Please visit the Highmoor Farm website for the University of Maine Strawberry Integrated Pest Management Newsletter No. 3, May 24, 2013, “Cool, Wet Weather Slows Strawberry Development.”
Image Description: strawberries
The Maine Public Broadcasting Network spoke with Rick Kersbergen, University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator on sustainable dairy and forage systems, about the return of small farms. Despite the decline of the family farm over the years, Kersbergen says interest in farming is at a record high in Maine.
Strawberry IPM Newsletter No. 2 – May 17, 2013
For full page print version, please see link at the bottom. Click on photos to enlarge.
Sprayer Calibration Clinic on May 21, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Twilight Meeting on May 21, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Pikes Farm to You in Farmington, Maine
Situation: A little rain last weekend provided some relief from this very dry spring for most fields. Frost hit many fields over two to three nights early in the week, and some injury has been noted wherever irrigation wasn’t able to protect the blossoms. Plants in southern Maine are now showing open primary (king) blossoms on early varieties, while in later varieties buds are still emerging from the crown. Fields that were under row covers are in full bloom, or just beyond, suggesting that we could see some ripe fruit in just a couple of weeks, weather permitting. I am still finding winter injury, especially in older fields, where straw and or snow cover was inadequate during the coldest part of the winter. On the bright side, insect activity remains fairly low in all fields scouted this week, but it is important to keep scouting during the bud emergence through bloom stages, because this is when the plants are most susceptible to clipper and tarnished plant bug. Bloom is also the most critical stage for preventing infestation by Botrytis spores, which cause gray mold.
Sprayer Calibration Clinic and Twilight Meeting
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Association will hold a sprayer calibration clinic for airblast sprayers at David Pike’s Farm to You in Farmington on Tuesday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. George Hamilton with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension will demonstrate new tools for making sure your sprayer is delivering the correct rate of pesticides to your crops. Having a sprayer properly calibrated will improve the effectiveness of your sprays, and can save you money by reducing the amount of pesticide used and reducing crop losses due to pests. Participants will receive two pesticide applicator recertification credits. The calibration clinic will be followed at 5:00 p.m. by a tour of David Pike’s strawberry and vegetable fields. David has been a leader in innovative strawberry production techniques, including raised beds, plastic mulch, fertigation, fall cropping, and season extension. There will be some new low tunnel technology on display, as well as replant experiments and new varieties on trial. One pesticide applicator recertification will be awarded for the meeting. The location is 115 Mount View Road. (corner of Routes 2 & 4 and the Whittier Road) in Farmington, ME 04938. There will be signs posted. The farm phone number is 207.778.2187. Cost for the clinic is free and no registration is required. Hold the date!
Drip Irrigation Workshop
Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Sherman Farm, 2679 East Conway Road, Center Conway, NH 03813. The farm phone number is 603.939.2412.
The purpose of this meeting is to review what drip irrigation options and strategies vegetable and fruit growers should be considering for the coming growing season. Trevor Hardy, of Brookdale Fruit Farm and George Hamilton, UNH Cooperative Extension will present a hands-on demonstration on setting up a drip irrigation system and describe the various components of a system, including set ups for high tunnels. Toro Irrigation Representative Bill Wolfram will also be present. The meeting will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will run until around 6:00 p.m.
For more information contact:
Olivia Saunders, UNH Extension Field Specialist
603.447.3834, e-mail: olivia.saunders@unh.edu, OR
George Hamilton, UNH Extension Field Specialist,
603.641.6060, email: george.hamilton@unh.edu.
2013-2014 New England Small Fruit Management Guides are now available at Highmoor Farm. This new, updated edition of the guide contains the latest information on management options for small fruit pests as well as cultural information. Cost of the guide is $10.00 plus $2.53 postage for a total of $12.53. To order a guide, please send your check made payable to UMaine Cooperative Extension mailed to: Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179, Monmouth, Maine 04259, attention Pam St. Peter. For more information, contact Pam St. Peter at 933.2100 or pamela.stpeter@maine.edu.
Strawberry bud weevil or “clipper” should now be coming active as flower buds emerge. We have not found clipper at levels over threshold in any fields scouted to date, but it is important to keep a sharp lookout for clipped buds now, especially along wooded borders of the field. If the average number of clipped buds exceeds 1.2 per two feet of row, or if live clippers are being found, control measures are recommended.
Tarnished plant bug adults are being reported in apple orchards in southern Maine, but we have not yet found any nymphs in the strawberry fields we have scouted. Strawberries are preferred hosts at this time of year, so we should expect to start seeing both adults and nymphs soon. To scout for the nymphs shake 30 flower clusters (six clusters in five different locations) over a plate. If four or more of the clusters out of the 30 sampled have any nymphs, control measures should be taken. Be on the alert and scout your fields as soon as blossoms start to open.
Cyclamen mites: We have found symptoms of cyclamen mites in several plantings this spring. Symptoms include weak growth, crinkled leaves and yellow, pinkish or blackened discoloration. Cyclamen mites are too small to be seen without magnification and reside in the crown of the strawberry plant feeding on the developing leaves and flower buds. Miticides must be applied in lots of water to be sure that the material is carried down into the crowns where the mites reside.
Two-spotted spider mites have been found exceeding the management threshold at one southern location this week, in a field that was under row covers. This is often where we first find mite problems. Expect mite problems to increase as the temperature increases, especially under dry conditions.
White grubs: We have had several reports of white grub infestations in fields this spring. Weak plant growth may be the result of grubs feeding on roots. These grubs are the larvae of beetles, including European chafer and Asiatic garden beetle. The grubs have legs and a swollen anterior (rear end). The grubs can be found by pulling up weak plants and sifting through the soil that surrounded the roots. Controlling white grubs when they are established in a field is difficult. Admire Pro® is labeled for control of white grubs and should be applied within two hours of irrigation or rainfall to get the chemical into the root zone. There is still time to apply nematodes to control the grubs. (Optimal timing is about mid-May.) Two species of nematodes appear to offer the best control. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Hb) is the best candidate when the soil temperature is above 60 degrees (‘J-3 Max Hb’ from The Green Spot Ltd., ‘GrubStake Hb’ from the Integrated Biocontrol Network, ‘Larvanem’ from Koppert Biological Systems.
Diseases: Just a reminder that bloom is the critical time to protect strawberries from developing gray mold caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. Two to three sprays of fungicide during bloom are typically required to provide good protection against this disease. Any moisture, including irrigation, fog, or even pesticide sprays can stimulate Botrytis spores to germinate. Fruit infections take place almost exclusively through the flowers, so gray mold control efforts must be focused on the bloom period.
Sincerely,
David T. Handley
Vegetable & Small Fruit Specialist
Highmoor Farm Pest Management
P.O. Box 179 491 College Ave
Monmouth, ME 04259 Orono, ME 04473
207.933.2100 1.800.287.0279
Maine Cooperative Extension, the Land Grant University of the state of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the U.S.D.A. provide equal opportunities in programs and employment. A Member of the University of Maine System.
Any person with a disability who needs accommodations for these programs should contact Pam St. Peter at 207.933.2100 or TDD 1.800.287.8957 to discuss their needs at least 7 days in advance.
Where brand names or company names are used it is for the reader’s information. No endorsement is implied nor is any discrimination intended against other products with similar ingredients. Always consult product labels for rates, application instructions and safety precautions. Users of these products assume all associated risks.
Image Description: Strawberry Frost Injury
Image Description: Clipper Injury
Image Description: First Instar Tarnished Plant Bug Nymph
Image Description: Two-spotted Spider Mites
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers Association will hold a sprayer calibration clinic for airblast sprayers at David Pike’s Farm to You in Farmington on Tuesday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. – RAIN OR SHINE. George Hamilton with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension will demonstrate new tools for making sure your sprayer is delivering the correct rate of pesticides to your crops. Having a sprayer properly calibrated will improve the effectiveness of your sprays, and can save you money by reducing the amount of pesticide used and reducing crop losses due to pests. Participants will receive two pesticide applicator recertification credits.
The calibration clinic will be followed at 5:00 p.m. by a tour of David Pike’s strawberry and vegetable fields. David has been a leader in innovative strawberry production techniques, including raised beds, plastic mulch, fertigation, fall cropping, and season extension. There will be some new low tunnel technology on display, as well as replant experiments and new varieties on trial. One pesticide applicator recertification credit will be awarded for the meeting.
Pike’s Farm to You is located at 115 Mount View Road (near the corner of Routes 2 & 4 and the Whittier Road) in Farmington, Maine 04938. There will be signs posted. The farm phone number is 207.778.2187. Cost for the clinic is free and no registration is required. For more information, please contact David Handley at 207.933.2100 or david.handley@maine.edu.
Any person with a disability who needs accommodations for this program should contact Pam St. Peter at 207.933.2100 or TDD 1.800.287.8957 to discuss their needs at least 7 days in advance.
A University of Maine study and Cooperative Extension specialists were cited in the Mainebiz article “Potato farmers innovate to find new markets.” The 2010 study found Maine’s potato industry could be well suited to grow stock for the bioplastic industry. John Jemison, water quality and soil specialist and Jim Dwyer, crops specialist with UMaine Extension, were also interviewed about the state’s potato industry.
WABI (Channel 5) reported on a meeting held in Bangor to inform the public about the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s effort to bring more fresh and local foods to school cafeterias.
Frank Drummond, University of Maine professor of insect ecology and entomology, UMaine Extension professor and bee specialist, spoke with the radio station Q106.5 about the decline of honeybees. Drummond said several factors such as pesticides and a mite that spreads a virus are contributing to the decline.
For full page print version, please see link at the bottom. Click on photos to enlarge.
Sprayer Calibration Clinic on May 21, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Twilight Meeting on May 21, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Pikes Farm to You in Farmington, Maine
Situation: What seemed to start as a relatively normal spring has now become a very dry spring indeed, with most areas in New England significantly behind on rainfall. While this has helped growers to get on to fields early to plant, established plantings of strawberries could be suffering from drought stress. Dry conditions can also reduce nutrient uptake, resulting in deficiencies, most notably calcium. In southern locations, flower buds are now emerging from crowns in plantings that were mulched over the winter. Plantings that were not mulched are a little further advanced, and plantings that were under row covers are coming into bloom. Frost protection becomes a priority now, and irrigation should be set up to provide frost protection for buds and flowers on any night when temperatures drop below freezing. Bear in mind that fields that are irrigated for frost repeatedly during bloom face an increased risk of bacterial angular leaf spot.
Winter injury is common in fields this spring, especially in plantings that either were not mulched or mulched late in the winter due to trouble getting onto the fields in the fall. Frost heaving is also apparent in fields with heavier soils, which injures plant roots and inhibits water and nutrient uptake. Injured plants appear weakened, with small, dull colored leaves, and crowns that may be pushed out of the soil. Cutting into the crowns will reveal dark brown discoloration in the internal tissue. Helping plantings recover from winter injury involves compensating for the damaged vascular system. Make sure the plants get plenty of water, especially in this dry period, and it may help to apply extra nutrients to encourage root growth and recovery, including nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. While we do not recommend heavy nitrogen fertilizer applications in the spring, up to 20 pounds of actual N (e.g. 125 lb. calcium nitrate) may improve early spring growth.
Sprayer Calibration Clinic & Twilight Meeting
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Association will hold a sprayer calibration clinic for airblast sprayers at David Pike’s Farm to You in Farmington on Tuesday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. George Hamilton with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension will demonstrate new tools for making sure your sprayer is delivering the correct rate of pesticides to your crops. Having a sprayer properly calibrated will improve the effectiveness of your sprays, and can save you money by reducing the amount of pesticide used and reducing crop losses due to pests. Participants will receive two pesticide applicator re-certification credits. The calibration clinic will be followed at 5:00 p.m. by a tour of David Pike’s strawberry and vegetable fields. David has been a leader in innovative strawberry production techniques, including raised beds, plastic mulch, fertigation, fall cropping, and season extension. There will be some new low tunnel technology on display, as well as replant experiments and new varieties on trial. One pesticide applicator re-certification will be awarded for the meeting. Hold the date! We’ll give driving directions next week.
2013-2014 New England Small Fruit Management Guides are now available at Highmoor Farm. This new, updated edition of the guide contains the latest information on management options for small fruit pests as well as cultural information. Cost of the guide is $10.00 plus $2.53 postage for a total of $12.53. Copies of the 2012-2013 New England Vegetable Management Guide with color pictures of the important pests and diseases are also available at Highmoor Farm. Cost of the guide is $25.00 plus $3.43 postage for a total of $28.43.
To order the guides, please send your check made payable to UMaine Cooperative Extension mailed to: Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179, Monmouth, Maine 04259, attention Pam St. Peter. For more information, contact Pam St. Peter at 933.2100 or pamela.stpeter@maine.edu.
Members of the Maine Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers Association (MVSFGA) or the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers Association receive free copies of the guides. For MVSFGA membership information, contact Bill Jordan at 799.1040.
Scouting
We will start scouting strawberry fields for major insect pests in earnest next week, including volunteer farms, in North Berwick, Wells, Cape Elizabeth, Poland Spring, New Gloucester, Dresden, Monmouth, Wayne, and Farmington, and will be reporting our findings through this newsletter on a weekly basis until harvest time. You can also get quick access to this information through the Highmoor Farm blog or the Pest Management web page. If you would prefer to receive this message via e-mail, please give us a call at 933.2100 or send an e-mail message to: pamela.stpeter@maine.edu.
The best way to manage strawberry pests is to scout your own fields regularly and often. You should start scouting regularly as soon as flower buds emerge from the crown. You should be able to identify the major pests and their damage, and be able to determine if control measures are necessary. To properly scout your fields you may want a copy of the Strawberry Production Guide for the Northeast, Midwest and Eastern Canada. This contains detailed information on strawberry pest identification and monitoring, and also provides information on all other aspects of strawberry production. It may be purchased for $45.00 per copy from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. You can order it online at the Publications website. You should also have a copy of the 2013-2014 New England Small Fruit Pest Management Guide, which contains the latest information on management options for the major strawberry pests as well as scouting information.
Strawberry bud weevil or “clipper” will soon be active as flower buds begin to emerge. The clipper is a small weevil, which girdles strawberry flower buds, causing them to dry up and fall off the flower stalk. Scout for damage by counting the number of clipped buds in two feet of row length at five different locations in a field. If the average number of clipped buds per two-foot sample exceeds 1.2, or if live clippers are found, control measures are recommended. Damage is usually first noticed at the edges of the field. Border sprays may be effective in keeping this insect from becoming a problem in larger fields. Fields with a history of clipper problems will typically exceed threshold nearly every year. Insecticide options for clipper include Lorsban®, Brigade®, Sevin® and PyGanic®.
Tarnished plant bugs adults have been found in southern Maine, indicating that they will soon be laying eggs. Strawberries are one of their preferred hosts at this time of year. Once the eggs start to hatch, we’ll find the nymphs feeding in the flowers. The nymphs are small, active, yellow-green insects. It is important to scout for them regularly, as they can appear very quickly in warm weather. Tarnished plant bugs feed on the open strawberry flowers, causing the berries to have seedy ends. To scout for the nymphs shake 30 flower clusters (six clusters in five different locations) over a plate. If four or more of the clusters out of the 30 sampled have any nymphs, control measures should be taken. Be on the alert and scout your fields now! Insecticide options for tarnished plant bug include malathion, Brigade®, Danitol®, Thionex® and PyGanic®.
Cyclamen mites: Plants showing weak growth and yellow, pinkish or blackened, crinkled leaves may be infested with cyclamen mite. Cyclamen mites are very small, smaller than spider mites, and reside in the crown of the strawberry plant feeding on the developing leaves and flower buds. They are very hard to see, even with magnification. Infested plants have shrunken distorted leaves and flower stalks, and produce few, if any, marketable fruit. Miticides such as Thionex® or Kelthane® and Temprano® can be effective, but must be applied in lots of water to be sure that the material is carried down into the crowns where these mites reside.
Two-spotted spider mites have not yet been a problem this spring, but growers with plants under row covers should be alert. This is often where we first find mite problems. Spider mites will reproduce rapidly when warmer weather arrives, so it is important to scout for them regularly. Spider mites feed on the undersides of strawberry leaves, rasping the plant tissue and sucking the sap. Infested leaves will develop yellow flecking and a bronzed appearance. The plants become weakened and stunted. Fields that have had excessive nitrogen fertilizer and/or row covers tend to be most susceptible to mite injury. To scout for mites, collect 60 leaves from various locations in the field and examine the undersides for the presence of mites. Mites are very small – you may need a hand lens to see them. Chemical control options for two-spotted spider mites include Acramite®, Savey®, Zeal®, Vendex®, Oberon®, Brigade®, Danitol®, Thionex® and JMS Stylet oil ® (oils will cause plant injury if used in combination with captan or within 14 days of an application of sulfur).
Root weevil management
Fields that were infested with root weevils last summer should be inspected for grubs this spring. Infested plants appear week and stunted, usually in somewhat circular patches in a field. Digging under the plants will reveal small (1/4”-1/2”) crescent-shaped legless grubs. Typically, the grubs begin to pupate when the plants are in bloom. A soil drench of Platinum® (thiamethoxam) insecticide during the spring and/or fall when the grubs are active in the soil can provide control. However, Platinum® has a 50 day pre-harvest interval, so it is too late for applications in most fruiting fields this year. Platinum® may also be used as a pre-plant or planting treatment for root weevils. It is not too late to put on an application of nematodes to control the grubs (optimal timing is about mid-May). Two species of nematodes appear to offer the best control of root weevil grubs. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Hb) appears to be the best candidate for control of root weevils when the soil temperature is above 60 degrees (‘J-3 Max Hb’ from The Green Spot Ltd., ‘GrubStake Hb’ from the Integrated Biocontrol Network, ‘Larvanem’ from Koppert Biological Systems).
Nematodes are living organisms and they can be killed if they are misapplied. Order nematodes ahead of time and be ready to apply them through a sprayer or irrigation soon after they arrive. Refrigerate them if you can not apply right away. Do not apply nematodes using a sprayer with a piston pump. Use clean equipment, removing all screens finer than 50-mesh. Apply nematodes in early morning or evening in a high volume of water to already moist soil, pre-irrigating if needed. Apply another ¼ inch of irrigation after application to wash them onto and into the soil. Researchers and suppliers recommended 250 (if banded in the row) to 500 million per acre, at a cost of $100-$200 per acre depending on volume and source. Nematodes tend to work best in heavily infested fields. Strawberry plants can recover their vigor remarkably well if crown feeding has not occurred and diseases haven’t taken over the roots.
Once the adults become active in July, bifenthrin (Brigade®) will provide some control if used at the highest labeled rates. The best timing for this spray is at night during the peak feeding activity of adults, before they start laying eggs, or about the time harvest ends.
White grubs: Weak growth noted in fields this spring may also be the result of white grubs feeding on the roots of newer plantings. These grubs are the larvae of beetles, including European chafer and Asiatic garden beetle. They differ from the larvae of black vine weevil and strawberry root weevil in that they have legs and a swollen anterior (rear end), and they tend to be larger. Their feeding weakens the plants by reducing the number of roots. The grubs can be found by pulling up weak plants and sifting through the soil that surrounded the roots. Controlling white grubs once they have become established in a field can be difficult. These tend to be more of a problem in new fields that have been planted following a grass rotation crop, because the adults prefer to lay their eggs in sod. Admire Pro® and Platinum® insecticides are labeled for control of white grubs and should be applied within two hours of irrigation or rainfall to be sure the chemical gets into the root zone. Admire Pro® requires a 14 day to harvest interval, while Platinum® requires a 50 day pre-harvest interval.
Diseases: Bloom is a critical time to protect strawberry fruit against gray mold caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, especially when conditions have been damp. Two to three sprays of fungicide during bloom are typically required to provide good protection against this disease. If you tank mix insecticides and fungicides, avoid spraying when bees are active. Botrytis cinerea overwinters on old leaves and plant debris. Fruit infections take place almost exclusively through the flowers, so gray mold control efforts must be focused on the bloom period. If the bloom period is dry and/or good fungicide coverage is maintained, incidence of gray mold at harvest should be low.
There are several excellent fungicide choices for control of gray mold in strawberries. Elevate® (fenhexamid) has good to excellent activity against Botrytis. Captevate® is a pre-mix of captan and fenhexamid and has a broader spectrum of activity than Elevate® alone. Switch® (cyprodinil and fludioxonil), Scala® (pyramethanil) and Pristine® (pyraclostrobin and boscalid) are also excellent products for gray mold control. Topsin M® + captan is also a good fungicide combination, but remember that captan is strictly a protectant and can be washed off by rain or irrigation water. Thiram is similarly effective but also susceptible to wash-off.
The fungicides Cabrio® (pyraclostrobin) and Abound® (azoxystrobin) are NOT suitable for gray mold control, but are effective against anthracnose and other fruit rot and leaf spot diseases. All fungicides mentioned above have a 0-day pre-harvest interval, except Topsin M® (1 day) and thiram (3 days). Remember to alternate fungicides with different modes of action for resistance management purposes.
Red stele root rot
Although fall and early spring conditions were not especially conducive to red stele development, damp conditions this spring should make us alert for this root rot if any fields appear to be weak, stunted or dying. To diagnose red stele, pull up a few plants that look weak and scrape the roots of these plants to see if the center of the root, known as the stele, is rusty red in color, instead of the normal white. The red color would indicate an infection. Red stele is caused by Phytophthora fragariae, a soil pathogen that infects roots when soils are wet with temperatures around 50°F. The pathogen grows into the roots causing the plants to become weak, stunted and to eventually die. Symptoms are most evident in the spring, and can be mistaken for winter injury. Ridomil Gold®, Alliette® or Phostrol® are fungicides that can be applied in the late fall or early spring for control of red stele. Many varieties have some level of resistance to the disease, but the most effective management strategy is to plant only into well-drained soils, and/or plant onto raised beds.
Powdery mildew: This fungus disease may first show up as purple or red blotches on the leaf petioles and flower stems in strawberry fields. Most of us are more familiar with the later symptoms of upward curling of the leaves and white, powdery growth on the undersides of the leaves. Check your fields for pinkish purple leaf and flower stem lesions as new leaves emerge. Pristine®, Cabrio®, Topsin-M®, captan, Procure®, Torino® and JMS Stylet oil® are presently registered to control powdery mildew.
Angular leaf spot is a bacterial disease that is characterized by translucent leaf spots that may turn yellow and eventually black. The symptoms tend to start on the lower leaves but may move upwards as bacterial spores are splashed up by rain or irrigation water. Infection of the calyxes may result in a blackening of the berry stems and caps, reducing their marketability. Bacterial angular leaf spot is favored by extended cool, wet weather and nights with temperatures close to freezing. Frequent irrigation for frost protection can greatly encourage the development and spread of the disease, as will extended cool, damp weather. Susceptibility to this disease appears to vary significantly between varieties. The copper containing material Kocide®, can reduce the spread of this disease. Start spray applications before bloom to prevent multiplication of the bacteria on the leaves before they jump to the berry caps. Application of copper sprays after bloom can result in fruit injury and is not recommended. Hydrogen dioxide (OxiDate®) may also have some activity against angular leaf spot when used on strawberries as part of a gray mold management program.
Sincerely,
David T. Handley
Vegetable & Small Fruit Specialist
Highmoor Farm Pest Management
P.O. Box 179 491 College Ave
Monmouth, ME 04259 Orono, ME 04473
207.933.2100 1.800.287.0279
Maine Cooperative Extension, the Land Grant University of the state of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the U.S.D.A. provide equal opportunities in programs and employment. A Member of the University of Maine System.
Where brand names or company names are used it is for the reader’s information. No endorsement is implied nor is any discrimination intended against other products with similar ingredients. Always consult product labels for rates, application instructions and safety precautions. Users of these products assume all associated risks.
Image Description: Frost Injury
Image Description: Clipper Beetle on Strawberry Bud
Image Description: Tarnished Plant Bug Adult
Image Description: Cyclamen Mite Damage
Image Description: Two-spotted Spider Mites
Image Description: Strawberry Root Weevil Grub
Image Description: White Grub
Image Description: Gray Mold on Strawberries
Image Description: Powdery Mildew
Image Description: Angular Leaf Spot
Farm Scoop is produced by Richard Brzozowski, Extension Educator, Cumberland County; Tori Jackson, Extension Educator, Androscoggin & Sagadahoc Counties; and Frank Wertheim, Extension Educator, York County
There are two new district foresters in southern Maine. Covering Androscoggin, Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties, Shane Duigan is based in Gray. His e-mail address is shane.p.duigan@maine.gov and his phone number is 207.592.1251. Ken Canfield is based in Lyman in York County, his e-mail is ken.canfield@maine.gov, and his phone number is 207.441.3712.
Get more information on how to start a specialty food business by reading a new UMaine Extension fact sheet #3101 Recipe to Market: How to Start a Specialty Food Business in Maine. (Read/download the fact sheet online or call your local Extension office to send a hard copy of the fact sheet.)
If you are involved in agritourism or thinking about it, you might want to connect with Marc Edwards of UMaine Extension. There is much to consider when people visit your farm and property. Marc’s programming focus is agritourism. E-mail Marc at marc.edwards@maine.edu or call him at 1.800.287.1478.
Did you know you can find all sorts of information about a variety of topics on eXtension.org? Go to www.extension.org and view the side bar where categories such as Community; Disaster Issues; Energy; Environment; Family; Farm; Health and Nutrition; Lawn and Garden; Pest Management; and Youth are listed. Delve into these categories further for factsheets, videos, on-line courses, and other educational resources can be found.
A limited number of Farm Safety Manuals are available. The manual is a collection of farm safety fact sheets written for Maine farm families. The following categories are addressed: children; first aid; fire; home; pesticides; buildings; equipment harvest; and general. This manual could be a good reference for yourself and employees. Contact the Cumberland County Extension Office at 1.800.287.1471 if you would like a copy.
May 17, 18 & 19 at the Winsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine. For more information, visit the Expo 2013 website.
The Maine Wool Pool is scheduled to take place from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the Maine Fiber Frolic. The price for raw wool is 55 cents per pound. Visit the Maine Sheep Breeders Association website and click on the Wool Pool 2013 link for details for acceptable wool.
Since 2000, hundreds of volunteers have donated more than 600 tons of fresh produce to hungry Mainers through UMaine Extension’s Harvest for Hunger program. We need your help! Home gardeners, farmers, employers, civic organizations, schools, and volunteers — you can help feed hungry Mainers. If you have quality produce left over in the field after your harvest, or if you participate in a Farmers’ Market which has some after-market produce left over, we may be able to work with you to get that food to a local pantry or shelter.
Contact Barbara Murphy, state coordinator for Maine Harvest for Hunger, to see if we have volunteers in your community who can help get the food where it is needed. Barbara’s e-mail is barbara.murphy@maine.edu and her phone number is 207.743.6329 or 1.800.287.1482 (in Maine).
Copies of the 2013-2014 New England Small Fruit Management Guide are now available at Highmoor Farm. The guide contains the latest information on management control options for the major small fruit pests as well as scouting information. Cost of the guide is $10.00 plus $2.53 postage for a total of $12.53. Copies of the 2012-2013 New England Vegetable Management Guide with color pictures of the important pests and diseases are also available at Highmoor Farm. Cost of the guide is $25.00 plus $3.43 postage for a total of $28.43.
To order the guides, please send your check made payable to UMaine Cooperative Extension mailed to: Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179, Monmouth, Maine 04259, atten. Pam St. Peter. For more information, contact Pam St. Peter at 933.2100 or pamela.stpeter@maine.edu.
Members of the Maine Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers Association (MVSFGA) or the New England Vegetable & Berry Growers Association receive free copies of the guides. For MVSFGA membership information, contact Bill Jordan at 799.1040.
Image Description: woman with cheese
Image Description: volunteers distribute fresh produce to hungry Mainers
Vol. 1 No. 2
57 Houlton Road, Presque Isle, ME 04769
207.764.3361 or 1.800.287.1462
extension.umaine.edu/aroostook
Dear Grower,
With planting season upon us in some parts of the state and quickly approaching in others, we wanted to get a couple more topics out to you, hence the mailing of our second newsletter only a week behind our first.
This newsletter contains information on seeding rates and grain drill calibration, aphid management, and a synopsis of UMaine field research and demonstration events for the upcoming season. We hope you will find this information useful.
Sincerely,
Andrew Plant, Extension Ag. Educator
Ellen Mallory, Sustainable Ag. Specialist
Andrew Plant, Extension Agriculture Educator, UMaine Extension
Planting small grains and oilseed crops properly and on-time can produce a target population density that maximizes growth and cost efficiencies. Crop seeding rates can vary significantly owing to a number of different factors, including but not limited to variety, growing season, location, fertilization, quality of cleaning, and seed treatment use. Because of all these variables and their effects upon seed size, test weight, and vigor, it is not feasible to plant small grains simply based upon a bushels/acre seeding rate. Instead, seeding rates should be based upon crop-appropriate target populations, as can be seen in Table 1. There are several variables that farmers can account for when attempting to achieve these populations: seed viability (germination), historic stand loss of fields, number of seeds per pound, and grain drill operation (1).
Table 1. Target Population Densities for Selected Small Grains and Oilseed Crops.
| Crop | Plant Population Target* |
|---|---|
| Winter Wheat | 0.90–1.00 million/acre |
| Spring Wheat | 1.30–1.40 million/acre |
| Barley | 1.25–1.30 million/acre |
| Oats | 1.25–1.30 million/acre |
| Canola | 0.3–0.6 million/acre |
| Soybean | 0.13–0.175 million/acre |
*Rates listed are typical for conventional production. For organic production, it is recommended to increase these rates by a range of 15%-25%.
By taking some simple measurements and using some basic math, you can determine an estimate of the proper seeding rate for your small grain and oilseed crops.
Tools:
Determining Seeding Rates:
In general, optimum planting dates for small grains in this part of Maine occur from roughly April 23 through May 8. To account for the decreased potential for tillering of small grains after this date, growers should increase their population targets by 1% for each day past May 8, up to a maximum of 1.6 million plants/ acre. Given the late start to our 2013 season, this rule should likely come into play. Past June 1, small grain growers should consider changing mindsets from one of harvesting a grain crop to one of producing a green manure plow-down. Oilseed crops do not follow the same general rule. Instead, planting should occur when soil temperatures reach a minimum of 40°F for canola or 50°F for soybeans.
The formula below depicts the variables growers should use to calculate the proper seeding rates of their small grains (1).
| Seeding rate (lb/ac) = | (target population/(1 – % stand loss)) |
| seeds/lb x % germination |
Example: Target Seeding Rate:
| (1,500,000/(1 – 0.1)) | = 139 lb/acre |
| (13,333 x 0.9) |
Calibrating The Grain Drill:
New setting = A
lb/ac for target = B (e.g., 140 lb/ac)
Initial setting = C (ex.20)
lb/ac at this setting = D (e.g., 120lb/ac)
A = (B x C)/D
For this example:
A= (140 xc20)/120 = 23.33, so the new setting will be somewhere between 23 and 24, in order to get 140 lb/ac target rate.
NOTES:
Broadcasting:
If you choose to utilize a broadcaster to sow your small grains, there are several considerations to take into account. Broadcast sowings have less seed-to-soil contact than grain-drill sowings, so you will want to increase seeding rates by 10–20% over what you have calculated for a grain drill. As well, it is important to follow the broadcasting with a light harrowing or disking of the field in order to achieve appropriate soil contact to the seed. Uneven stands and lower yields are typical for broadcast sowings as compared to drills.
1. Wiersma, J.J. and Ransom, J.K. The Small Grains Field Guide (North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota, 2005), 27–33.
Jim Dwyer, Crops Specialist, UMaine Extension
There has been a great deal of discussion recently in regards to the possibility of treating grain crops in order to reduce the potential of non-potato colonizing aphids from moving from grain crops to potatoes. As the grain matures, these aphids search for a suitable alternate host and potentially spreading potato virus Y as they move through the potatoes.
One of the key questions is: Will there be aphids in the grain crop this year? In Maine, we do not always encounter significant populations of aphids every year in the small grain crops. On the other side, English grain aphid and bird cherry oat aphid, which can be found in Maine, can be significant vectors of PVY. If the populations of these aphids become high enough, they can impact the grain as well.
As one looks at the issue whether or not to treat the small grain crop, there are several other questions that come into consideration. How do I make the decision whether or not to treat? If I choose to treat, when? What is available to use if I choose to treat?
From an integrated pest management standpoint, a seed potato producer will want to evaluate where on the risk benefit scale treating small grains to reduce the potential for virus vectors is within their operation. If there are no aphids in the grains, then there is reduced risk; however, if there are aphids in the grains, the risk may be significantly increased. The question whether or not to treat is not black and white and the answer is rather subjective.
As seed growers wrestle with the question whether or not to treat small grains, growers will want to be aware that they do have several treatment options. Seed treatment with a systemic material or foliar treatments are both options that can be considered. If a grower would like to treat grain seed with a systemic material for aphid suppression, there are several considerations.
The neonicotinoids have several products available. These are the same class of materials which are used on potatoes as either an insecticide component of a seed treater or as an in-furrow material. Examples for use on grains would include Cruiser-Maxx Cereals, that has thiamethoxam as the insecticide component which is the same active ingredient as in Cruiser for potatoes; Nips-It, that has clothianidin as the insecticide, which is the same active ingredient as in Belay; and Gaucho 600 that has imidacloprid, which is the same insecticide ingredient as in Admire. If considering using a seed treatment material, please read and follow the label instructions; and very importantly, please use only the product labeled for the intended use. These products used as a small grain seed treatment, and depending upon the product and environmental conditions, should provide approximately 40 to 60 days residual aphid control.
For early planted grain crops, because of the timing and duration of the residual activity, the aphid suppression activity may be low as we enter the mid-portion of the potato season. As grain continues to grow, growers will want to be actively scouting to determine if the aphid population has been suppressed. For late-planted grain, many of the products should provide suppression of the aphid population through an important part of the season and thus reducing the potential for large aphid populations to build-up within the small grain crops. As with any pest related situation, growers will want to scout the grain and be sure that the population is being managed rather than making an assumption.
For growers who would like to wait and see if aphids do buildup in the grain crop, there are several foliar insecticides available for consideration. Materials available include cyfluthrin sold as Baythroid; methomyl sold as Lannate; lambda-cyhalothrin sold as Warrior; and malathion sold as various formulations. Please be aware that there may be additional materials with the same active ingredient that may or may not be registered for use on small grains. Registered materials may be applied as a foliar application being sure to adhere to all pesticide label requirements. Applicators should also be aware that best foliar control is achieved before the insects begin to roll the leaves. Once the crop has begun the boot stage, some products may only suppress the aphid population.
The question as to what is an economic threshold for aphids in grains depends if you are looking to suppress aphids from damaging the grain or as a vector for viruses impacting potatoes. To control aphids as a virus vector in potatoes, there is no definitive information on which to base an economic threshold. For grain, the greatest risk of yield loss from aphid feeding damage is from the vegetative to boot stage. North Dakota State University suggests as a threshold for aphids on oats and barley, when 85% of the stems have at least one aphid or when there is 12 to 15 aphids per stem prior to complete heading: 2012 Insect Management Guide
(Mention of a trade name is not intended as recommendation or an endorsement.)
This season we have a number of research trials and field days planned that focus on small grains and oilseeds. Feel free to check on the progress of the trials throughout the season, and be sure to mark your calendars for the field days.
June 26: UMaine Sustainable Agriculture Field Day
To feature research trials on winter and spring wheat varieties, in-season diagnostic tests for winter grains, planting date effects on winter canola and winter wheat, and organic feed grain crops.
4:30-7:30 p.m.
UMaine Rogers Farm, Stillwater, Maine
July 9: Organic Feed Grain Field Day and BBQ
To feature demonstration plots of different organic feed grain crops, crop mixes, and production methods. Reps from Organic Valley will be on hand and will provide the BBQ.
Evening (time to be determined)
Aroostook Farm, Presque Isle, Maine
The following trials are being conducted at the UMaine Aroostook Research Farm in Presque Isle, the UMaine Rogers Research Farm in Stillwater, and on growers’ fields throughout Maine. In some cases, collaborators in Vermont are conducting replicate trials at the Borderview Research Farm in Alburgh, Vermont.
Organic Feed Grain Demonstrations
Objective: To evaluate various feed grain crops and production methods including barley and field pea varieties, barley-field pea mixes, planting densities and arrangements for barley and soybeans, and undersowing options.
Location: UMaine Aroostook Research Farm and Rogers Research Farm
Contact: Ellen Mallory
Conventional Soybean Variety Trial
Objective: Evaluate currently marketed soybean varieties for maturity, disease, yield and bean moisture.
Location: Crouseville, ME
Contact: Andrew Plant
Winter and Spring Wheat Variety Trials
Objective: Compare 18 winter and 17 spring varieties of hard red wheat for agronomic characteristics, baking performance, and taste.
Locations: Winter variety trials are at the Rogers Research Farm, Nature’s Circle Farm in Houlton, and in Vermont. Spring variety trials are at Rainbow Valley Farm in Sidney, the Aroostook Research Farm, and in Vermont.
Contact: Ellen Mallory
Foliar Growth Regulator for Barley
Objective: Evaluate a commercially available plant growth regulator (PGR) containing gibberellic acid for its use in small grains to promote growth, tillering, and yield.
Location: Presque Isle, ME
Contact: Andrew Plant
Systemic Insecticide Seed Treatments for Barley and Oats
Objective: Evaluate crop and insect response to inclusion of systemic fungicide, systemic fungicide + insecticide, in comparison to untreated grain seed.
Location: Aroostook Research Farm
Contact: Andrew Plant
Winter Canola Production
Objective: Evaluate winter canola production potential for Northern New England. Studies include variety, fertility, seeding rate, and planting date trials.
Location: Aroostook Research Farm, Rogers Research Farm
Contact: John Jemison
In-Season Diagnostic Tests for Winter Grains
Objective: Evaluate the early spring tiller count test (done at Feekes 3) and the tissue nitrogen test (done at Feekes 4-5) as decision tools to guide spring nitrogen topdress application.
Locations: UMaine Rogers Research Farm and Vermont
Contact: Ellen Mallory
Winter Wheat Planting Date and Rate
Objective: Evaluate winter wheat varieties for tolerance to late planting, and assess economically optimal seeding rates.
Locations: UMaine Rogers Research Farm and Vermont
Contact: Ellen Mallory
Organic Nitrogen Sources for Winter and Spring Wheat
Objective: Compare dairy manure, poultry litter, chicken layer manure, and clover plowdown for their ability to supply nitrogen to winter and spring wheat crops and produce adequate grain protein levels.
Location: UMaine Rogers Research Farm
Contact: Ellen Mallory
Microbial Inoculant Effects on Spring Wheat Grain Yield and Protein
Objective: Compare 1 purchased mycorhizal inoculant (MycoApply®, Mycorrhizal Applications Inc., Grants Pass, OR) and two farm-produced inoculants (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and indigenous micro-organism) for their effects on wheat growth, nutrient uptake, grain yield, and grain protein.
Location: UMaine Rogers Research Farm
Contact: Ellen Mallory
Information on this website is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.
© 2013
Published and distributed in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the University of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the USDA provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.
Call 800.287.0274 or TDD 800.287.8957 (in Maine), or 207.581.3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit extension.umaine.edu.
The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
Image Description: field of ripe grain
Image Description: Sustainable Ag Field Day
