Mom & Pop bemoan humankind messing with Mother Nature Jun 24, 2009
Mom: Probably the major cause is the widespread use of pesticides in agricultural areas, residential yards, and roadsides. For each pest eliminated, collateral damage is done to pollinators ... Mom: We definitely need to watchdog uses of pesticides and all applications to plants to preserve our ecosystems. (Weymouth News, MA)
Experts offer tips to manage for higher yields in soybeans (17) Jun 23, 2009
Once a soybean crop is in the ground, weed control and pest and disease scouting is top priority ... Along with weed control, scouting for diseases and pests is vital ... Seed treatments help provide protection for early diseases and pests when planting into cooler and wetter soils. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Gems on the rocks Jun 23, 2009
The abundance of bats also suggests that they are an important source of natural insect pest control for the Jengka plantations. Apart from being an important habitat for rare and endangered flora and fauna, Jebak Puyuh complements Senyum in terms of tourism. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Kilauea Community Garden coming soon Jun 22, 2009
Local experts on composting and soil remediation, vermiculture, site design and permaculture, pest control, and other gardening topics have committed to contributing to the ongoing success of the project by being available to share their mana o with both plot managers and the community at large. A core group of certified permaculturists, long-time Kaua i farmers, and garden enthusiasts are in the process of designing the site. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
'Venus' & 'Hartlage Wine' Calycanth... Jun 22, 2009
first-rate pest resistance. Hartlage Wine' Sweetbush (Calycanthus x raulstonii' Hartlage Wine ) - Photo #1. (Suite101.com)
Zimbabwe: Incorporate Climate Change in Policies [editorial] Jun 22, 2009
In addition, natural disasters have also been more intense, with flooding in the Zambezi basin affecting Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia, while pest outbreaks affecting both crops and livestock have become more frequent. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organisation has on record the effects of changing climatic conditions for Southern Africa in 2006. (allAfrica.com)
War being waged against destructive foreign plants Jun 22, 2009
Cochran hopes some of them will return to the North Oconee Greenway to help rid Athens-area parks and natural areas of such plant pests ... "There's an invasive plant problem in just about any ecosystem within our state," said Gray, president of the Georgia Exotic Plant Pest Council ... Ivy, privet and many other pest plants were introduced as ornamental plants for lawn and gardens - and new ones are arriving, she said. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Sawflies can cause a lot of damage Jun 21, 2009
Make sure the product is labeled for both the intended host and pest. For more information on sawflies contact the UConn Home & Garden Education Center toll free at (877) 486- 6271 or by email at. (Westerly Sun, RI)
Pests Found on Cabbage Plants Jun 21, 2009
There are many pests in the vegetable garden which can completely destroy a cabbage crop. The commonly found cabbage pests listed here are also found on other plants in the garden ... Using row covers prevents pests from attacking young plants. (Suite101.com)
Photos: Good & bad garden bugs Jun 20, 2009
Garden pests and beneficial bugs ... In fact, they are referred to as a "gardener's best friend," due to the fact that in their lifetime, each ladybug can consume up to 5,000 aphids, a common garden pest. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
From the Fields Jun 20, 2009
There are no pest problems yet. Weed control on the corn in the area looks good overall. (Agri-View, WI)
Africa: Call to Govts to Help Small Farmers Jun 19, 2009
However, research released by the independent British international relations institute Chatham House earlier this year found that although genetically modified crops may have a place, the focus should be on ecologically integrated approaches such as integrated pest management, minimum tillage, drip irrigation and integrated soil fertility management. These approaches put power in the hands of farmers rather than seed companies. (allAfrica.com)
Pesky beetle found in S. Tier Jun 19, 2009
There is little that can be done to stop the natural spread of this devastating pest, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said in a statement. That being said, we will work diligently to learn more about the infestation and try to limit the artificial spread of the beetle in New York through regulations, surveys, and public education. (Buffalo Business First, NY)
LBAM Larvae Found In Watsonville Fields Jun 17, 2009
It is the first evidence of crop damage since the pest from Australia was found two years ago ... It will take anywhere from two days to two weeks to clear the pest from the crops, which could cause farmers to lose tens of thousands of dollars ... "My biggest concern is that our trading partners will feel that our products we're shipping out isn't free of the pest," said John Eiscamp, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau president. (KSBW 8, CA)
Sandor Got Obama Nod With Seed Money for Climate Law Converging on Chicago Jun 16, 2009
Yet such methods are easily reversible through fires or pest outbreaks, the agency concluded. Few U.S. farmers have altered their practices to qualify for offsets, according to Sandor. (Bloomberg)
Comparing weed management at field day Jun 16, 2009
Remember, to keep up with weed and pest population development, fields need to be scouted at a minimum every two weeks ... Likely you devote the largest portion of your pest management dollars to weed management ... Suzanne Bissonnette is an integrated pest management educator for the University of Illinois Extension. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
County plans freeze for 2010 budget Jun 16, 2009
Awarded bid for pest control of county owned buildings to Bugman for 2,620. Executed amendment to contract with Texas Community Development Block Grant program. (Columbus Colorado County Citizen, TX)
Master Gardener Jun 16, 2009
Wounds from such branches expose irregular surfaces (hence more surface area) that take longer to heal than clean cuts, leaving prime entry points for pests and disease ... Fertilization with compost, composted manure or a balanced chemical fertilizer, watering, mulching, and pest control will be critical factors. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Troubleshooting miscellaneous emergence problems in corn (24) Jun 16, 2009
Look for evidence of the pest to confirm. - Uneven emergence. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Bird Pest Control in the Organic Ga... Jun 16, 2009
Bird Pest Control in the Organic Garden. Bird Pest Control in the Organic Garden ... It's possible to achieve bird control in organic gardens with a variety of natural pest control products and repellents that are harmless to wild birds yet effective. (Suite101.com)
Workshop digs up tips on raising roses here Jun 16, 2009
That bit of whimsy aside, Morrison walked her audience, including four park rangers, through all the major points of rose cultivation in Florida from watering, mulching, fertilizing, pest control, transplanting and propagating to cutting roses and displaying them. The park rangers were there for the same reason everyone else was: to hear about roses from an expert. (Daytona Beach News Journal -- Local)
Attack of the tree-killing pests Jun 5, 2009
In fact, state foresters say Siouxland can expect to see its Scotch pines and ash trees infested with deadly pests sometime in the next couple of years ... Foresters Steve Rasmussen and Dr. Mark Harrell, along with Ryan Krull, regional entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, answer some questions about the two pests and your trees ... A. The needles turn gray-green, then brown in a couple of weeks; no biopsy is needed because no other... (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Little bugs can be a big nuisance for strawberries Jun 5, 2009
A: Sowbugs (roly-polies) are not usually a pest, but they can be a problem on soft fruit that is close to the soil. They damage strawberries themselves and also chew on the fruits after slugs and birds have visited. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
In the Garden: Growing Degree Days and pest management Jun 4, 2009
One interesting prediction method for managing pests in the garden and landscape is monitoring Growing Degree Days. History and past experience with pests gave old time gardeners an approximate time for insect emergence ... Today flowering times are often used as an indicator of the arrival of a particular pest. (Hamilton Wenham Chronicle, MA)
Yolo moth quarantine extended Jun 4, 2009
A voracious pest and native of Australia, a light brown apple moth was discovered in a trap in Davis April 1 ... Produce and ornamental plants can still go to stores and farmers markets inside the quarantine area, but agricultural products, ornamental plants and trees should not leave the quarantine area unless certified to be free from the pest by an official ... This pest is a threat to the food supply and also to our environment. (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)
Public asked to help monitor life on earth Jun 3, 2009
OSLO - Scientists asked people around the world on Monday to help compile an Internet-based observatory of life on earth as a guide to everything from the impact of climate change on wildlife to pests that can damage crops ... Edwards said a biodiversity overview could have big economic benefits, for instance an unusual insect found in a garden might be an insect pest brought unwittingly in a grain shipment that could disrupt local agriculture. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Flea Beetle Pests in Organic Vegeta... Jun 2, 2009
Flea Beetle Pests in Organic Vegetable Gardens. Flea Beetle Pests in Organic Vegetable Gardens ... Get Rid of Garden Beetles Using Natural Pest Control. (Suite101.com)
Massive Online 'Macroscopic Observatory' Of Earth's Biodiversity To Be Created Jun 2, 2009
Bilateral trade and biosecurity, through pest and alien species detection and quarantine ... Agriculture and fisheries, through the identification of disease and drought-resistant plants, fish stock assessments and by-catch identification, as well as timely identification of fungus, pests and other hazards - information of high economic value ... Indeed, studies show the early identification of an invasive pest in Africa, for example, saved produce worth billions of dollars. (Science Daily)
Plant Impact plc: Significant Exclusive Licence Agreement for BugOil(R) Jun 1, 2009
BugOil(R), a patented technology developed by Plant Impact over 6 years, is a patented plant insecticide that uses a synergistic blend of plant essential oils to act against sap-feeding pests including mites, whitefly, thrips and aphids ... Plant Impact announced in December 2008 that the product registration dossier for European Union regulatory approval for BugOil(R) that was submitted in August 2008 had been passed as complete by the Pesticides Safety Directorate in the UK. The Company... (PR Newswire)
Taxpayers Foot Lawmakers' Bills... Jun 1, 2009
Other members itemized spending on everything from bottled water to pest control and office plants. The accounts of former Rep. (The Drudge Report)
Fabulous fuchsias May 31, 2009
They re gorgeous, relatively pest- and disease-free, and even tender cultivars can be carried over from one year to the next with a bit of care. More than 7,000 fuchsia varieties are now available in almost every color and form. (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Red Clover Frost Seeding Into Wheat Can Grow’ Nitrogen For Corn Crop (3) May 31, 2009
That s according to Jim Stute, Rock County Extension crops and soils agent, and Kevin Shelley with the UW s Nutrient and Pest Management Program in Madison. Red clover offers the additional advantage of being a non-host crop for soybean cyst nematode, which is a problem with many of the other commonly promoted cover crops. (Agri-View, WI)
Palo Alto police arrest man for California Ave. cleaver attack May 29, 2009
If the rat issue is serious, I would suggest that you call the pest control or adopt a cat. Bruce. (Palo Alto Online, CA)
How to control this summers mosquitoes May 28, 2009
For more information about controlling these summer pest, stop by the Extension Office at 102 East Napier Street. Norman Edwards is coordinator of Walker County Extension Service. (WWalker County Messenger, GA)
Loving San Francisco Botanical Garden to death May 28, 2009
The garden is a de facto laboratory for integrated pest management strategies - that is, chemical-free ways to minimize bug and fungus damage - solutions found here are adopted in open spaces by the city. Nobody wants to have to pay for something previously gotten for free. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Ask the HOA Expert May 27, 2009
"Xeriscaping" (xeros is Greek for dry) is a word coined to describe a form of landscaping featuring drought tolerant native species that require little water, pest control or maintenance. With proper plant selection, an HOA can convert a resource hogging lawn to a resource miserly oasis. (RealtyTimes)
Farmers face many questions when dealing with the delay May 27, 2009
One of the easiest ways to stay current on the latest recommendations from our Extension Specialists is to check the latest issue of the Pest Management and Crop Development Bulletin (PMCDB). It is available for free on the Internet, just type the initials PMCDB into your favorite search site, such as Yahoo or Google and the bulletin will be near the top of the list. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Organic Pest and Disease Control fo... May 26, 2009
Organic Pest and Disease Control for Tomatoes. Organic Pest and Disease Control for Tomatoes ... When growing tomatoes in an organic garden, one can control garden pests and diseases like the tomato hornworm and tomato blight with natural gardening methods. (Suite101.com)
Early scouting can help manage corn pests in wet year (7) May 25, 2009
Early scouting can help manage corn pests in wet year ... Late planting, wet soils may lead to more corn pests ... Growers can minimize the risk of lower corn yields now by scouting for pests, say experts from Pioneer Hi-Bred. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Visalia man tries to outfox fox who enjoys dining on cat food May 25, 2009
"I happen to think a fox is a pest," Lange said. If a threat to public health and safety exists, it's OK to work with the local animal-control agency to humanely trap them, and the agency can euthanize the animals, Fish and Game said. (Fresno Bee)
Go organic by joining MOSES' mentoring program (4) May 24, 2009
One thing Diffley has found is that they have less crop loss, disease and pest pressure on their farm compared to their conventional counterparts in their area of Minnesota. In fact, they have found their operation can withstand drought better. (Sioux Falls Tri-State Neighbor, SD)
Mediterranean Fruit Fly Discovered In County May 23, 2009
The discovery of the Mediterranean fruit fly prompted county pest control officials to begin treating the area ... The area where the crop-destroying pest was discovered was outside the boundaries of an already established Medfly quarantine area El Cajon and Spring Valley. (TheSanDiegoChannel.com, CA)
Agricultural Aromatherapy: Lavender Oil As Natural Herbicide May 22, 2009
Indeed, several plant essential oils are present as natural inbuilt herbicides and pesticides. Synthetic pesticides and herbicides have been in common use for decades and have protected crops from parasites, insects, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and eliminated weeds ... Their incorrect use or inadvertent exposure have been the focus of numerous studies on animal and human health, the results of which have led to serious initiatives to find alternative approaches to pest and weed control. (Science Daily)
Green Space: When it comes to plants, timing is everything May 22, 2009
You can do this yourself by keeping accurate records of dates when different plants bloom, when their leaves open, and when you first notice various insect pests ... This information can be used to help determine crop planting dates, or predict when insect emergence will take place and pest control should be initiated ... Phenology can be very useful as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program because it helps to properly time controls to target the most susceptible life stage of the... (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Owls replace pesticides in Israel May 21, 2009
Owls and kestrels are being employed as agricultural pest controllers in the Middle East ... In Israel, where there is a drive to reduce the use of toxic chemical pesticides, this has been turned into a government-funded national programme ... But scientists in Israel are now working with farmers to combat this problem - deploying the birds as natural pest controllers. (BBC News -- Science)
Can you kill termites with kindness? May 21, 2009
Indeed, professional pest controllers are divided over orange oil. "The people I represent are on both sides of the issue," says Bill Gaither, the director of membership and technical services for the Pest Control Operators of California ... A big supporter of orange oil is Richard "The Bugman" Fagerlund, a pest management consultant whose syndicated column runs in The Chronicle. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Bake out bugs by solarizing May 18, 2009
But we have many pest problems to deal with while trying to grow good vegetables and flowers in North Florida ... You can reduce some of those pest problems by solarizing the soil to bake out bugs ... Solarizing can reduce nematode, disease, insect, and weed pests in your fall garden. (Lake City Reporter, FL)
Kenya: Knowledge is Power for Farmers May 17, 2009
But for poor farmers to increase productivity and enter these markets, they need to be supported with improved seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, and pest management technologies. And government intervention to provide this support constitutes subsidies, a thorny issue at international trade talks. (allAfrica.com)
Video Viewing Club methodology for cocoa farmers launched May 15, 2009
Dr Sonii David, STCP Regional Extension Specialist, said the pilot VVC activities in Ghana started in 2004 and focused on cocoa integrated crop and pest management (ICPM) to increase cocoa yields by at least 15 per cent.. She said the advantages of using videos for training purposes were the ability to visually show new techniques and practices in a short period of time and to standardize information so that it would be transmitted accurately from technical sources to farmers. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
OVER THE COLES: Spring weather and insect population survival a threat to crops May 15, 2009
Delay in planting is not the only issue this season, it is extremely wet as well and all that water out there negatively impacts some of our endemic pests ... As for the soybeans, one of the first insect pests to consider after planting is the bean leaf beetle ... On two fronts damage from this pest may be less severe early this season. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Why Silkworms Find Mulberries Attractive May 14, 2009
And, he added, if there are pest insects that are similarly attuned to single compounds, then chemicals designed to block the underlying receptors might serve as a new and rather safe form of pest control. The researchers include Kana Tanaka, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan; Yusuke Uda, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan; Yukiteru Ono, CBRC, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan; Tatsuro Nakagawa, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan; Makiko... (Science Daily)
Ants In Southern Hemisphere Richer And More Diversified Than Northern Hemisphere Ants May 14, 2009
ScienceDaily (May 13, 2009) There are fewer species of ants in the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere. This is the conclusion drawn by an international team of scientists that have studied 1,003 local ant assemblages on five different continents. (Science Daily)
Flies used to turn invasive ants into zombies May 14, 2009
Pest control: Ants become headless zombies ... Scott Ludwig, an integrated pest management specialist with Texas A&M's AgriLife Extension Service, recently released a species of phorid fly that goes after fire ants outside their mounds ... The flies lay eggs on the fire ants, and the eggs hatch into maggots inside the ant and eat away at the pest's tiny brain. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Fire ants lose heads over parasitic flies May 14, 2009
"It's a tool. They're not going to completely wipe out the fire ant, but it's a way to control their population," said Scott Ludwig, a pest management specialist with the AgriLife Extension Service at Texas A. The tool is the tiny phorid fly, native to a region of South America where the fire ants originated. (News & Observer)
Spiders are a natural garden pesticide May 13, 2009
They are perfectly happy consuming the pests that regularly damage flowers, foliage and vegetables ... Many will over-winter as adults and can get a head start on pest control in early spring. (Burlington Union, MA)
Insect Gene Expression Responds To Diet May 13, 2009
Dalial Freitak worked with a team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology to study the effects of dietary bacteria on general gene expression in the plant pest. She said, "Larval feeding on a bacteria-rich diet leads to substantial gene expression changes, potentially resulting in a reorganization of the insects' metabolism to maintain organismal homeostasis, not only in the larval but also in the adult stage.". (Science Daily)
Biocontrol For Wide-Ranging Thrips May 13, 2009
ScienceDaily (May 12, 2009) A pest with a voracious appetite may have met its match in a predatory mite being evaluated as a biocontrol agent by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Fort Pierce, Fla ... The chilli thrips is an invasive pest that feeds on leaves, turns them brown, kills new growth and attacks up to 150 crops, including peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, peanuts, cotton and a variety of ornamentals ... Pesticides are effective, but the chilli thrips may develop... (Science Daily)
Conference maps strategies for African farmers to tap into US$150b marketNairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Africa's leading authorities on agriculture and market development meet in Nairobi, Kenya, thisweek to examine the role of markets in increasing Africas economic growth and improving rural livelihoods, organisers said. 13/05/2009 Full Text... May 13, 2009
Only a tiny fraction of the food produced in the region is sold in regional mark ets; the rest is either consumed on the farm or lost to pests or disease after h a rvest ... Farmers will also need accelerated access to farm inputs, especially improved se eds, fertilizers; livestock feed and small scale irrigation and integrated pest m anagement technologies. (Panapress.com)
Recognizing good insects & bad insects May 13, 2009
Most pesticides are not selective in killing only bad insects and leaving the good ones unharmed, they ll kill everything ... While using pesticides will not solve all pest problems, beneficial insects may not always be the answer either ... Still it is important to be able to recognize these insects, as they will help you determine the best course of action for controlling a certain pest. (Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald, NC)
1.4 Million Available for Montana Farmers and Ranchers to Convert to Organic Production (68) May 12, 2009
Under the program, transitioning or existing organic farmers can receive compensation for six core conservation practices: conservation crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, nutrient management, rotational grazing and forage harvest management. Each state may then also add a variety of "facilitating" conservation practices specific to the type of agriculture in their region. (Great Falls Prairie Star, MT)
* The suicidal harvest of new seed technology May 10, 2009
Overnight, Warangal was converted to a cotton-growing district based on non-renewable hybrids that require irrigation and are prone to pest attacks ... At the start, the technology for engineering Bt genes into cotton was aimed primarily at controlling pests ... However, new pests have emerged in Bt cotton, leading to higher use of pesticides. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Farmers and pig spleens: There's a connection May 10, 2009
WATERFORD - Finding a farmer in Racine or Kenosha County who still lives by the Old Farmer's Almanac is like trying to find a corn borer in hybrid pest resistant crops ... Low-flying pests bring rain and rest. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Take the STING out of summer May 10, 2009
Campbell County Weed and Pest doesnt spray for yellowjackets, but still considers them a bothersome insect. The department recommends using a commercial spray on a nest in the evening or the morning before the insects go out to scavenge for food, said director Allen Mooney. (Gillette News-Record, WY)
* Beyond Fairtrade: Mars turns on to sustainable cocoa May 10, 2009
This was background to the announcement last month that the Rainforest Alliance and at least five other global certification bodies will be asked to make sure all cocoa beans bought by Mars meet standards such as a minimum wages for farmers, conserving water and -biodiversity-friendly pest management. Mars commitment to buying sustainable cocoa is unprecedented, and the benefits to farmers, farm workers, tropical environments and wildlife will be tangible, said Tensie Whelan, president of... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Web of lies: UK press plays up spider 'invasion' May 9, 2009
"They called in a pest controller, but not before using a can of insect spray to paralyse the spider. "Australia is known around the world for its large and deadly creepy crawlies, but even locals have been shocked by the size of the giant venomous spiders. " The newspaper quoted Bowen pest controller Audy Geiszler, who told the newspaper he had received a "number of reports" from residents in the district and had caught "a large male with powerful long fangs and was so big that when he placed... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
