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| Vegetable Crop Advisory Team Alert newsletter | ||||
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| Vol. 22, No. 12, July 18, 2007 |
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In this issue |
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About this issue... Several events have conflicted with publishing regional reports and the weather news this issue. Please see our Enviro-weather web site for updated agricultural weather: http://www.enviroweather.msu.edu . We will return to our standard content with next week’s issue. – Joy N. Landis, editor. |
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| Insect update Beth Bishop Entomology European corn borer/ corn earworm update The second flight of European corn borer moths has begun in southern Michigan. The number of European corn borer moths caught in pheromone traps has increased during the last week, but remains fairly low. However, sweet corn with ears and snap beans, as well as peppers with fruit, should be treated to prevent corn borer infestation. See Bulletin E-312, 2007 Insect, disease and nematode control for commercial vegetables insecticides registered for control European corn borer in your crop. You can find this bulletin online at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/veginfo/E312. Aster leafhopper The number of aster leafhoppers present in celery and carrot fields in Western Michigan has increased a bit over the past few weeks. However, the infectivity rate remains very low (no leafhoppers infected with aster yellows have been found in most samples tested by Diagnostic Services). We recommend a treatment threshold of between 25 and 35 aster leafhoppers per 100 sweeps for celery and 40 to 50 aster leafhoppers per 100 sweeps in carrots. |
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| Downy mildew confirmed in Lenawee County Mary Hausbeck Plant Pathology Downy mildew was confirmed on cucumber in a third Michigan county, Lenawee, on July 17 (see map). Fungicide recommendations continue to be as follows:
Table 2 summarizes the spore numbers that have been counted so far for 2007 in the highlighted columns. For comparison purposes, spore counts from 2006 are in the adjacent, non-highlighted columns. The entire table containing all of 2006 data is available at my website http://plantpathology.msu.edu/labs/hausbeck/Hausbeck%20Lab%20For%20Growers.html, click on link to Downy mildew news). This table is continually being updated as new counts are completed.Table 2. Daily spore trap totals by county and year. Table 2. Daily spore trap totals by county and year.
DM = Disease was found in the county on this date. * = Spores present but soil prevented accurate count. ‡ = Partial day. |
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| Passive solar greenhouses for year-round production and risk management Adam Montri and John Biernbaum Horticulture Editor’s note: This article was originally published in the tri-state New Ag Network (www.new-ag.msu.edu) for organic growers. Some of our Vegetable CAT Alert readers will find the information of interest, too. Using protected cultivation for extended season production is not a new idea. But given the current environment of reduced availability and increased cost of fuel together with increased emphasis on farm profitability and local economy, it is one that has the potential for new impact. Farmers and researchers alike have recognized the benefits these simple structures provide. There are a number of reasons why we would be interested in growing year-round, but some of the main points often cited include increasing farm viability by creating income throughout the year; increasing availability of fresh, healthy, local produce; decreasing farmer workload in the summer months; decreasing energy dependency for food transportation; and keeping dollars in the local economy to name a few. While there are many names to describe season extension structures including hoophouse, hightunnel, coldframe and unheated greenhouse, we tend to use the title Passive Solar Greenhouse (PSGH). While all are typically metal framed, poly-film covered structures, a PSGH is covered by two layers of inflated 6-mil greenhouse plastic. Most importantly, PSGHs are unheated, passively ventilated, have no supplemental lighting, and are designed with the intent to grow throughout the year, even in northern climates. PSGH may conjure the image of a custom built “bioshelter” with an insulated north wall and water for heat storage to prevent freezing. That is not what we mean! We want off-the-shelf, low cost, simple construction (View images of the PSGH at the MSU Student Organic Farm.) Freezing conditions are not a problem for winter crops. The structure and moisture on the plastic film work like a cloud to trap the heat of the soil in the greenhouse so the soil does not freeze. Reduce risk in a variety of areas Risk management reduction is also a major reason for employing these structures. While risk management can mean many things, we think of 1) soil health/organic matter, 2) crop diversity, 3) direct marketing and 4) season extension. Promoting soil health is a basis of organic production systems and is integral to successful agriculture regardless of production system. Increases in soil organic matter, often through compost applications in the PSGHs and by cover cropping in the field, can improve soil health and subsequently benefit plant health. Increases in soil organic matter improve water absorption and water holding capacity, thereby mitigating runoff common during heavy rains and buffering the effects of drought. In the PSGH, soil organic matter contributions to moisture availability are important for the rapid growth under the protected conditions. The soil organic matter is also the primary source of nutrients. A steady and somewhat limited supply from biological availability can maintain production without leading to lush, damage susceptible growth. From experience, it is safe to say that nearly all crops grow better in the properly managed PSGH than in the field. That being said, it is important to determine which crops are worthwhile to grow in such valuable space. While we could grow only tomatoes in the spring, summer and fall, by doing so we risk losing the entire crop if there is a crop failure. By increasing crop diversity in the PSGH we are able to reduce risk. Peppers, summer squash, eggplant, melons and basil are crops that do well in the summer season PSGH. Cutflowers and herbs can also be profitable. What we are growing is dependant upon the season. We are not talking about tomatoes in December. For the winter, cold tolerant crops like spinach, kale, chard and dozens more are good choices. There is still time for early tomatoes—our first this year were harvested on June 14. By selling directly through CSAs, farmers’ markets, restaurants, and on-farm markets, more of the dollar comes back to the farmer. While this is not exclusive to PSGH producers, the structures allow farmers to offer customers something unique and to keep customers buying all year. Production in the PSGH is still susceptible to weather variations and can be used as a tool to teach customers about the impacts of weather on production. Another advantage of the PSGH is the potential to decrease disease and insect pressure. Many of the fungal diseases common in the field have lower incidence in the properly managed PSGH as the plastic covering excludes rain and therefore minimizes the wet foliage environment under which fungal diseases prosper. There is also a marked decrease in insect pressure within the PSGH with good techniques such as sanitation and crop rotation. As the use of these structures increases, more questions have been asked about the economics of year-round production. The C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University has partnered with the MSU Student Organic Farm, Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) and nine farmers throughout the state to investigate the economic viability of year-round production in PSGHs through on-farm research. In addition to the economic aspects of this three-year CSREES-funded project entitled “Enhancing small and medium farm viability through season extension technologies: Economic and environmental implications,” there will be a comparison of the embedded energy in these structures and the food that is produced within them with the energy consumed by food production and transportation to Michigan from outside the state. For further information about this project, please contact Dr. David Conner at connerd@msu.edu. For technical assistance related to structures, crops or other questions about year-round production in PSGHs, please contact Adam Montri at 517-432-3381 or admontri@anr.msu.edu. |
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| New bulletin helps farmers fight honeybee problems One quarter of the United States honeybee population has been lost to colony collapse disorder (CCD), and interest is growing in alternative pollinators such as native bees. A new Michigan State University Extension bulletin is available for farmers and other landowners interested in exploring practices to enhance native pollinators on their property. “Conserving Native Bees on Farmland” (E-2985) provides straightforward information about creating attractive environments for native bees. The bulletin teaches the reader about various native bee species and gives recommendations about nesting sites and food resources. Honeybees are the most economically important pollinator and are used widely for pollinating crops, but they are also susceptible to diseases and parasites. Colony collapse disorder is a mysterious condition that has appeared recently in which adult honeybees abandon their hives for what appears to be no reason at all. “With honeybee health problems, focusing on native bees is a strategy to reduce the risks of sole dependence on honeybees,” said Rufus Isaacs, associate professor of entomology. “Our goal is to help growers make sure they can pollinate their crops and have reliable production on their farms every year.” Entomology graduate student Julianna Tuell did native bee research with 13 growers in conventional blueberry farms and semi-abandoned blueberry fields. She studied a variety of native bees, their habitat needs and feeding preferences. The bulletin compiles her research into recommendations for farmers, gardeners and anyone growing crops that rely on bees for pollination. “The native bees contribute to pollination, but they won’t replace honeybees,” Tuell said. “The good news is that native bees do not seem to be affected by colony collapse disorder, perhaps because they do not live in large colonies.” “Conserving Native Bees on Farmland” (E-2985) can be purchased through the MSU Bulletin Office for $2 per copy by calling 517-353-6740 or visiting http://www.emdc.msue.msu.edu/. Discounts are available if the bulletin is purchased for use with MSU Extension programming. You can also print and view a copy through the pdf file at: http://www.nativeplants.msu.edu/pdf/E2973.pdf Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs) funded the entomology research and also supported another new bulletin describing the relationships between native plants and beneficial insects. “Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants” (E-2973) was written by Isaacs and Tuell, along with MSU entomology researchers Douglas Landis and Anna Fiedler. Visit http://www.nativeplants.msu.edu for more information on MSU native plant and beneficial insect research. A companion site helps identify natural enemies in crops. (This news release provided by one of the project funders, Project GREEEN, a cooperative effort between plant-based commodities and businesses together with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture. To learn more about Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at MSU, visit: http://www.greeen.msu.edu/ ) |
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