Acreage Answers is provided by ISU Extension and the United Department of Agriculture in your local county. 1

June-JulyVol. 1 Issue 3

Inside this IssuePAGE

2Horticulture Safety Quiz

3Continuous ConservationReserve Problem

3Dust Control onRural Roads

4Garden Vegetables

4Look for VegetableGarden Pests

5Iowa's Land andEnvironment

5Can I sell my cream pie atthe Farmer's Market?

Noxious WeedsBy John Kennicker, ISU Extension Field Crops Specialist

What is a noxious weed? Can you identify noxious weeds on youracreage? Did you know that the law requires landowners to control noxiousweeds?

A noxious weed can be described as any plant defined by law that isdifficult to control, injurious, and troublesome to public health/roads, crops,livestock, or other property (ex. seed lots). In 1912, a man named Blatchleydefined a weed as “a plant out of place or growing where it is not wanted.If you add the word noxious (harmful or injurious to health), you have aharmful weed.

There are two classifications of noxious weeds: primary and secondary.Absolutely no primary noxious weed seed is allowed in seed for sale inIowa. Less than 1% by weight of seed for sale in Iowa can be composed ofsecondary noxious weeds. Primary noxious weeds (common name)include: quack grass, perennial sow thistle, Canada thistle, bull thistle,European morning glory or field bindweed, horse nettle, leafy spurge,perennial pepper-grass, Russian knapweed, buckthorn, musk thistle, and tallthistle. Secondary noxious weeds (common name) include: butterprint(annual), cocklebur (annual), wild mustard (annual), wild carrot (biennial),buckhorn (perennial), sheep sorrel (perennial), sour dock (perennial),smooth dock (perennial), poison hemlock, multiflora rose, wild sunflower(annual), puncture vine (annual), teasel (biennial), and shattercane(Sorghum bicolor).

According to the Iowa Weed Law, landowners are required to controlnoxious weeds present on their land. If landowners fail to comply with theweed law, county officials have the authority to destroy the weeds and billthe landowner for the cost of control. The classification of primary andsecondary noxious weed applies to seed laws that specify the amount ofweed seed that can be present in certified seed. Comparable to the “IowaWeed Law”, most states have weed laws regarding the mandatory control ordestruction of noxious weeds. A county weed commissioner, who overseesthe enforcement the weed law, may be appointed by the county board ofsupervisors.

For information on the Iowa Weed Law, weed control, and noxiousweeds, you may use the web site:http://www.weeds.iastate.edu/reference/weedlaw.htm, 2000 HerbicideManual for Agricultural Professionals (WC-92) $3.75, and web site:http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/, respectively. Weed controlpublications/identification materials may be found at your local countyExtension office.

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Please share AcreageAnswers with your acreageneighbors. Call your localISU Extension office to beplaced on the mailing list forAcreage Answers and to giveus suggestions for futurearticles.

Central IowaExtension offices

Boone Co. (515) 432-3882Clarke Co. (515) 342-3316Dallas Co., (515) 993-4281Green Co. (515) 386-2138Guthrie Co. (515) 747-2276Jasper Co. (515) 792-6433Madison Co. (515) 462-1001Marshall Co. (515) 752-1551Polk Co. (515) 261-4202Story Co. (515) 382-6551Warren Co. 515-961-6237

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)prohibits discrimination in all its programs andactivities on the basis of race, color, nationalorigin, gender, religion, age, disability, politicalbeliefs, sexual orientation, and marital orfamily status. (Not all prohibited bases applyto all programs.) Many materials can bemade available in alternative formats for ADAclients. To file a complaint of discrimination,write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and IndependenceAvenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 orcall 202-720-5964.

Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa StateUniversity of Science and Technology, andthe United States Department of AgricultureCooperating.

1. When mowing a slope with ariding lawn mower, shouldyou:a. Mow up and down the

slopeb. Mow across the slope

2. When mowing a slope with awalk-behind mower, shouldyou:a. Mow across the slopeb. Mow up and down the

slope

3. Is it important to know whatyou are controlling beforeyou select a pesticide?a. yesb. no

4. What is a pesticide?a. A product that makes a

claim to kill or repelspecific pests.

b. A product that makes aclaim to kill or repel allpests.

5. Before applying lawn andgarden products, such asfertilizers or pesticides, is itimportant to know the size ofthe area to be treated?a. yesb. no

6. Where should pesticides bestored?a. In a locked cabinet or

storage unitb. Out of the reach of

children

7. Is it against the law to storepesticide products incontainers other than theiroriginal container?a. yesb. no

8. All pesticide labels containsignal words indicating thepotential danger to humans.Which signal word indicatesthe most toxic pesticide?a. Dangerb. Warningc. Caution

9. Are organic products safer touse than synthetic or non-organic products?a. nob. yes

10. What are the minimalclothing requirements forreducing exposure topesticide concentrates orsprays?a. Long-sleeved shirt, long

pants, shoes, and chemicalresistant gloves.

b. Short-sleeved shirt, shortssandals, cotton gloves, &eyeglasses.

11. Is it advisable to mixpesticides stronger than labelrecommendations if you havea hard-to-control pestproblem?a. nob. yes

(Answers on page 5)

Horticulture Safety QuizTaken from the Horticulture & Home Pest News

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/

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ContinuousConservation

ReserveProgram

By Beth Grabau Dallas County FSA

Do you have cropland orpastureland that lies along awaterway, or cropland that is inneed of a grassed waterway tocontrol erosion across the field?If so, this land maybe eligible forthe Continuous ConservationReserve Program (CRP). Underthis 10-15 year program, eligiblelandowners are paid an annualrental rate on acres that theyagree to seed. For example, anindividual owns land adjacent toa river.

Under the Continuous CRPprogram a maximum 100-footwide strip or filter strip along theriver can be enrolled in thisprogram for up to 15 years. Theacres in this strip will be seededdown, with part of the cost toestablish the cover paid byUSDA.

Under the contract, an annualpayment is made on those acresseeded down. Grassedwaterways, filter strips, andriparian buffer strips are practiceseligible under this program. Signup for the 2000-year continuesthrough September 30, 2000.

For more information, contactyour local Farm Service AgencyOffice. FSA will assist you insigning up for this program. TheNatural Resources ConservationService will assist you in theproper seeding mixture theacreage enrolled in the program.

Dust Control onRural Roads

By: Rich Wrage, Boone County ISUExtension Education Director andShawn Shouse, ISU Field Specialist /AgEngineering

One of the less attractiveaspects of rural living is dustygravel roads. The dust can be asafety hazard as well as anuisance for rural residents.County road departments canoffer help incontrolling roaddust.

Road dust ismade up mainly ofpowdered limestoneby the continuous wear ofcrushed limestone road rock.Methods used to control road dustcause the particles to sticktogether into larger chunks thatdo not spread so easily with thewind or a passing vehicle. Twotreatments are common in CentralIowa. The road surface may besprayed with ligno-sulfonate (aderivative of tree sap that comesas a by-product from the papermill industry) or an application ofcalcium chloride that absorbsmoisture from the air and trapsdust particles on the dampgranules.

County road departments cansupply you with a list ofapproved dust control contractorswho can be hired at your requestand expense. For Dallas Countythe engineers office encouragespeople to contact the dust controlcompanies and the company willcontact the engineer’s office sothey can modify their road

maintenance in the treated areas.Cost to rural residents isapproximately 36 cents per footof treated area for ligno-sulfonate. The area treated isusually 400 feet by 20 feet or$144. Calcium chloride costsvary depending on your distancefrom the supplier, but may runaround $250 for 2 summerapplications in early June & lateJuly.

Calcium chloride has someadvantages. Road maintenance

crews may be able toblade over the calciumchloride treated areawithout harming thetreatment. There mayalso be some residual

affect from a calcium chloridetreatment. An area treated forseveral years may build on theapplication of the previous yearto provide better long-term dustcontrol. Calcium chloride mayalso provide some winter control.

However, calcium chloridealso has some disadvantages. Itmay be less effective at dustcontrol than ligno-sulfonate.Mud laden with calcium chloridemay be corrosive to unprotectedmetal and may contribute to theaccelerated rusting of automobilebodies. If you choose calciumchloride, take extra care to keepvehicles washed and protected.

Controlling road dust canimprove visibility, making adriveway access safer, as well asmaking your yard cleaner andmore pleasant for summeractivities. Contact your countyengineer’s office for details ondust control in your county.

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Garden VegetablesTaken from the Horticulture & Home Pest News

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/

There is still time to plant many vegetable crops.The last practical dates to plant specific crops incentral Iowa are listed below.

June 20 -- tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, muskmelons*, watermelons*

July 1 -- lima beans, sweet corn*July 20 -- cucumbers, summer squashAugust 1 -- Beets, carrots, snap beans,

Swiss chard*denotes early maturing varieties such as:

Muskmelon -- Earlisweet, Burpee HybridWatermelon -- Sugar Baby, Petite Sweet,

MickeyleeSweet Corn -- Earliking, Aztec, Sundance,

Seneca Horizon

It is often difficult to estimate when vegetablecrops will be ready to be harvested. Weatherconditions effect growth and development of the

crop and can advance or delaymaturity. For floweringvegetables, days from floweringprovide a fairly accuratedetermination of harvest time.

Days from Flowering to Maturity

Crop Time (Days)

Snap bean 7-10Sweet corn 15-23 (from silking)Cucumber, slicing 15-18Eggplant (2/3 maximum size) 25-40Muskmelon 42-46Pepper, green 45-55Summer squash, zucchini 3-4Tomato, red 40-50Watermelon, large 50-60Watermelon, icebox 28-32

Look for Vegetable Garden PestsThe goal of a vegetable gardener is raising high

quality produce. A pest management planwould include frequent inspection of plants,correct identification of pests, usingpreventive measures when possible andusing both nonchemical and chemicalmethods of control.

Some pests to watch for are:Squash borer: Examine the stems of the squash

plant. Usually, a yellowish sawdust type of materialcalled “frass” is located on the lower part of the plant-- an indication of the borer in the plants. Sometimesa crack is located on the lower portion of the stem. Ifborer is suspected, a sharp knife can be used to slitthe stem carefully and remove the larvae. After thisis done, pile soil around the plant and waterthoroughly.

Cucumber Beetle: These beetles can bedisastrous if not controlled. These insects not onlychew the leaves, flowers, and fruits, but they alsospread bacterial diseases as they visit the plants.

Since they multiply very fast, treat as soon as theyare noticed with a recommended insecticide.

Aphids and Mites: These insects will befound under the leaves. A good surge of waterpressure from the hose will usually remove them.

Four-Spotted Sap Beetle: This beetle isattracted to cracked or over ripe fruits. The best

defense is to buy crack resistant Cultivars and keepgarden areas clean of over ripe fruit.

Mexican Bean Beetles: Leaves with a lace likeappearance may mean you have Mexican beanbeetles. They eat the lower surface of the leavesbetween the veins. Clean up plant debris afterharvest to discourage hibernating beetles. Treat atthe first sign of injury.

If you choose to use a pesticide treatmentremember to apply chemicals at dusk whenpollinating bees are gone. Insecticides cannot beused during harvesting time. To reduce infestation,clean up all the unwanted fruits and dispose ofthem. If pesticides are used in the garden, identifythe problem first, read the label carefully and applythem with caution.

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The challenges facing Iowaare many. One of the greatestis how to preserve and protectIowa's rich natural resources,while allowing the state'slargest industry - agriculture -to thrive.

There are other concerns aswell. The encroachment ofurban populations on ruralareas is one. The quality ofIowa's lakes, rivers andstreams is another.

And there are questions.Who owns Iowa land? How isit valued and how is it taxed?What sort of outdoorrecreational opportunities canIowa offer? What do Iowanswant Iowa to look like?

Iowa State University issponsoring a series of threemeetings in June where theseand other concerns will bediscussed. These regionalmeetings are designed to allowthorough discussion ofstatewide concerns, while alsotaking a close look at localissues.

The Central Iowameeting will be

Friday, June 169:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

AtWest Des Moines

Marriott

Registration must bereceived by June 8. Contactyour local county Extensionoffice for a registration form.

A $20 registration feecovers the cost of lunch, plus anew publication by ISUeconomists titled “Iowa’sLand and Environment -Serving Competing Needs” .The publication includes ahistorical perspective on landuse and conservation,information on landownership, valuation, taxationand use, results of publicsurveys and insight into afuture vision for Iowa’slandscape.

Summer is always a busy timewith activities outside. If youhave lawn and gardenquestions call the office, checkthe publications web site(www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/pubs/) or the horticultureand home pest newsletter websitewww.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/

HorticultureSafety QuizHow do you think you did?

Answer “a” is the correctanswer to all of the questions.Please keep these questionsand correct answers in mind asyou start the gardening seasonfull swing.

Can I sell mycream pies atthe FarmersMarket?

Farmersmarketsare notrequiredto be

licensed. The sale of raw fruitsand vegetables, honey, eggs,and non-potentially hazardousfood is permitted in theseseasonal commonmarketplaces.

Potentially hazardous foodrefers to food that requiresrefrigeration to 41°F or belowafter preparation. Non-potentially hazardous foodrefers to food that does notrequire refrigeration afterpreparation.

With the sole exception ofjams and jellies, no "homestyle" canned goods can besold at farmersmarkets.

Full details andexplanations areavailable in ISUExtensionpublication PM1294 Iowa Laws: Sale ofHome-prepared Foods

Iowa's Land andEnvironment

Serving Competitive Needs?