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| Vegetable Crop Advisory Team Alert newsletter | ||||
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| Vol. 22, No. 14, August 1, 2007 |
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In this issue  European corn borer/corn earworm update Green peach aphids on potato Controlling phytophthora disease on pepper Enviro-weather delivers weather-driven production management tools to Michigan vegetable growers Regional reports Weather |
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| European corn borer/corn earworm update In most areas of southern Michigan, the second flight of European corn borer moths has begun; the number of moths caught in pheromone traps last week was up slightly (see charts). In the more northern trapping areas (Oceana and Mason Counties), second flight has not yet begun, but can be expected in the next week or so. Right now, there is no way to determine how large this second flight will be. Sweet corn with ears, as well as peppers and snap beans with fruit, are vulnerable to damage from offspring of this second moth flight. These crops should be treated preventatively to avoid worm in ears and fruit. Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves. Upon hatching, larvae feed for a brief time on the leaf surface and then bore into the ears or fruit where they are protected from most insecticides. To prevent worm damage to ears or fruit, it is essential that sufficient insecticides be present on the plant when larvae hatch. See Bulletin E-312, 2007 Insect, disease and nematode control for commercial vegetables for insecticide options for control of European corn borer. You can find this bulletin online at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/veginfo/E312. |
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| Green peach aphids on potato Colonies of green peach aphids have been found in several potato fields in lower Southern Michigan. Green peach aphids vector both persistent (PLRV) and non-persistent (PVY) viruses to potatoes. Hot dry conditions are ideal for rapid flair-ups of aphid populations. Green peach aphids have rarely been a problem in potato fields since the introduction and use of neonicotinoids, as these insecticides also control aphids. The colonized fields were not treated with neonicotinoids, either at planting, or with a foliar. Consult MSU Bulletin E312, 2076 Insect, disease and nematode control for commercial vegetables, for a list of insecticides registered to aphids. You can find this bulletin online at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/veginfo/E312/index.cfm. |
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| Controlling phytophthora disease on pepper Phytophthora capsici attacks both bell and hot peppers in Michigan (view images). This devastating disease can wipe out entire pepper fields, causing enormous losses in yield and profit. Because of the destructive nature of Phytophthora, researchers at Michigan State University are dedicated to the knowledge and management of this disease. Phytophthora symptoms can be hard to spot on pepper, and infection may occur days before any visible signs of disease appear. The most obvious symptom of Phytophthora in peppers is the wilting and death of plants. During times of high relative humidity and wetness, a layer of spores may cover the pepper like “powdered sugar.” Roots and crowns can potentially turn brown or black, and dark lesions will periodically appear on the skin of the fruit. Because of the severity of Phytophthora, early management is the best recommendation to prevent spread. Once a field has been exposed to Phytophthora, scout fields regularly for any signs of disease. It is possible to plant pepper varieties that are somewhat resistant to Phyophthora, or to plant a Phytophthora tolerant variety. Warm, wet weather is most conducive to the spread of Phytophthora. The disease can live in the field at least ten years, and is problematic for many vegetable crops. When planting peppers, do not plant into a field rotation with other susceptible crops like tomatoes, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, beans, melons or pumpkins. Plant peppers into raised beds with black plastic and only in well drained sites. If irrigation is necessary, it is best to use drip irrigation and to not use surface water as a source of irrigation. One of the best defenses against Phytophthora is to spray fungicides early and often. It is important to make sure that there is adequate canopy coverage so that Phytophthora has no chance of infecting the plant. It is wise to rotate between fungicides so the pathogen does not build up immunity to any one fungicide. When applying a foliar application of fungicide, it is important to keep spray intervals short. Make sure to apply the fungicide before a rain, and come back as soon as possible after a rain. If Phytophthora becomes a problem, harvest the fruit as early as possible and keep the harvested fruit in a cool, dry environment. Plow under the diseased portion of the field, and the healthy looking plants that border the area. View pdf of this article online at: http://ipm. msu.edu/cat07veg/PDF/8-1pepper.pdf Products available for Phytophthora control on pepper
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| Enviro-weather delivers weather-driven production management tools to Michigan vegetable growers MSU’s Enviro-weather web site came online in July of 2006 to provide a one stop site for weather-based decision making information to Michigan growers (view images). Since that time, fruit, potato, turfgrass, field crop, forestry and Christmas tree producers, and others have been accessing Enviro-weather to get local radar and forecasts, current weather conditions as well as plant disease, insect, weed, and crop development models. And now, thanks to a dedicated self-identified workgroup, Enviro-weather has recently launched its vegetable production page. Enviro-weather is designed to be a dependable, sustainable weather-based system for pest, natural resource and production management decision-making. Users access the system through a web site: www.enviroweather.msu.edu. Information at the web site integrates near-real-time weather data from the Michigan Automated Weather Network (MAWN) and other weather systems with modeling tools and information resources such as the MSU IPM Resources web site. Enviro-weather is a dynamic weather information system The backbone of the system is the Michigan Automated Weather Network (MAWN) with about 50 stations located throughout Michigan that supplies high-quality weather data for Enviro-weather users. MAWN stations are designed with specialized sensors required for diverse applications in agriculture and natural resources. For example, soil moisture, solar radiation, and leaf wetness are recorded, as well as more standard temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed. At the station, data from each sensor is logged into the storage device every five minutes. Every hour the recorded data is transferred via cell phone technology to the central computer located on the MSU campus in East Lansing, making the information available in near-real-time. Enviro-weather utilizes this current information to develop useful reports that clearly illustrate weather observation relevant to specific crops and commodities. For example, users can access an hourly summary of overnight temperatures with periods of freezing temperatures highlighted in red. In addition, Enviro-weather feeds these data into pest, plant and resource models that can assist the grower in making decisions on harvest and planting dates, irrigation, weed, insect and plant disease management. The heart of the system is the science-based models that provide decision support to Enviro-weather users. Insect life stages, plant maturity and crop disease risk are among the many factors linked to hourly, daily and seasonal weather patterns. Models that quantify these links have been and are currently being developed by researchers at MSU and other universities and research facilities. Models and reports suggested and evaluated by workgroup members are programmed into the website, linking to hourly or daily weather data, making results available on demand at the site. The brain of the system is the IPM Resources website (www.ipm.msu.edu). This site contains a wealth of agricultural information with over 2,500 individual web pages and averages over 50,000 hits per week. Enviro-weather is integrated with quick links to the IPM Resources web site for background information on pests and for quick access to other resources like the Crop Advisory Team (CAT) Alerts. Specific pest information is linked to relevant models. For example, a fruit grower using the predictive model for plum curculio in tart cherries at Enviro-weather will find a link to information developed by MSU Extension educators and specialists about the pest. The guts of the system are the self-identified workgroups who organize to provide direction on tailoring the information system to meet industry needs. These workgroups typically include web site users such as farmers, resource managers and consultants along with MSU specialists and Extension educators. They are essential in identifying needs and priorities such as: What relevant weather-driven models/information are available for integration into the system? Which educational, extension and research resources should be linked to the system? What supplemental external resources for research, partnerships, funding are needed? Are additional weather stations needed and if so, how will they be supported? Vegetable workgroup results The workgroup met in April to identify weather-driven products and information that are available and applicable to the needs of Michigan vegetable producers. Products that may have value but need further development or validation for use in Michigan were also identified for future research and planning. Work group members include, MSUE Central region ICM Extension Educator Jim Breinling, MSU Vegetable Research and Extension Entomologist Beth Bishop, Macomb County MSUE Educator Hannah Stevens, Oceana County Extension Director Norm Myers and Tracy Aichele and Mark Trent with Enviro-weather. As a result of the input from the workgroup, products now available on the Enviro-weather vegetable production page include: Links to National Weather Service radar and forecasts; a summary of current conditions that incorporate rainfall, growing degree days and wind speed into one easy to read table; a soil conditions report that includes temperature and moisture; and an overnight temperature report that not only gives an hour by hour breakdown of last night’s temperatures, but also provides a forecast for tonight’s low temperature and dew point temperatures. Irrigation resources include a potential evapotranspiration report and an interactive irrigation scheduler. Under pest models and predictions you will find links to MSU DSV page for TomCast, Northern Illinois University’s Insect Migration Risk Forecast, North Carolina State University’s North American Plant Disease Forecast Center for Cucurbit Downy Mildew, Penn State’s PestWatch site that gives trap catches for corn earworm at many locations across the United States and the North Central Regional Soybean Aphid Suction Trap Network. Products in development include a variety of insect management models and programming the irrigation scheduler for more vegetable crops. Visit www.enviroweather.msu.edu to find our more. |
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| Regional reports 1 -- Southwest Ron Goldy Weather Temperatures during the week were generally near average (83oF) with highs of 77oF to 89oF and lows from 60oF to 67oF. Rainfall was quite variable across the area with amounts ranging from none to over 4-inches. Irrigation continues to be a top priority. Crop Reports Virus and phytophthora symptoms continue to show up in vine crops, but not at serious levels. Blossom end rot has shown up in some pepper and tomato fields, especially those just coming into production. Two-spotted spider mites have become a problem in some watermelon and tomato fields. Some corn plantings have aphid levels in need of control. Verticilium symptoms are present in eggplant. |
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| 2 -- Grand Rapids Area Bill Steenwyk Weather The past week was hotter, but not quite as dry as the week before in West Central Michigan. Rainfall in the district ranged from just a smattering to 0.75 inch. The key to crop health remains just as it did before: the availability of timely irrigation. Where this is in place, crops look quite good. Crop reports Pest pressures are moderate and generally well-controlled. On the muck soils, celery, onions, leek, radish, red beets, lettuce and sweet corn continue favorable development. Many fields are being harvested or will soon be. On upland, irrigated soils, cabbage, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, snap beans and sweet corn continue normal development at various growth stages, including harvest. The relatively few non-irrigated vegetable fields are in the same poor, stressed condition as hundreds of thousands of field crop acres across the state. A couple of benefits from the dry weather are the low levels of disease and the low level of compaction to soils from heavy field machinery. Yield loss from soil compaction is as real and costly as that from drought, floods or pests. |
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| 3 -- Oceana County Norm Myers Weather Weather continues to be hotter and drier than normal, with irrigation going flat out where its available. Surface water sources are beginning to dwindle, and those who use them may soon have to make some decisions as to which crops they will keep irrigating. Crop reports In asparagus, disease severity value totals are going up surprisingly quickly considering how dry it has been. Growers need to keep current with disease severity value totals at a site near them, since the first week of August is often when purple spot gets out of control in asparagus fields. Rust is also present and should not be ignored. Common asparagus beetle adults and larvae are also present, but are generally under control. In carrots, disease severity values have gone up even faster in this crop because of irrigation. All three foliar blights (alternaria, cercospora and bacterial) are present in our area. Aster leafhopper numbers are variable. Where irrigation is not available, the carrots are really suffering. Pickle/cucumber harvest is in full swing now, with no sign of downy mildew. Zucchini yields have been good. There are no signs of any viruses, and I have yet to catch a soybean aphid in my suction trap in Mason County. The winter squash crop has generally not been irrigated in our area, and the leaves have really wilted in the last week. No sign of any disease beyond a little angular leaf spot. Pumpkins in some of fields are irrigated, but the majority are not, so we are seeing wilting here also. No sign of powdery mildew, and the crop is generally advanced over last year. In sweet corn, European corn borers seem to be non-existent, and we are only catching an occasional corn earworm moth. The snap beans crop looks pretty good, even where it is not irrigated. Hopefully the heat will be over by the time blossom set begins. |
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| 4 -- Mason-Newaygo counties Jim Breinling Weather The dry weather pattern for July persists along with above normal temperatures during the past week. Although there have been reports of isolated storms, there has only been 0.01 inch of rainfall recorded at the Ludington MAWN station (Mason County). The high temperature recorded was 86.3 on July 31. In Newaygo County at the Fremont MAWN station, there was no precipitation during the last seven days and only 0.02 recorded during the past 17 days. A high temperature of 96ºF occurred on July 31. Crop reports Carrot fields in the area are highly variable due to the extreme weather conditions of high winds, high temperatures and lack of rainfall. Even though aster leafhopper counts are generally low and vary from field to field, the visual incidence of aster yellows seems to be higher than expected. The hot temperatures are resulting in extreme daytime wilting in the winter squash fields for processing, both Butternut and Hubbard types. It will be interesting to monitor fields for fruit size development and yields if current conditions persist. Snap bean fields continue to do well. Where available, irrigation systems are running. The European corn borer traps were moved yesterday, July 31, at the Mason County site since the fields have been harvested. Trap counts remained for July 31 remained at 0-0-0 . Sweet corn harvest in the area continues with good quality. The corn earworm trap counts for the Mason County site were the same as the previous week with one in the large trap and zero in the small trap. The traps will be relocated next week to later planted fields where new tassle and fresh silk are present. |
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| 5 -- Macomb, St. Clair and Lapeer counties Hannah Stevens Weather and crop conditions A field day to view and sample sweet corn varieties will be held on August 23 in the Romeo area. More details will follow. |
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| 6 -- Monroe County Paul Marks Weather We are now at 1761 degree days base 50, which is about four calendar days behind a long term normal for this date, and catching up several days this week with the heat. Rain late last week provided from just less than one inch, to more than four inches in various parts of Monroe County. Areas that needed it the most, received the least, and those that needed it the least, received the most! Isolated areas were hit with hail causing significant damage. Crop reports Sweet corn harvest continues. Fields are maturing at a rapid pace under this week’s heat. So far, the market has kept up with supply. Corn borer and earworm numbers continue to be very low in my traps again this week. Market tomatoes appear to be ripening slower that anticipated with some blossom end rot evident. Bacterial diseases are present in many plantings. Processing tomatoes for early harvest are just receiving the first applications of Ethrel. Blossom end rot and bacterial diseases are in this crop as well. Fruit load looks good, but size may be less than normal in non-irrigated fields. Potatoes are being harvested and packed for market with tubers more mature this week. Very little disease pressure and no insects in this crop. Melons, both muskmelons and watermelons are now being harvested. Size has been good, and very few problems in either of these crops. Some bacterial wilt now evident in muskmelons. Pepper harvest continues with good bell sizes and yields for this early in the season. Bananas for processing have just begun this week. I have not seen any aphids in this crop. Pumpkins are now showing fruit in most fields with no downy mildew seen in this crop. Powdery mildew has just begun to show up in several fields this week. Adult squash vine borer and squash bugs continue to be active. I have seen very little virus in this crop. Cabbage planting for late season harvest has been a challenge with high temperatures and dry conditions over the last several weeks. Recent rains have dramatically improved these late plantings. |
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| Weather news Jeff Andresen Agricultural Meteorology Geography Scattered showers and thunderstorms brought some much needed rainfall to a few locations across Michigan late last week, but the rainfall was localized and drought conditions persist in many areas of the state. For the growing season (beginning April 1), precipitation deficits have grown in many areas to the 3.0-5.0 plus inch range (normal precipitation for this time frame is on the order of 11.5-13.0 inches), although these figures are somewhat misleading since the majority of the drier than normal conditions have taken place since early June when crop water needs are relatively greater. Meteorologically, the dryness has been associated with a persistent upper air ridging feature anchored across western North America that has reduced the amount of low-level moisture flow (the >raw material= of precipitation) into the Great Lakes Region. As of the beginning of August, drought conditions were reported across sections of the Upper Midwest in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan southward through the Ohio Valley into the southeastern United States. As was the case last week, medium range forecast guidance generally suggests a continuation of the current upper air pattern. Some of the guidance does suggest a more west to east zonal pattern across the Upper Midwest, however, which might at least lead to more frequent chances for rainfall. In the short term, a weak cool front is forecast to move from northwest to southeast across the state Thursday. Given little moisture ahead of the front, only isolated or scattered showers will be possible, with most areas remaining dry. Best chances for rainfall with this system will be over northern sections of the state during the day Thursday. High pressure behind the front will lead to more dry weather Friday and Saturday with slightly cooler temperatures which should bring some limited relief from the excessive heat of the past few days. By Saturday evening into Sunday, an area of low pressure and accompanying cool front are forecast to move through the region, with a better chance for showers and thunderstorms, including southern sections of the state. High temperatures Thursday will reach the low to mid 90's in most locations one more day before falling back to a range from the upper 70's far north to the mid 80's south by Saturday. Low temperatures are expected to fall from the mid and upper 60's Thursday back to the mid 50's north to the low 60's south by Saturday. In the medium range time frame, both 6-10 day and 8-14 day outlooks, covering August 6-10 and August 8-14, call for a continuation of above normal temperatures state- and region-wide. Precipitation totals are forecast to range from near to below normal levels across southeastern sections of the state to near or above normal levels across western sections of the Upper Peninsula. |
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