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On the way out

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Several insects that overwinter in protected places, including houses and other buildings, are on their way out now. There is not a lot to do at this point other than clean up any accessible accumulations of dead individuals that could contribute to a carpet beetle problem. Here are some of the common problem species.

Common Home Invaders

Face Fly

The face fly (Figure 1) breeds only in fresh cow manure. Adults closely resemble house flies so this species occurs in rural areas near pastured cattle.

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle

The multicolored Asian lady beetle (Figure 2) occurs in both rural and urban areas. These insects tend to be most common near wooded areas. Besides being a nuisance, the beetles emit an acrid odor and can stain surfaces with their yellowish secretions when disturbed. The secretions are volatile compounds used in defense against bird and other vertebrate predators.

Boxelder Bugs

Figure 2. Multicolored Asian lady beetles have orange wing covers with variable patterns of black spots. (Photo: Lee Townsend, UK)

Adult and immature boxelder bugs (Figures 3 & 4) are common insects that feed on sap from leaves, twigs, and seeds of boxelders, as well other members of the maple family. Large numbers of these red and black insects can be seen on tree trunks, on branches, or sunning themselves on the south or west sides of buildings in spring. These harmless accidental invaders may be a temporary nuisance as they move into and out of sheltered overwintering sites.

Figure 3. Boxelder bug adult (Photo: Lee Townsend, UK)

Figure 4. Boxelder bug nymph with wing pads on shoulders and orange spot in middle of back. (Photo: Lee Townsend, UK)

Brown Marorated Stink Bug

The brown marmorated stink bug (Figure 5) has become a major nuisance pest to homeowners in some parts of the state. Large numbers aggregate in homes, and when disturbed, they will produce a foul odor. Fortunately, they pose no threat to human or animal health inside the home.

Figure 5. Adult brown marmorated stink bug. (Photo: Lee Townsend, UK)

Management

Fall invaders are leaving their shelters to resume their lives. The main options for dealing with them are preventive. Two useful things at this point are:

1) Locate and remove any accumulations of dead insects that can be found. The attic is a good place to check. Dead insects are sources of problems with carpet beetles and other scavengers that can subsequently attack stored products and garments made of natural products (e. g. silk, cotton, wool).

2) Look for entryways that can be screened or sealed to prevent pest entry in fall.

Click here to visit the University of Kentucky Pest News blog. 

— Lee Townsend, University of Kentucky Extension Entomologist

For more news from Kentucky, click here.

A remedy for no-till’s side effects

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RONKS, Pa. — The push to adopt no-till and its impact on farm ecosystems and watersheds has created a massive transformation over recent decades — including some effects we hadn’t prepared for. With a nationwide trend into no-till agriculture since 2000, 1/3 of US crops are now planted without tillage or with only minimal tillage. The Chesapeake Bay watershed in particular has been the focus of intense cover cropped no-till efforts, with the goal of improving bay water quality.

No-till systems decrease labor, conserve soil and water, retain nutrients, prevent erosion and foster an active, diverse community of insects that eat other things. It comes with its challenges, however.

Slugs are widely considered among the most challenging pests that no-tillers face. Leftover cover crop residue is great for soil but also becomes food and shelter for the pesky mollusks. Warmer and wetter conditions have also offered slugs a more hospitable environment in recent years.

Because the sheltering residue of cover crop residue also proves to be an important habitat for beneficial insects and natural slug enemies, how can we create the balance to get the many benefits of residue without too many of the drawbacks? Some experts are saying cut back on the chemical band-aids and the balance will start to restore itself.

Slugs, the scourge of no-till

The bad news for no-tillers, of course, is that tillage is the best way to control slugs. Because slugs are mollusks, insecticides aren’t usually effective against them, and there are few other direct, practical options for slug control. Some of the options out there that directly kill slugs include metaldehyde (useful if banded over the row, but easily washed away by rain), nitrogen solutions, and iron phosphate.

Slugs love canola, soybeans, alfalfa and small grains. They do well on dandelions. They will eat corn, but don’t love it, and shift to one of their preferred feed sources if it is available. This means, for example, that if you plant corn into a rye cover crop, the rye will draw the slugs away from feeding on the corn.

In Pennsylvania, eggs hatch in early May. During the summer, juveniles dive down into soil to cool off when it’s hot and dry. More adults will survive following a mild winter.

As hermaphrodites, every slug individual can be fertilized and lay eggs. This means that you have twice the population laying eggs that you would if there were distinct genders, and each individual can lay up to 500 eggs a year.

Looking to seed treatments for easy insurance

Looking for protections against soil that stays cooler and wetter under residue and the insects that take advantage of seed stagnation in these conditions, many no-till farmers turn to seed treatments like neonicotinoids – an extremely potent and toxic class of systemic insecticides used mostly at very small doses in treatments for corn and soybean seed.

Although studies have been ongoing and causal links are still debated, there is evidence linking neonicotinoids to toxicity in non-target species, including pollinators, birds, aquatic life and various types of beneficial insects.

As a recent article in Newsweek put it, neonicotinoids are “the millennials of the agrochemical world, with most being patented in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. When given jobs, the compounds squelch insect pest outbreaks, but as new arrivals, their societal influence remains undefined.” Although only a recent introduction to the farming world, many have become convinced that they cannot farm without them.

“Toxic Slugs”, an unforeseen outcome

Seed treatments, like all insecticides, unfortunately don’t discriminate well between good and bad bugs. The very premise of treated seed runs counter to selectivity, since they are deployed preemptively, as “insurance” in case of bad conditions — not a remediation in times where pests reach an economic threshold.

Many farmers have found that neonicotinoids actually feed slug infestations because the insecticides have no effect on them, only on their insect foes.

Dr. John Tooker, entomologist at Penn State, has shown that there is greater predation of slugs in the absence of insecticides. Plus, he co-authored an often-cited study at Penn State University that revealed that slugs that had ingested soybeans treated with thiamethoxam in turn became toxic to the beetles that preyed upon them — the slugs themselves were unharmed, yet became poisonous food for their insect predators. According to Newsweek,

[Tooker’s] co-author, ecologist Maggie Douglas, says their discovery was a bit of an accident. Three years ago, Douglas was in a lab studying which beetle species are the best natural predators for slugs. She borrowed a few soybeans from a colleague as slug food, not knowing that they were precoated with the neonic thiamethoxam. “When I came back the next day, most of the ground beetles in the soil plots had died,” says Douglas. When they moved the experiment outdoors and into crop fields, they found that neonic-fed slugs killed 31 percent of nearby beetle predators during the first month of the growing season. With beetles out of the way, the slugs multiplied. And when the slug population exploded … Soybean densities dropped by 20 percent, and crop yields overall fell 5 percent. (http://www.newsweek.com/2015/02/06/slugs-are-eating-americas-farms-301763.html)

If slugs can ingest and become a vehicle for the toxic chemicals, it raises the question — what other pathways are there for the toxins to bioaccumulate up the food chain?

Drawing the predators

No-till, and especially no-till with cover crops, provides cover to beneficial insects that keep pests like slugs under control. Ground beetles and nematodes are the major enemies of slugs.

Use insecticides strategically as part of IPM — when scouting reveals damage that equals the cost of application. Insecticides end up in waterways (all waterways in Virginia near crop fields are likely to have insecticide contamination), cost money, create resistance in harmful pests, and do disproportionate harm to the beneficial insects, their natural enemies — leading to a resurgence of bad pests. Insecticides actually have the greatest efficacy when used as one tool in the pest control toolbox and used appropriately when needed. As soon as you remove insecticides from a field, the beetles will start coming back. Even you can’t eliminate them, being judicious with their use goes a long way, such as using them in the row rather than broadcasting them over the whole field. The more specific and targeted you can make the application, the better.

Planting green to combat slugs

Lucas Criswell of Union County, Pennsylvania, is an example often held up for no-tillers. He has observed that clean fields provide only one option for insect food — the crop. So he uses rye planted between soybean rows and corn “planted green” into rye, and observes a proliferation of ground beetles. The rye is sprayed 1-7 days after planting corn, and slugs greatly prefer the decomposing rye as a food source. As the rye breaks down, nutrient availability actually improves. Amino acids are mobilized and become released as the plant dies. Criswell reports that he no longer uses neonicotinoid seed treatments, and sees significant savings on insecticides and herbicides over 700 acres by planting green and using IPM.

You’d think that the additional food source for slugs would make their populations skyrocket, but it also helps keep predators in place in the production field, reducing the need for insecticides. In other words, if you build it, they will come.

Consider that the seed treatment gives about two weeks of coverage but can linger in the soil up to two years. Some researchers suggest that as a side benefit, cover crops may actually pull the insecticides up out of the soil sooner.

All this reiterates the point that no-till alone is not enough, especially when the soil food web is taken into account. You need a rotation with a cover crop, not only to stabilize and feed soil, but to stabilize and feed the diverse animal kingdom underground. When this gets off balance, one species can easily predominate the rest, throwing the whole system into a death spiral.

Note: King’s AgriSeeds soybeans are not treated with neonicotinoids. King’s has also introduced a new line of KingFisher brand corn hybrids that are conventional (non-GMO), and is available as both untreated and treated without neonicotinoid products.

Primary source: John Tooker, Penn State. “Integrated Pest Management in No-Till Production” presented at the Virginia No-till Conference on Feb 22.

— Genevieve Slocum
King’s Agriseeds Inc.

For more articles concerning tillage, click here.

2nd Pa. deer tests positive for CWD

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HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced that a captive deer has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease in Pennsylvania. This is the second case of CWD discovered in a captive deer farm since 2014.

The 3-year-old white-tailed deer died on a farm in Bedford County in January 2017. Samples from this deer tested positive for the disease at the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg. The test results were confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, on Feb. 10. This deer was born and raised on the same premises, which is under quarantine. The investigation is ongoing and additional herds may be quarantined.

“For more than a decade the department has monitored the spread of CWD and worked with stakeholders to prepare a response to minimize its impact to the Keystone State,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding. “While CWD is no danger to public health and has never been associated as a human health concern, we will continue to work with deer farmers and sportsmen to protect the health of Pennsylvania’s deer.”

There is no strong evidence that humans or livestock can contract Chronic Wasting Disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chronic Wasting Disease attacks the brain of infected deer, elk and moose, producing small lesions that eventually result in death. Animals can get the disease through direct contact with saliva, feces and urine from an infected animal.

Symptoms include weight loss, excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, and abnormal behavior like stumbling, trembling and depression. Infected deer and elk also may allow unusually close approach by humans or natural predators. The disease is fatal and there is no known treatment or vaccine.

The first cases of CWD in Pennsylvania were detected when two Adams County deer tested positive for CWD in 2012. Surveillance for the disease has been ongoing in Pennsylvania since 1998.

The Department of Agriculture coordinates a mandatory surveillance program for more than 21,000 captive deer on 1,000 breeding farms, hobby farms and hunting preserves. Twelve captive deer have tested positive since 2012, the most recent being a 4-year-old harvested from a hunting preserve in Franklin County in November 2016.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission collects samples from hunter-harvested deer and elk as well as those that appear sick or behave abnormally.

In areas where CWD has been detected in captive or free-ranging deer, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has responded by creating Disease Management Areas, within which special rules apply regarding the hunting and feeding of wild deer.

The Bedford County deer farm is within DMA 2, the only area of the state where CWD has been detected in wild deer.

At this point, however, it is not yet known how this case will affect those who live or hunt in the area, said Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough.

“Each hunting season we sample many of the deer harvested by hunters, both within our Disease Management Areas and elsewhere in the state, and within Disease Management Area 2, we test every known road-killed deer for CWD,” Hough said. “So far this year, positive CWD tests have come back regarding seven road-killed deer within DMA 2. And now this captive deer has been found with the disease. But we continue to await results from more than 3,000 samples from hunter-harvested deer.

“When all of those samples are returned, we will make our decision on how the boundaries of existing Disease Management Areas will change, as well as whether special rules regarding the feeding and hunting of deer in parts of Franklin County — where CWD was detected, earlier this year,” Hough said.

For more information, visit www.agriculture.pa.gov and search “Chronic Wasting Disease.”

— Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Cucurbits vulnerable to squash bugs

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Cucurbits in Michigan are vulnerable to squash bug damage throughout the growing season. Squash bugs prefer pumpkin and squash, but will feed on other cucurbits like cucumber and watermelon. Squash bug juveniles and adults can cause significant damage to foliage and fruits.

Appearance

Squash bugs lay clusters of 10-20 eggs on the surface or underside of leaves between leaf veins, or on the stem (Fig 1A). Eggs are small, oblong, and a shiny copper color. Upon hatching, nymphs are green with red legs and antennae, which turn black within hours (Fig 1B).

As nymphs mature their bodies become gray (Fig 2A). Adults are flat-bodied, about 5/8 inch long, black and brown with light and dark stripes along the side (Fig 2B). Nymphs will often be seen clustered together, while adults are found singly or in mating pairs. Adults can fly but generally walk on the ground between plants, where they are well-camouflaged.

Squash bug nymphs and adults
Figure 2. (A) Squash bug late nymphs, and (B) adults. Photo credit: A.L. Buchanan, W.R. Morrison III

Life cycle

Adults overwinter indoors or in leaf litter or field debris, and emerge in April or May to lay eggs. Nymphs hatch within 10 days and begin to feed, reaching adult stage in 35-40 days. Squash bugs have one generation per year in Michigan, but all life stages can be observed at any time of the season.

Similar species

The horned squash bug feeds on cucurbits, but is less damaging than the squash bug. Horned squash bugs have more prominent spines on the head. Similar herbivorous insects include leaf-footed bugs (Fig 3), which are less likely to cause serious damage to cucurbits than squash bugs.

Leaf-footed bugs
Figure 3. Other insects, like leaf-footed bugs, may appear similar to squash bugs but are an not economically important pest of cucurbits. Photo credit: P.L. Coffey

Squash bug adults may also be confused with assassin bugs (Fig 4A) or spined soldier bugs (Fig 4B). Assassin bugs typically have a more sculpted body and a spiny exterior. Spined soldier bugs are shield-shaped with distinctly pointed shoulders. Both of these insects are beneficial predators and their presence should be encouraged.

Assassin bug (left) and spined solider bug (right)
Figure 4. The (A) assassin bug and (B) spined soldier bug are beneficial predators. Photo credit: W.R. Morrison III

Damage

Squash bugs prefer squash and pumpkins but will feed on other cucurbits. Adults and nymphs feed on leaves and fruit by piercing and sucking plant juices, damaging plant tissue and potentially spreading disease. Leaf damage causes brittle discolored spots or wilting (Fig 5A-B). Fruit becomes disfigured and discolored (Fig 5C).

Squash bug damage on leaves and fruit
Figure 5. Squash bug damage on (A-B) leaves and (C) fruits. Photo credit: A.L. Buchanan, W.R. Morrison III

Management

Visual scouting for all life stages of squash bugs should occur from June to September. Insecticides are most effective on young squash bug nymphs (Fig 1B) compared to other life stages.

  • At cucurbit seedling stage, the threshold for chemical control of squash bugs is any squash bug presence.
  • After the seedling stage, the threshold for chemical control is one egg mass per plant.

Cultural and biological controls

Removing field debris after harvest reduces overwintering habitat for adult squash bugs. Trap cropping can be used to exploit squash bugs’ preference for squash and pumpkin—planting a border or small plot of squash or pumpkin near less-preferred cucumber or watermelon crops can attract squash bugs away from cucumber and watermelon fields. Natural enemies can help manage pest populations: spiders, lady beetles, ground beetles, lacewings, and nematodes feed on pests, and parasitoid wasps and flies kill pest eggs.

Other resources

Download tip sheet version of this article: Squash bugs as pests of cucurbits in Michigan

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

— Amanda Buchanan, Alexandria Bryant, William R. Morrison III, Benjamin Werling, Nicole Quinn and Zsofia Szendrei, Michigan State University

For more news from Michigan, click here.

Bee kind

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — In 2015, the two largest garden center chains in the country — Home Depot and Lowe’s — announced plans to phase out the use of a common and effective group of pesticides called neonicotinoids. The companies plan to eventually ban growers from using neonicotinoids on plants grown for sale in their stores. They also vowed to remove home garden products containing the chemicals from shelves within two to three years.

The announcement came after several years of public pressure from advocacy groups concerned that neonicotinoids had an adverse — and in some cases lethal — effect on already struggling honeybee and native bee populations. First registered for use in the mid-1990s, neonicotinoid pesticides are six chemicals absorbed through roots that provide plants with protection from a variety of insect pests that typically lasts two to three months. Though this has had undoubted benefits for pest management practices, it has also presented new threats to pollinators.

Neonicotinoids are systemic pesticides, meaning that they permeate every part of the plant, including nectar and pollen. Studies have shown that bees exposed to small quantities of neonicotinoid-infused nectar and pollen exhibit reduced energy and difficulties in flight and navigation. Though beneficial to pollinator health, the new neonicotinoid restrictions presented new challenges for greenhouse and nursery operations.

Michigan is No. 3 in the United States in greenhouse production and in the top 10 for number of plant nurseries. Michigan State University (MSU) AgBioResearch entomologist David Smitley is working to provide the state’s greenhouse and nursery growers with tools to make their plants more pollinator-friendly and marketable without sacrificing pest management.

“If you don’t have good pest management strategies, you risk losing your entire profit,” said Smitley, a professor in the MSU Department of Entomology. “With these new requirements, growers needed alternative methods and products, and they needed them quickly. It became something of a crisis for them, so we got involved right away.”

In September, Smitley and MSU AgBioResearch colleague Zachary Huang joined a team of scientists led by Rutgers University on a project funded by a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI) aiming to address these issues. Smitley had actually been working on the subject earlier.

In 2014, MSU Extension educator Thomas Dudek alerted Smitley to the brewing neonicotinoid crisis facing Michigan greenhouse and nursery growers. Smitley responded by petitioning for an emergency grant from Project GREEEN, a joint research partnership between MSU, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the state’s plant agriculture industries, to hold a series of workshops to educate growers about already available alternative means of pest control. These early efforts trained 23 growers representing nearly 10 million square feet and $3.5 million in plants in nine Michigan counties.

The current project aims to expand on these efforts by pioneering new means of pest control in the greenhouse, from alternative pesticides to biocontrols. The constraints of organic agriculture mean that farmers have few options for the kind of systemic protection offered by neonicotinoids. Smitley’s team will begin testing new products that they hope will be able to yield the same level of protection without harm to pollinators. Smitley said he believes biocontrols — predatory insects — offer particular hope.

“Using biological controls for pests in the greenhouse is complicated and requires a lot of knowledge to do it correctly,” Smitley said. “There are a lot of advantages to using them, however, that go beyond being neonicotinoid-free.”

One challenge of pesticide use is the development of resistance by targeted insects. Biocontrols are a way to circumvent this by relying on natural predators of the insects themselves. In the context of greenhouses and nurseries, this means releasing insect and mite predators at periodic intervals.

Currently, only about 5 to 10 percent of Michigan greenhouses and nurseries deploy biocontrols. In Ontario, 75 percent use biocontrols. In October, Smitley, Dudek and Wollaeger took 35 Michigan growers and industry representatives on a bus tour of Ontario greenhouses deploying biocontrols. Ten months later in a survey, those attendees reported they had changed their pest control practices to include biocontrols.

Next spring, Smitley will begin pesticide trials on top-selling annual and herbaceous perennial flowers, using 40 bumblebee colonies to evaluate the impact of systemic insecticides. The bees will be observed throughout the summer to assess the long-term impact of exposure. His team will also continue to conduct outreach, educating growers on the benefits of biocontrols and other alternatives to keep their plants marketable and pollinator-friendly.

“We want to be able to grow plants that will be safer for pollinators, both in the greenhouse and after planting,” Smitley said. “Biocontrols are the most sustainable long-term solution greenhouse growers are likely to see, and we want to help them adapt those methods into their management programs.”

— James Dau, Michigan State University

For more news from Michigan, click here.

Planting green to keep soil life active

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RONKS, Pa. — Even a short time without living roots in the soil can impact your farm ecosystem. If you practice no-till religiously, this is one of your founding principles. Although at King’s we generally don’t preach no-till orthodoxy, we do believe in maximizing time with living roots growing in soil. You may have heard of beneficial fungal organisms like mychorrhizae that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. In the end, the fungal hyphae greatly expand their hosts’ ability to reach water and nutrients. To thrive and get the nutrients they need, though, they require access to living roots almost continuously. The living root system also exhudes labile organic compounds that feed a multitude of soil organisms.

To accomplish all this, many no-tillers “plant green” — establish a cash crop into a living cover crop before spraying to kill it or just after using a roller-crimper to mechanically kill and flatten it. As a result, the lifecycles of the two crops overlap.

Keeping a live root zone to support soil life and health is just the beginning. Unlike a dead residue mat, a living crop doesn’t foster and transmit soil borne disease effectively. It also doesn’t harbor pests like slugs that look to the emerging seedling as its only food source — although slugs will often be drawn into the dying cover crop to feed, rather than the new emerging crop. Plus, by planting more species, you encourage more beneficial slug predators, such as the ground beetle. The overlap of the two growing crops creates a window of biodiversity, and each increase in biodiversity raises the system’s defenses.

What to know about planting green:

  • At a basic level, it helps manage timing. It makes more time for double-cropping, so you have less worry about rushing to get the cover crop chopped or incorporated before planting. It removes the primary tillage operation from the schedule (but you still have to fit in rolling or spraying at the same time or later on).
  • Not only is soil quality improved, but so is soil moisture management. Living crops anchor moisture in soil and hold it in their own tissues to prevent surface runoff or leaching. Plus, they help take up some extra moisture in wet early springs, which may make it easier to get equipment in the field earlier to plant.
  • Managed correctly, it can simplify weed control. A thick, actively growing cover crop is already competitive with weeds. When you plant correctly and control the crop at the right time (so the cover crop does not become the weed), you have no window left for weeds.
  • Always know what you’re dealing with. Account for the thickness of the cover, whether you plan to plant into it standing or rolled, and be sure you have enough down pressure to cut through it and the root mass. Stop and get off the drill to check seed-to-soil contact and seed depth. Make sure the seed furrow is closing properly. It also helps establishment to plant into somewhat moist soil that is high in organic matter.
  • If it can be rolled, the cover crop will be much more manageable. Rolling is still considered “planting green”, but since it has been crimped and flattened (and possibly sprayed, in a conventional setting), it’s less likely to get caught up in the planter or drill. (Check out the roller attachments designed by Charles Martin of Loysville, Pa.)
  • In many cases, the short few weeks of extra growth time come at the point when the cover crop is growing fastest. As spring temperatures warm and the crop breaks dormancy, the growth curve shoots up. According to No-till Farmer, “Research has shown that by using this practice, cover crop biomass can easily be doubled.” More crop growth means more soil carbon, which greatly improves infiltration and cuts down on soil erosion and runoff. Fewer nutrients are lost as well, as the roots continue growing and uptaking nutrients almost until it can hand off this responsibility to the new crop. If it’s a legume like hairy vetch or crimson clover, it has that much more time to fix nitrogen.
  • Hairpinning problems are reduced. Cutting through live green material is actually much easier than cutting through dying residue that is still rubbery and not yet crisp and dry. It also turns out to be somewhat easier than cutting through fully dead residue. Manure can be applied to the living crop ahead of planting, as well, and is less likely to form an impenetrable plaster-like layer the way it might when applied to dying, matted residue.
  • Some equipment tweaks can make your life easier. Cover crop rollers can be mounted on some corn planters that flatten the cover crop to the soil surface, parting the plants so that double disk openers have less material to cut through. This also means less competition and shading as the new crop establishes. If you have a crop like hairy vetch that is very prone to tangling, you may also find it helpful to raise up the closing wheels so the vetch doesn’t wrap around them.
  • If the cover crop has a high C:N ratio (such as mature rye) you will have to optimize soil fertility — and possibly even add 30-50 extra units of N/acre so that crop residue can break down faster and won’t tie up as much nitrogen.
  • Understand how rapidly C:N ratio can change. Crops that look small in early spring mature in a matter of weeks, rapidly increasing their lignin content, and along with it, the time they take to break down and return nutrients to the soil. Slow N release over the course of the season can be a benefit, though, if you have enough to get the crop going.

We did this in our Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, corn research plots last spring, planting the corn no-till into a growing cover crop of hairy vetch and crimson clover. Manure was spread before planting green. The May 4 date was good for the planting timeline of the corn, but the legumes were at pre-bloom stage, about 12 inches high. The hairy vetch was not yet long and viney enough to tangle with the corn planter, but we did sacrifice a good amount of nitrogen that would have been fixed if we had waited a few more weeks. We learned that we had to consider both the physical challenges to planting and the growing degree days lost or gained for corn at different planting dates. Planting green often involves a direct tradeoff between the growth of the cover crop and the growth period of the main crop, and you will find that you have to manage more closely to maximize the main crop.

— Genevieve Slocum
King’s AgriSeeds Inc.

For more articles concerning soil health, click here.

Organic pesticides tackle cabbage aphids

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DURHAM, N.H. — Severe infestations of cabbage aphids can virtually destroy a crop of Brussels sprouts, making them unmarketable. However, new research from the University of New Hampshire shows that organic pesticides can be effective in managing the pests.

The research was conducted by Becky Sideman, a researcher with the NH Agricultural Experiment Station and extension professor of sustainable horticulture production, and her undergraduate student Talia Levy. Levy studied the issue of aphid infestations of Brussels sprouts for her senior thesis. The research was conducted at the UNH Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, a facility of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station.

“In recent years, we performed experiments comparing different varieties of Brussels sprouts as well as different growing practices. In these experiments, we observed severe infestations of cabbage aphid. Although our research did not focus on the aphids, they were quite a nuisance and rendered most sprouts unmarketable. From conversations with growers in the region, we came to realize that many growers, especially organic growers, were struggling with cabbage aphid management,” Sideman said.

Brussels sprouts infested with cabbage aphid, which can render most sprouts unmarketable. (Credit: Becky Sideman/UNH)

To address this issue, Levy compared two different methods of managing cabbage aphids: intercropping with flowers that provide habitat for naturally-occurring aphid predators, and using organic insecticides, alternating between insecticidal soap, and a combination of azadirachtin and pyrethrins.

“While we observed lots of aphid predators and parasites on the flowering plants, they did not provide sufficient control of cabbage aphids. On the other hand, weekly scouting and application of organic pesticides when economic thresholds were reached did provide good control of cabbage aphid,” Sideman and Levy said.

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 228522. For additional information on this research project, visit https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource006332_Rep9072.pdf.

Founded in 1887, the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is UNH’s original research center and an elemental component of New Hampshire’s land-grant university heritage and mission. We steward federal and state funding, including support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to provide unbiased and objective research concerning diverse aspects of sustainable agriculture and foods, aquaculture, forest management, and related wildlife, natural resources and rural community topics. We maintain the Woodman and Kingman agronomy and horticultural research farms, the Macfarlane Research Greenhouses, the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, and the Organic Dairy Research Farm. Additional properties also provide forage, forests and woodlands in direct support to research, teaching, and outreach.

The University of New Hampshire is a flagship research university that inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top ranked programs in business, engineering, law, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. UNH’s research portfolio includes partnerships with NASA, NOAA, NSF and NIH, receiving more than $100 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea and space.

—UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture

For more articles out of New England, click here.

Holte testifies on ESA reform

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MADISON — In congressional testimony today, Wisconsin Farm Bureau President, Jim Holte, told the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee current Endangered Species Act enforcement fails to provide adequate incentives for species conservation on working lands and, instead, imposes far-reaching regulatory burdens on agriculture.

Congress intended for the ESA to protect species from extinction, but even after species have recovered, regulations and litigation often fail to allow them to be removed from protected status. According to Holte, a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors, the law is ripe for reform because it places a priority on keeping species listed rather than carrying out actual work related to recovery and habitat conservation.

“Reform of the ESA should include a focus on species recovery and habitat conservation that respects landowners,” Holte told senators. “Coordination with state wildlife agencies to leverage private, incentive-based conservation efforts can better achieve long-term conservation goals.”

Holte, a beef and grain farmer from Elk Mound, said that in his state regulatory action related to one species in particular, the gray wolf, is having adverse effects on many farmers.

In addition to sharing statistics about Wisconsin’s wolf population, Holte shared one of many stories about how an attack by the predator species resulted in the gruesome loss of a dairy cow by Medford farmers Ryan and Cheri Klussendorf. As a result, the Klussendorfs now keep their herd within 200 feet of their farmyard at night, and calves are no longer put on pasture.

“The costs have been burdensome but the emotional toll and increased stress on the family and animals has been tremendous,” Holte said, noting that the family cannot legally protect their herd with a firearm in the event of a wolf attack.

Holte said the Klussendorfs are not the only farmers who have been impacted, and Wisconsin Farm Bureau continues to support the decision to delist the gray wolf and allow state wildlife officials to manage wolf populations. He said interactions between farmers, their livestock, rural residents and wolves continue to escalate “without a remedy in sight.”

Holte told the committee that congressional action is needed.

— Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

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Conaway on rural economic outlook

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WASHINGTON — Good morning. We ordinarily kick things off every year with the Secretary of Agriculture offering testimony as our one and only witness.

However, our new Secretary has not yet been confirmed. I have visited with Governor Perdue a number of times now, I believe he is an excellent choice, and I hope that he can be confirmed in short order so that he may begin the important work of the Secretary of Agriculture.

This is our first full Committee hearing of the 115th Congress. And, Chairman Emeritus Frank Lucas will kick off a series of subcommittee hearings on February 28.This is also the first Farm Bill hearing as we begin to develop the next Farm Bill. And it is timely.

America’s farmers and ranchers are facing very difficult times right now. This is something that the Federal Reserve, the Agricultural & Food and Policy Center, the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, USDA, and even The Wall Street Journal agree on.

Farmers and ranchers have endured a 45 percent drop in net farm income over the last three years, the largest three-year drop since the start of the Great Depression. The most recent ERS report now tells us that net farm income will be down again in 2017. Overall, ERS is forecasting a 50 percent drop in net farm income since 2013.  It’s hard for any of us to imagine our income being sliced in half.

We are told that 1 in 10 farms are now highly or extremely leveraged. Nominal debt levels are at all-time highs and real debt levels are approaching where they were prior to the 1980s farm financial crisis.

Yes, interest rates are lower and that certainly is a mitigating factor that differentiates our situation from the 1980s. But, as the recent Wall Street Journal article stated, and as I have experienced as a CPA in West Texas, there is real potential here for a crisis in rural America.

That is why I am so eager for Governor Perdue to be confirmed. Even as we work to develop a new Farm Bill, the Secretary of Agriculture may well be called upon to help struggling farmers and ranchers. Let’s all pray that a good crop and better prices this year will make that unnecessary.

As we begin consideration of the next Farm Bill, current conditions in farm and ranch country must be front and center. But there are other important considerations as well.

Chairman Lucas’ strong admonition during the last Farm Bill debate that a safety net is supposed to be there to help farmers in bad times—not in good times—is one that Congress might better take to heart this go around.

Every hole in the current safety net that now requires mending is the result of our not fully heeding that wisdom. Had we followed his counsel more closely, I doubt that there would be anywhere near the current urgency in writing a new Farm Bill.  That wisdom isn’t just from a guy who’s been around the block a few times in writing Farm Bills.  It’s from a guy who actually farms and ranches.

Another context we need to take into account when writing the next Farm Bill is this Committee’s contribution to deficit reduction. I am hard pressed to admit it but the critics of the Farm Bill were absolutely right. We didn’t save taxpayers $23 billion. We saved them $100 billion. We saved more than four times what we promised under the last Farm Bill and we achieved these savings despite a very severe and sharp downturn in the farm economy.

Because we were asked during the last Farm Bill — when times were good — to cut twice before measuring once, in the upcoming Farm Bill debate we will measure our requirements first and then determine what kind of a budget we will need to meet these needs.

The vast majority of Americans recognize the need for a strong farm safety net. They see what Mother Nature can do and so they strongly support crop insurance. And, they also see the effects of the predatory trade practices of foreign countries that depress the prices our farmers and ranchers earn at the farm gate.

For example, in a single year on just three crops, Chinese subsidies are said to be $100 billion over their WTO limit. That’s what the entire safety net for all America’s farmers and ranchers costs over the life of a Farm Bill — plus more than half of another Farm Bill.

The President of the United States has stated that our farmers and ranchers deserve a good Farm Bill and one that is passed on time. This will require resources, bipartisanship, and unity in farm country. But, this is our duty and it’s what we aim to do.

With that, I yield to my friend, the Ranking Member, for his opening statement.

—House Committee on Agriculture

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New year, new goals for backyard farms

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CHILTON, Wis. — You’ve always wanted to raise animals or add a new species to your farm. What’s stopping you? Make 2017 the year you accomplish your backyard farming goals.

“With some research and preparation, you can begin raising animals in your backyard,” says Julian (Skip) Olson, DVM, technical services manager for Milk Products. “Whether you’re planning on starting with a small flock of chickens or raising larger livestock – such as goats, sheep or cattle – it is important to consider space requirements and nutritional needs of each animal.”

No matter which species you select, it’s a good idea to make sure your local laws allow you to raise livestock on your property. Letting your neighbors know about your new adventure is also a nice gesture.

Here are some quick facts to consider as you choose the species that’s the best fit for you.

Chickens

Chickens are a common entry animal to backyard farming or homesteading because they require a small amount of space and can be easier to care for.

“If you plan to purchase chicks, be sure that you can offer them a controlled environment from the start – preferably in a dedicated enclosed space called a brooder,” says Olson. “The brooder should have adequate temperature control, ventilation and light.”

Here are some general space guidelines:

  • Newly hatched chicks will need half a square foot of space each
  • At six weeks, provide 1-2 square feet of free space per bird
  • Adult birds will require at least 4 square feet of indoor space and 5-10 square feet of outdoor space each
  • Account for additional space in case you add more birds to your flock later

Stress can take its toll on new chicks and adult birds alike. Offer a complete feed that matches your birds’ age. Supplement their diet with probiotics and electrolytes to provide them with needed energy and immunity support.

Goats

Goats are another common animal for backyard farmers and homesteaders because of their fun personalities and efficient source of meat or milk.

“Goats are very curious animals – make sure to have a strong fence around your outdoor area to keep goats in and predators away,” says Olson. “If you decide to breed or milk your goats, you should dedicate an enclosed area for milking or kidding.”

House goats of all ages in a shed or barn with access to an outdoor area. Ideally, each goat should have at least 20-25 square feet of indoor space, 0.2-0.3 acres of pasture with an exercise area of 50 square feet.

“If kidding is in your future, be sure to have a quality colostrum replacer on hand to support your kids’ immune system within the first 12-18 hours of life,” says Olson. “If you raise kids without the doe or if the doe does not produce enough milk to feed her kids, feed a quality kid milk replacer, ideally containing 25-26 percent protein and 20-25 percent fat.”

Sheep

Just like goats, you can raise sheep in a shed or barn with access to an outdoor area. A simple, south-facing, three-sided shed is often enough to protect them from the elements. They should each have 15 to 20 square feet.

“Sheep are grazers,” says Olson. “If you plan to raise a flock, adequate pasture is essential. A general rule is four sheep per acre. Pastures can include a mixture of grasses, legumes, brush and trees.” 

If you are welcoming new lambs into the world, help ensure a strong start with a quality colostrum replacer to support immunity within the first 6-12 hours of life. If feeding a milk replacer, look for a replacer with around 23 percent protein and 30 percent fat.

Cattle

Raising calves requires the most space and is recommended for people who have experience raising small livestock.

“Although cattle are social animals, it is best to house newborn calves in individual housing until they are weaned,” says Olson. “Calf hutches made of sturdy plastic or fiberglass are a popular choice for housing calves outdoors. A calf housed in a barn or shed will need 30-40 square feet of space.”

As calves are weaned and continue to grow, their space requirements will increase. Depending on how long you plan to raise them, they could need as much as 40-80 square feet each.

Most backyard farmers and homesteaders purchase calves born on another farm. If this is the case for you, be sure to have a high-quality milk replacer on-hand to support optimal calf growth and health. A milk replacer containing 20 percent protein and 20 percent fat should provide ample nutrition if fed according to the label on the bag or tag.

“If you are looking for a medicated milk replacer – no matter the species – and it is no longer available due to the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) that went into effect Jan. 1, 2017, ask your feed store for alternative options,” says Olson. “Nutritional supplements are available to add to non-medicated milk replacers and can help support calf health and performance.

For more information about adding cattle, goats, sheep or chickens to your backyard and how to properly care for and feed them, visit savacalf.com or like My Farm Journey on Facebook.

The Sav-A-Caf® brand is manufactured and marketed by Milk Products, based in Chilton, Wis. Milk Products manufacturers high-quality animal milk replacers and young animal health products. Using its innovative manufacturing technology, Milk Products produces over 700 unique animal nutrition products for numerous independent feed manufacturers, wholesale distributors and large retail chains. Our customers choose whether these products are sold under their private label brand, or under the Sav-A-Caf® brand.

—Sav-A-Caf Products

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