CHARLESTON, S.C. – Managing diseases and pests in vegetable crops is more than just applying insecticides, pesticides or something similar. It’s also taking steps to prevent problems before they occur.
Researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Vegetable Laboratory and Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center are holding a workshop on Aug. 10 to teach vegetable growers about the lifecycles of diseases and pests, including how weather conditions may affect their development. The workshop is titled, “Understanding Cycles of Pests and Diseases and Their Interactions with the Environment.” In this workshop, vegetable disease and insect pest management experts Tony Keinath and Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris will discuss life cycles of key disease pathogens and insect pests affecting vegetables both above and below ground.
The workshop begins at 9 a.m. and is expected to end at about 3:30 p.m. Items on the agenda include a two-part discussion about the lifecycles of key insect pests and strategies to prevent and avoid infestation and damage. Other topics include a discussion on lifecycles of economically important diseases of vegetables and preventative controls. Keinath also will talk about the influence of weather on vegetable disease development and implications for management, followed by a presentation on selection and application of insecticides approved for use on organic vegetables by Schmidt-Jeffris.
The workshop will be held at the Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center, 2700 Savannah Highway, Charleston, S.C. 29414. Cost to attend is $15 and includes supplies and lunch. To register and for a complete agenda, go to https://tinyurl.com/Aug10workshop. For more information, contact Kelly Flynn at kgilker@clemson.edu. Participants needing pesticide recertification credits can earn five core credits by attending this workshop.
—Denise Attaway, Clemson University