nativeplantcenter.net, can search for native plants by name, plant type, sun exposure, soil texture and moisture, and even find native plants with the same shape, color, size or other characteristics as some of their favorite non-native plants. The portal also includes a geo-locator feature to identify plants suited to a user’s specific location. An online network for interacting with other Chesapeake Bay stewards is planned. The portal uses the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s native plant database, associated with the publication entitled Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

"Since its release in 2003, the demand for the resource has never waned," said Leopoldo Miranda, Supervisor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office. "Citizens, schools, non-profit organizations, communities and government agencies used the guide to find the native plants that met their local conditions and interests in order to create landscapes to attract wildlife and reduce the amount of pollutants going into the Chesapeake Bay." To reach more citizens and organizations, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, contracted with Image Matters LLC to create an online version of the guide, the Native Plants Center, Chesapeake Region. Image Matters LLC, a software technology and professional services company that provides advanced solutions and consulting services to government and commercial clients, has expertise in producing Public Science Portals. You can read the rest of this article, including information about all partners involved on the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s website-https://allianceforthebay.org/?p=1685

Deer, rabbits, and groundhogs eating your home grown veggies before you can? Watch GIEI's new video on Fencing for your Garden to find out how to keep those critters away! http://www.agnr.umd.edu/Extension/gardening/growit/FoodGardeningVideos/Video-FencingforYourGarden.cfm

Jon Traunfeld and Ria Malloy from the Home and Garden Information Center show off different types of fences you can use in your garden. Pick the right variety of fence to suit your space and keep out deer, rabbits and groundhogs.

What's the big deal about raised beds? Watch GIEI's new video on Types of Raised Beds to find out. http://growit.umd.edu/FoodGardeningVideos/Video-RaisedBeds.cfm

Jon Traunfeld shows us a variety of raised beds built by fellow gardeners at the Lake Elkhorn Community garden. Jon shows us that raised beds can not only be affordable, but also aesthetically pleasing.

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Washing Pesticide Contaminated Clothing Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State Extension

exs33@psu.edu

Farmers know how important it is to be careful when using pesticides. We all strive to use the least toxic, effective option, read the label and follow the directions, calibrate, measure carefully and wear the required personal protective equipment. But after you finish making a pesticide application, it is also important to be careful with the clothing you were wearing. If you throw contaminated clothing in with the rest of the family's laundry, you risk exposing your family to that pesticide. Also, if you do not clean your clothing properly, you risk exposing yourself the next time you wear it. Here is a list of tips that should help you be safe. You might want to clip this list out and hang it by your washing machine: • Discard clothing if it becomes soaked with a highly toxic

pesticide. • Do not wear contaminated clothing or boots into the

house to avoid bringing pesticide residue into your living space.

• Take protective clothing off inside out as you remove them to keep most of the pesticide inside, and away from the surface that will be handled by the person doing the laundry.

• Pre-rinse clothing and boots outside using a hose or a designated and marked washtub.

• Wash goggles, respirator (remove the charcoal filter first), gloves and boots in hot, soapy water after each use. Store clean protective equipment away from where pesticides are stored.

• Designate a separate hamper to identify contaminated clothing so the person who does the wash knows it needs special attention.

• Make sure the person who does the laundry knows what pesticide was used, and reads the label for any special instructions for cleaning.

• Keep unlined rubber gloves in the wash room to handle the pesticide-soiled clothing. Carefully wash the outside of the gloves after every use and only use them for this purpose.

• Launder pesticide contaminated clothing the same day to avoid having it sit around where family members could come into contact with it.

• Wash contaminated clothing separately from the rest of the family laundry.

• Use hot water. • Use heavy-duty liquid detergent to remove oil-based

pesticides. (Emulsifiable concentrates are oil-based.) • Do not overfill the washing machine. Wash only a few

garments at a time. • Double rinse the load.

• Re-wash the contaminated clothing two or three times if necessary.

• Clean the machine after you wash the load by running one complete cycle on empty, using hot water and detergent.

• Line-dry the clothing to avoid contaminating the clothes dryer.

Summaries of Research Highlights Presented at the CMREC Upper Marlboro Crops Twilight

Held on August 4, 2011 Summary 1:

The Distribution of the Brown Marmorated Stinkbug in Corn Fields

By Cerruti Hooks and Emily Zobel University of Maryland Dept. of Entomology

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an Asian stink bug species that was reported in Allentown, PA in 1996. It is highly polyphagous (feeds on many kinds of food), with > 300 reported host plants, including corn and soybean. Since its introduction into the United States, BMSB population has steadily increased causing significant economic losses to many agricultural systems. Changes in current pest management protocols have been instituted in an effort to control the BMSB. However, some of these practices may pose a threat to current IPM programs. For example, if management of the BMSB centers on blanketing entire corn fields with broad spectrum insecticides this could result in an increase in production cost and secondary pest outbreaks by causing significant mortality among naturally occurring biological control agents that help keep secondary corn pests in check. For this reason, it is important to understand BMSB distribution within corn fields. Additionally, corn can host the buildup of stink bugs that cause damage to other cropping systems. Thus, to better understand stink bug distribution in corn fields, their temporal and spatial dynamics needs to be quantified. A preliminary investigation by Dr. Galen Dively and a staff associate conducted during the 2010 growing season suggests that corn fields are most likely to become infested and have higher densities of stink bugs along field edges especially when adjacent to woodlots. For this reason, corn fields sampled in 2011 had at least a portion of their perimeter adjacent to woodlots. Other border rows sampled were adjacent to other corn fields, soybean fields, building, roads and meadows. Each corn field was divided into

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sampling transects either running parallel or across rows. Twenty plants along each transect were sampled at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 feet from the fields edge. In the event considerable numbers of BMSB were found at 40 feet, we went in an additional 10 and 20 feet into the interior of the field. At each site BMSB adults, nymphs and egg masses were sampled visually. At this time, no conclusion can be drawn about the temporal and spatial dynamics of the BMSB, but data seems to support the preliminary findings from 2010 that BMSB are contained along the margin of corn fields.

Summary 2: Organic Weed Control and Ecology

at CMREC

Lauren Kolb and Cerruti Hooks University of Maryland Dept. of Entomology

Weeds are a universal production problem for organic vegetable producers. Vegetables, as a group, are weakly competitive with weeds and yields and quality suffer when weeds dominate the flora of a field. While many growers rely on frequent soil disturbances to manage weeds and crop residues, these practices can be detrimental to soil quality by negatively impacting physical, chemical, and biological soil properties. Cover cropping, in combination with reduced tillage, has the potential to reverse these negative effects and concurrently reduce insect and weed pests, and production costs, while providing additional ecosystem services such as increasing nutrient-cycling organisms and soil biodiversity.

Given the likely ecological and economic benefits, it seems reasonable that these practices would be standard in organic farming. However, these practices remain elusive to organic vegetable farmers, perhaps due to the limit number of interdisciplinary project targeting this area of research and clientele. Our goal is to improve soil management practices and profits in organic vegetable systems, through the dissemination of trustworthy information on the use of conservation tillage practices and cover cropping in tandem on weed suppression, soil quality and health, crop profitability and pest dynamics.

Our specific goals include to: 1) examine the direct and indirect effects of cover cropping and reduced tillage on soil quality and soil health; 2) study how different tillage systems affect weed community dynamics; 3) evaluate the cost effectiveness and profitability of reduced tillage practices; and 4) provide organic vegetable producers a comprehensive best management practice plan.

For the weed portion of this study, we are coupling weed seedbank assays with in-season measurements of weed size, weed density, and weed community diversity to characterize how tillage management and cover cropping affect weed population and community trajectories. This research was initiated Fall 2010, so no results are available at this time. Check back next year to find out how weeds

and weed seedbanks are responding to different soil tillage regimens following winter cover cropping.

Summary 3: Blueberry Variety Research Trial

2011 Southern Maryland Fruit Team CMREC, Upper Marlboro

Ben Beale, Senior Agent, bbeale@umd.edu University of Maryland Extension, St. Mary’s County

Trial Objective: Identify new varieties and cultural practices that will increase production and longevity of commercial blueberry production in Southern Maryland. The trial will compare production of Southern Highbush, Northern Highbush and Rabbit Varieties, as well as affect of soil amendments on plant growth. Varieties on Trial: Legacy – A northern variety that has southern parentage. Developed at Beltsville in collaboration with New Jersey, well adapted to a variety of sites. May require frost protection. Jubilee – A Mississippi release with good adaptation. Southern Highbush. Oneal – Standard Southern Highbush variety for much of the South - A little better soil adaptation. Duke – Gaining fast in popularity. Straight Northern Highbush - a popular variety because it blooms and ripens early. Bluecrop – A standard in Northern Highbush varieties. Widely grown. Good for comparison. Premiere- Rabbiteye variety released by North Carolina in 1978. May tolerate higher pH. Brightwell: Rabbiteye variety released by Georgia in 1983. Approximate date of ripening in Southern MD is early-mid July to early-August. The harvest period is about 35 days. The berries are medium-large in size, have small, dry stem scars, and have good flavor and color. Plants are vigorous and upright and can be mechanically harvested for the fresh market with good weather conditions. Ozark Blue – A late Southern Highbush from Arkansas - New release with good potential and good site adaptability. Santa Fe-Southern Highbush with good vigor and large berries. May tolerate higher pH Reveille: A good early berry with an upright canopy, very vigorous, which is important for our soils--recommended by all major universities. Good winter hardiness and ability to harvest with machine or by hand. 2011 Activities and Observations: Blueberries broke dormancy in Early April and had variable

fruit set. The stress from the high heat and droughty conditions of 2010 carried over into 2011 with evidence of shoot death and poor vigor on some varieties. Southern Highbush and Rabbit Eye varieties did not express any

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problems with early flowering and frost damage. Winter temperatures during the 2010/2011 dropped to 7 ° F in January. This is the third year in a row that temperatures were recorded below 10° F. No winter injury was observed on any plants.

Differences in plant growth and habit between varieties is clearly evident. Rabbit-eye varieties are much more vigorous on this site than Northern Highbush.

Yield estimates and bush size was recorded on May 27th. This data is available on the back page. As in previous years, birds became a major issue on earlier varieties. Bird damage seems to be much less on later maturing varieties, especially Brightwell.

Overall Observations: Rabbit Eye and some Southern Highbush have exhibited

much greater growth and yield than Northern Highbush. We have not observed any heavy frost damage due to the low chilling hour requirements of southern varieties. Yield data has been collected. As in past years, Brightwell, Legacy and Ozark Blue consistently emerged as the most vigorous and best yielding varieties from this trial to date. Brightwell in particular has out yielded all other varieties. Bush size is also much larger than other varieties. Brightwell provided for a later harvest (last week of July) and exhibited limited bird damage in 2011.

Summary 4: In Development: Spiders for Pest Control

Armando Rosario-Lebron and Cerruti Hooks University of MD Depart. of Entomology

Research over recent decades has changed our understanding of the importance of spiders in agro-ecosystems. Spiders kill more prey than they consume. By killing more insect pests than is required nutritionally, spiders can provide a great service to farmers. They also consume eggs and immature stages of insect pests thus killing them before they have a chance to reach maturity and produce off-spring. Most spiders will consume whatever prey item they can overpower thus allowing them to reduce general insect numbers. However, spider body types and hunting strategies are diverse resulting in spiders being active during different time periods. Some spiders appear only during the day and others at night. There are spiders that hunt using visual cues and others by using their sense of smell and vibration. There are web builders that capture flying insects and stalking hunters that capture crawling insects. Within a single plant, several species of spider may live within different areas of the plant. For example, crab spiders may prefer to live on flowers, jumping spiders on leaves, wolf spiders near the ground and the list goes on. This normal cadre of spiders is usually effective in reducing

populations of pest insects because they reduce the amount of enemy free space (i.e., insect hideouts).

However, typical methods of pest control involve spraying general pesticides over a wide area that kills all invertebrate life. These pesticides are effective as they reduce pest populations quickly and kill in great numbers. However, over time, insects develop will a resistance to pesticides. Some insects will exhibit resistances to a wide array of pesticides and become troublesome to manage. Predators of pest species such as spiders respond to these same pesticides but are generally far more sensitive to them resulting in high mortality. The result is plants again become infested with pests but there are no longer predators around to keep them in check. These insect pests are then free to reproduce and spread. The long term effect is the constant application of pesticides and an associated constant suppression of predators.

Among our current interest is bolstering spider populations and creating an associated sustainable agricultural setting. Our main focus is to increase spider numbers artificially within a given area. Spiders are very difficult to augment in large numbers as they may start to cannibalize each other. Although they can survive long periods without food, spiders will eventually wander away from plants under protection if there is no longer prey available. One known solution to this problem involves building shelters in cropping systems such as green mulches or bushy plant borders. These shelters keep spiders away from each other and provide alternative insect prey when pest species are low in number. Previous research

involved taking empty crates that normally contain spider eggs as a result of barn storage and leaving them in soybean fields. Another option that has increased spider numbers involved leaving hay nearby as the stack of dried material acts as a shelter for individual spiders. Shelters also help diurnal spiders who are active during the day find shelter at night and nocturnal spiders who are active during the night find shelter during the day time hours. Currently we're experimenting with artificially constructed shelters that may help protect a range of plants from insect pests by increasing the activity density of spiders. There may be a way to design them to both attract prey and provide shelter that keep spiders from eating each other. For home owners, a classic idea has been to include flowering plant as borders around their garden. The hope is that the border (= protector) plants will attract spiders that will then consume insect pests inhabiting plants in the garden. Additionally, these borders may provide alternative food prey for spiders so that they don’t leave when garden pests

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become scarce. The idea is to keep the spiders out of your home and into your garden where they will be of service to you without stroking your fears.

Summary 5: High-Density Apple Variety

Fire Blight Resistance Trial on Dwarfing Rootstocks

R. David Myers, Senior Agent University of Maryland Extension

CMREC, Upper Marlboro Research Farm 2008-2011

The purpose of this trial is to assess the performance and fire blight susceptibility of five premium apple varieties on two dwarfing rootstocks: M9/Bud 9, which is susceptible to fire blight, and Geneva 16, which is resistant. Because of the warmer climate in southern Maryland, fire blight is a serious problem for growers who want to specialize in premium apples for the retail market. The varieties included in the trial are Royal Court, Macoun, Ginger Gold, Pioneer Mac, and Honeycrisp. Each variety has been grafted onto both M9/Bud 9 and Geneva 16 for comparison of tree growth and survival, yield, and fire blight incidence over at least five bearing years.

On March 12, 2008, 80 nursery-grafted trees were planted in a high-density ¼-acre block with 14-foot between-row spacing and 6-foot in-row spacing, using a slender spindle training system with support conduits. Each treatment consists of two trees of one variety grafted onto M9/ Bud 9 or Geneva 16 rootstock. There are 10 treatments (five varieties x two rootstocks) replicated four times. Tree growth measurement began in 2008.

Commercial Landscape Series: Common Abiotic

Problems in Landscapes

http://hgic.umd.edu/content/documents/HG801CommercialLandscapeSeriesCommonAbioticProblemsinLandscape_000.pdf

Listed below is a link to our new

UME Extension Brief "Nutrient Management Plans for

Maryland Horse Farms". We are excited to have this as a resource for

Nutrient Management information directed at our equine clientele.

http://www.ansc.umd.edu/ERG/doc/EBR-14.pdf

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NEWS RELEASE www.mda.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Agriculture Nutrient Trading Video Release MDA, in partnership with the American Farmland Trust, has produced an educational video on the basics of nutrient trading and the specifics of Maryland's program. The video features both animation and the perspectives of some well-known individuals from various state agencies and organizations in explaining the trading process and the benefits of the program. The video will be shown and distributed to interested parties and is available for viewing on the Nutrient Trading Program website, For more information. EAB Quarantine Expanded to Western Shore Due to the confirmed detection of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Allegany and Anne Arundel counties, MDA placed all Maryland counties west of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay under a quarantine on July 11. This order prohibits the movement of ash trees and wood out of the quarantined area, as well as movement of all hardwood firewood. The move is intended to contain the spread of the EAB and secure the Eastern Shore, where it has not been found. The EAB is an invasive pest from Asia that feeds on and kills ash trees within three years after infestation. For more information.

Keep Your Flock Healthy; Register with MDA With summer officially in progress, a growing number of Marylanders use the warmer, longer days to begin raising backyard chickens. The best way to ensure a positive experience is to start by purchasing healthy chicks from certified, approved sources and registering flocks with MDA. For more information.

“Food for Profit” -- A state-wide Entrepreneurship Training Program customized to meet the needs of local food entrepreneurs. This workshop is in collaboration with Penn State Extension, University of Maryland Extension, and the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center. October 19, 2011 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM $40.00 per person (includes materials and lunch) Maryland Agriculture Research Center 1114 Shawan Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030

Pre-payment and registration are required. Please register at: http://www.cvent.com/d/mcq73k or call 877-489-1398

Have you ever been told that your favorite homemade bread, or salsa, is “good enough to sell?” Do you have additional fruit or vegetables from your farm or home garden that you would like to make into a commercial product? Food for Profit is a one day workshop designed to help you work through the maze of local and state regulations, food safety issues, and business management concepts that all must be considered in setting up a commercial food service.

If you have any questions concerning this program, please contact: Ginger S. Myers, University of Maryland Extension Marketing Specialist, 301-432-2767 x338, gsmyers@umd.edu

MEP-300 "Raising Your Home Chicken Flock" has been added to the UME publication list.

http://extension.umd.edu/publications/PDFs/MEP300.pdf

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New 2011/12 'So. Maryland, So Good' Farm Guide Available Now!

Farms...Farms...Farms...the new 2011/12 edition of the 'So. Maryland, So Good' Farm Guide helps you find the food, the fun and other fabulous things you can get from your local farm all in one handy resource.

Produced by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), the Farm Guide is a comprehensive directory of the region's family farms and farm-related venues. The easy-to-use directory format allows consumers to search for their favorite farm foods and activities by county or by product. Extensive listings provide contact details for each farm plus product inventories; find everything from pick-your-own farms and CSAs, to corn mazes and hayrides, landscaping plants, Christmas trees, mulch, produce, meats, wine, seafood, equestrian pursuits and much more. The guide also features restaurants and stores that offer locally grown farm foods and wine.

Free to the public, the guide is now available at participating farms and local businesses, public libraries in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's and St. Mary's counties, and selected Welcome Centers around the region, or pick-up a free guide from the 'So. Maryland, So Good' booth at the upcoming county fairs.

SMADC also hosts an interactive on-line version of the Farm Guide at www.somarylandsogood.com; the online guide provides additional resources for farmers, consumers and wholesalers and is continually updated throughout the year as new farms apply to be listed.

For more information and a complete list of pick-up sites go to www.smadc.com or to request a copy of the Farm Guide (shipping and mailing charges apply), contact SMADC staff at: (301) 274-1922, Ex. 1 or email: info@smadc.com.

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) was established to promote diverse, market-driven agricultural enterprises, which coupled with agricultural land preservation, will preserve Southern Maryland's environmental resources and rural character while keeping the region's farmland productive and the agricultural economy vibrant. To learn more about additional programs and resources, contact SMADC, P. O. Box 745, Hughesville, MD 20637; phone: 301-274-1922; fax: 301-274-1924; email cbergmark@smadc.com; or visit www.smadc.com.

The 2011 Biennial Lambing & Kidding School will be held Saturday, November 19 at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland.

Dr. Susan Kerr from Washington State University will be the featured speaker. In addition to being an extension educator, Dr. Kerr holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University.

The school should be of particular interest to people who have been raising sheep and/or goats for less than five years. There will be a separate educational tract for youth.

Program details and registration information will be posted to the Shepherd’s Notebook blog at https://mdsheepgoat.blogspot.com and included in the Fall 2011 issue of Wild & Woolly at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/news/main.html.

For more information, contact Susan Schoenian at (301) 432-2767 x343 or sschoen@umd.edu

The Summer 2011 issue of Wild & Woolly has been published to the web at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/news/Summer2011.html

A PDF version of the newsletter, in its originally graphics format, may be downloaded from http://www.sheepandgoat.com/news/PDF/Summer2011.pdf

Previous issues of the newsletter (2002-2010) can be viewed and downloaded from the main newsletter page at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/news/main.html.

The Maryland Grazers’ Network has just posted a new article called “Grazers’ News Flash” on the web. “August — A Good Time to Plant!” (August 15, 2011) is available at the link below:

http://www.agmarketing.umd.edu/NewslettersPDF/GrazersNewsFlash/August-AGoodTimeToPlant.pdf

The “Grazers News Flash” is news items that are sent out at critical times during the year. It is for individuals who are interested in the benefits of grass-fed beef, dairy, and sheep

We hope you find the information interesting and useful. You are welcome to forward this publication to your clients, friends, and family. If you have any questions regarding the Maryland Grazers’ Network project, please contact Michael Heller at mheller@cbf.org

Ginger S. Myers, Marketing Specialist, University of Maryland Extension Director, Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center, 301-432-2767 Extension: 338, FAX: 301-432-4089, EMAIL: gsmyers@umd.edu

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Wild & Woolly is a quarterly newsletter for sheep and goat producers and anyone else interested in small ruminants. It is published by the Western Maryland Research & Education Center. Please feel free to use items from the newsletter in your teaching, research, and extension programs.

Susan Schoenian, Sheep & Goat Specialist W. MD Research & Education Center University of Maryland Extension sschoen@umd.edu - (301) 432-2767 x343 www.sheepandgoat.com

USDA Announces Loan Program for Natural UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION AGENCY REGION III- OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

Phone - 215/814-5100 Fax - 215/814-5102

EPA Environmental News Searchable databases on chemical toxicity and exposure data now available

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making it easier to find data about chemicals. EPA is releasing two databases—the Toxicity Forecaster database (ToxCastDB) and the database of chemical exposure studies (ExpoCastDB)—that scientists and the public can use to access chemical toxicity and exposure data. Improved access supports EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities of assuring the safety of chemicals and expanding the conversation on environmentalism. Click here to read News Release

Click here to Access Databases

Loss Reporting Tips for Crop Insurance

Gene Gantz, gantz@pa.net Phone: 717-497-6398, Fax 717-787-1858

Maximizing the Benefits of Your Crop Insurance Policy

Your “Summary of Protection” or “Schedule of Insurance” will arrive within a few weeks after you file your acreage report. It reflects the information on which your 2011 protection is based. Compare it to your acreage report to make sure that it is correct. If there are any discrepancies, contact your insurance agent immediately to

get it corrected, otherwise they could adversely affect your premium bill and/or claim payment.

Check the yield/revenue potential of your crops. You’ll soon be thinking about Fall Harvesting. Remember the crop damage reporting requirements (if a loss is anticipated): The insurance policies require that written notice be given to your crop insurance agent (by crop by unit (farm)):

• Within 72 hours of discovery of damage or loss,

• 15 days before harvest begins **, and

• Within 15 days after harvesting is completed but not later than 10/20 corn insured as tonnage for silage; 12/10 for grain corn and soybeans

• A pre-harvest yield appraisal is required for most direct marketed crops

• Don’t destroy evidence of damage until a loss adjuster evaluates it!

**Prior Authorization is Required to Leave Sample Rows for Yield Determination: If loss adjusting workload does not permit appraising damaged crop acreage before you are ready to start cutting silage, prior authorization must be obtained from your insurance company, through your crop insurance agent, before sample row areas can be left for later yield determination. For this reason, it’s important that notice of damage be filed with your crop insurance agent as early as you determine that damage occurred so that harvesting is not delayed.

Are We Paying Too Much at the

Gas Pump? Dave Myers, UME Senior Agent

myersrd@umd.edu

Maybe you have pondered this familiar question: Are we paying too much at the gas pump? World demand and market uncertainty have caused unprecedented swings

in crude oil price. This was certainly the case in 2008 when the speculation drove the crude price to a high of $140/barrel only to have it to collapse back to $33/barrel during the stock market crash and recession. In 2008 the US average gas price at the pump at the height of the crude oil price was $4.11/gallon and in the same year fell to a low of $1.61/gallon. During this period the average American purchase of 20 gallons of gas went from a high of $82.20 back to a low of $32.20 (See Table 1).

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Since 2008 we have endured a number of up and down cycles in crude oil and subsequent gas prices. Somehow we need to rationalize these price ups and downs at the gas pump; However, it is often not smooth and linear. The US Federal Trade Commission and Bureau of Economics 2011 report entitled Gasoline Price Changes and Petroleum Industry: An Update an FTC Staff Study September 2011 does offer sound explanation. I have excerpted the following tables and graphs from the report to offer explanation of the asymmetrical gas pricing phenomenon known as “Up like a rocket and down like a feather,” fully explained on textual page 42 of the report. Access the full 75-page report at: http://www.ftc.gov/os/2011/09/110901gasolinepricereport.pdf

As you view the excerpted graphs below, it is important to always remember that as the consumer we can help to force the price at the gas pump downward quicker when crude prices are falling by choosing to only buy from the cheapest gas station in town. The gas station owner should never be earning more than 15 cents per gallon over the wholesale rack price.

Table 1: 2008 High & Low Average US Gas to Crude Price

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County Website Features:

Anne Arundel County Extension website: http://annearundel.umd.edu/

Ag Newsletter Production Pointers The current and past agricultural newsletter

additions are available for viewing or copy at: http://annearundel.umd.edu/AGNR/agnews.cfm

Ag Bulletins An agricultural bulletin page is also available for viewing or copy under our hot topics section at: http://annearundel.umd.edu/AGNR/agbulletins.cfm

Ag Web Modules Website features Anne Arundel County Agricultural Program Teaching Modules: http://annearundel.umd.edu/Agriculture.cfm

Ag Web Modules New website features in Anne Arundel County - Agricultural Program Teaching Modules: http://annearundel.umd.edu/AGNR/agmedia.cfm

1. Pasture Management https://connect.moo.umd.edu/p12049696/ 2. Pasture Herbicides https://connect.moo.umd.edu/p13059797/ 3. Handling Tall Fescue Toxicity Events https://connect.moo.umd.edu/p59425434/

4. Modern Vegetable Production Technology for Early Market https://connect.moo.umd.edu/p75657057/ 5. Vegetable Herbicides for Controlling the Top 10 Weeds of Southern Maryland https://connect.moo.umd.edu/p25962088/

6. Sustainable Low Input Strip-Till & No-Till Vegetable Planting Tactics https://connect.moo.umd.edu/p55665058/

7. Fruit Establishment Tactics to Maximize Our Coastal Plain Advantage https://connect.moo.umd.edu/p61165608/

Farmer School

On-Line Farming Education Series “Tomorrow’s Farmers” Web Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Farming & Course Orientation: “Tomorrow’s Farmers”

Module 2: The Science and Stewardship of Soils

http://annearundel.umd.edu/AGNR/FarmersSchool.cfm

Future Module Topics Release Dates

Fundamentals of Farm Machinery 10/14/11

Plants that Farmers Grow 12/16/11

Integrated Pest Management 2/17/12

Farm Business and Enterprise Development

4/13/12

Modern Vegetable Farmer 6/15/12

Modern Fruit Farmer 8/17/12

Grain Farming 10/19/12

Pasture and Hay Management 12/14/12

Livestock that Farmers Raise 2/15/13

      

Whether you grew up on a farm or not, the web modules will open your eyes to the world of farming. A course designed for the young and old alike. It just may make a farmer out of a “city kid” or a “hayseed.”

After viewing the series in its entirety take the Final Exam. All participants receiving a final Exam Grade of 70% or above will receive a “Certificate of Farming Competency,” compliments of the Anne Arundel County Extension Office.

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University of Maryland Extension Pesticide Education & Safety Program New Pilot Program On-Line Farmer

Course: Pesticide Applicator Pre-Exam Self-Study

Course Description: This on-line self-study course will cover all thirteen chapters and appendicles of the Maryland Pesticide Applicator Core Manual to fully prepare the student for successful completion of the Maryland Private Pesticide Applicators Examination. The following core manual chapters will be covered via on-line Adobe Connect modules and PowerPoint slide series:

Chapter 1 – Fundamentals of Pest Management

Chapter 2 – Federal Pesticide Laws

Chapter 3 – Pesticide Labeling

Chapter 4 – Pesticide Formulations

Chapter 5 – Pesticide Hazards & First Aide

Chapter 6 – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Chapter 7 – Pesticides in the Environment

Chapter 8 – Transportation, Storage and Security

Chapter 9 – Emergency and Incidence Response

Chapter 10 – Planning the Pesticide Application

Chapter 11 – Pesticide Application Procedures

Chapter 12 – Professional Conduct

Chapter 13 – Maryland Applicator Law & Regulations

Textbook: Maryland Pesticide Applicator Core Manual:

This text is available at your local county Extension office. Be sure to acquire this text prior to beginning the self study course.

ELMS Blackboard & Adobe Connect Modules: This course will be administered by the ELMS Blackboard student interactive system via prerecorded Adobe Connect modules and other interactive documents.

ELMS Blackboard is an on-line software program which is used for resident instruction and distant learning at the University of Maryland. On-Line interactive quizzes and examinations in ELMS Blackboard will gauge the student’s progress and readiness for the state examination. The address for ELMS Blackboard is www.elms.umd.edu.

To access ELMS Blackboard each student will need to have a login ID and a password assigned by the University of Maryland. Internet access to ELMS Blackboard is a course requirement.

Course Registration: Contact Dave Myers at 410 222-6759 or myersrd@umd.edu

CDMS: Pesticide Labels and MSDS On-Line at:

http://www.cdms.net/

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Agronomy News on line at:

http://annearundel.umd.edu/AGNR/AgronomyNews.cfm

44--HH NNeewwss Amanda Wahle, 4-H FEA University of Maryland

Are you between 8 and 18 or know someone who is? If so have you considered joining 4-H? The Anne Arundel County 4-H program is growing and is always looking for new members and volunteers. The program has community clubs located throughout Anne Arundel County but is also looking for volunteers and members to lead new groups. There are a variety of projects members can participate in including animal science, environmental sciences and human sciences. We are also looking for adults to do seminars or presentations to help 4-Hers learn how they can further their projects. To receive more information, please contact Amanda Wahle in the Anne Arundel Extension Office at 410-222-6759 or at: awahle@umd.edu

 

Vegetable & Fruit Headline News online at:

http://annearundel.umd.edu/AGNR/VegFruitNews.cfm

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Anne Arundel County Extension http://annearundel.umd.edu/files/Extensionflyer.pdf

Family & Consumer Sciences For more information, contact Naeemah Raqib

at nraqib@umd.edu or call 410-222-6756

Master Gardener Program For more information, contact Mike Ensor at mensor@umd.edu call 410-222-6757

4­H Youth Development For more information, contact Amanda Wahle at

awahle@umd.edu or call 410-222-6755

Nutrient Management For more information, contact Krista Mitchell at

kristaw@umd.edu or call 410-222-6759

Sea Grant For more information, contact Matt Parker at mparke11@umd.edu or call 410-222-6759

Thanks for Partnering Thanks for partnering with the University of Maryland Extension, and supporting our programs. I also hope you enjoy this newsletter. If you are no longer interested in receiving this newsletter, please call or write the office for the removal of your name from the mailer. R. David Myers, Extension Educator Agriculture and Natural Resources Anne Arundel & Prince George’s Counties NACAA Communication Award Individual Newsletter 2002 National Winner University of Maryland Extension Prince George’s County 6707 Groveton Drive Clinton, MD 20735 301 868-8783 University of Maryland Extension Anne Arundel County 7320 Ritchie Highway, Suite 210 Glen Burnie, MD 21061 410 222-6759 or 301 970-8250

Note: Registered Trade Mark® Products, Manufacturers, or Companies mentioned within this newsletter are not to be considered as sole endorsements. The information has been provided for educational purposes only.

Farm Equipment Rental Program

Anne Arundel County, Maryland

www.aaedc.org

Equipment Rental ProcessAll Anne Arundel County farmers are eligible to participate in the equipment rental program.

1. Renters must contact AAEDC and complete/sign rental forms to rent equipment

2. AAEDC will verify insurance coverage and schedule rental dates (first come, first served)

3. AAEDC will contact T&C Farm Service and provide rental request along with appropriate contact information

4. T&C will arrange with renter for pick up & return of equipment

5. T&C prepares equipment for pick up

6. Renter picks up equipment and uses for specified time period. Equipment must be returned on the date specified

7. T&C provides instruction on proper use of equipment

8. Renter cleans and greases each piece before returning to T&C

9. T&C inspects equipment when returned

10. Rates are subject to change

RAIN POLICY – Renters will be charged for every day the equipment is rented, rain or shine. Prior to pick up, renters can re-schedule for the next AVAILABLE date according to the schedule.

REPAIRS – T&C Farm Service is responsible for all repair work on equipment. Under no circumstance should renters attempt to repair equipment. The cost to repair equipment made necessary during the lease period (beyond normal wear and tear) is the responsibility of the renter, including parts and labor.

TO RENT EQUIPMENT CONTACT

Lisa K. BargeAgricultural Marketing & Development ManagerAnne Arundel Economic Development Corporation2660 Riva Road, Suite 200Annapolis, MD 21401lbarge@aaedc.org410-222-7410 Phone 410-222-7415 Fax 443-871-4012 Cell

TO ARRANGE FOR PICK-UP, RETURN AND REPAIR OF EQUIPMENT CONTACT

Thomas S. CollinsonT&C Farm Service4758 Solomons Island RoadP.O. Box 55Harwood, MD 20776-0055443-623-2485 Cell

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) manages and promotes agricultural development by working with state and local agencies to promote products, create new programs and educational opportunities, and expand markets for agri-business. This program is part of the AAEDC mission to serve business needs and to increase Anne Arundel County’s economic base through job growth and investment.

The Farm Equipment Rental Program is made possible through a grant provided by the

Southern Maryland Agriculture Development Commission (SMADC)

www.aaedc.org

12’ Great Plains Turbo Till$125/day

Features• Useful in all soil conditions• Easy and quick depth adjustment• Constant level hitch

Tractor Requirements• 120hp minimum• Front wheel drive• Set of remote hydraulics• Front weights and/or front loader

Transportation Requirements• Tractor required or make arrangements with

trucking company

10’ Great Plains No-Till Pull Type Drill $50/day, $10/acre – 10 acre minimum

Features• 10 foot planting width

Tractor Requirements• 50 hp, 4-wheel drive OR 75 hp, 2-wheel drive• Hydraulics

Transportation Requirements• Standard duty pickup truck• Pin hitch

Wheatheart Trailer Mounted Post Driver$200 first day, $100 additional day

Features• Joystick hydraulic controls• Adjustable hammer height accommodates

different post lengths• Easy operation and transport

Transportation Requirements• Standard ½ ton truck• Pin hitch

Tractor Requirements• N/A

5’ Lands Pride All-Purpose Seeder$100/day

Features• Overall width 73 3⁄4”, Seeding width 61”• 8 seeds cups with a wide range of

calibration settings per 1000 sq. ft. & per acreTractor Requirements

• Approx. 25 hp• Front weight or front loader

Transportation Requirements• Min. 6’ X 10’ trailer, trailer that would carry

both the tractor and seeder is preferred

Lands Pride Spinner Spreader $50/day

Features• 563 pound spreader• Rotary/spin type broadcast spreader• Spreads seeds, salt, top dressing prilled/

granular fertilizer, lime and iron• Delivery rates 43-890 lbs per acre

Tractor Requirements• Category 1 – 3 point hitch• 18 hp minimum

Transportation Requirements• Will fit in any size pickup truck bed or

commercial van

Raised Bed Mulch LayerAvailable Spring 2012

Photo not available