Category: Agriculture

DO YOUR PART TO PROTECT BEES We all depend on bees to pollinate the crops that feed us, and we all need to do our part to protect them. There are many reasons to READ THE LABEL before using ANY pesticide, but one good reason is to look for precautions about bees. Many insecticides, for example, should NOT be applied when plants are in bloom to prevent accidental bee poisonings. One area beekeeper reports that they lost an ENTIRE hive …

CONTROLLING CATERPILLARS IN SORGHUM WHORLS http://www.nccrops.com/2013/08/13/controling-caterpillars-in-sorghum-whorls/ PYRETHROIDS CONCERNS FOR WORM CONTROL IN SOYBEANS http://www.nccrops.com/2013/08/13/resistant-earworms-and-budworms-likely-in-soybeans/ NOTES ON KUDZU BUG THRESHOLDS (TWO ARTICLES) 1 – http://www.nccrops.com/2013/08/11/kudzu-bug-migration-is-nearing-peak/ 2 – http://www.nccrops.com/2013/08/11/kudzu-bug-threshold-in-practice/ COTTON INSECT UPDATE http://www.nccrops.com/2013/08/11/cotton-insect-update/ SOYBEAN FUNGICIDE EFFICACY http://www.nccrops.com/2013/08/11/relative-fungicide-efficacy-for-foliar-soybean-diseases/ COTTON DISEASE UPDATE http://www.nccrops.com/2013/08/02/cotton-disease-update-leaf-spots-on-cotton-2/ SOIL SAMPLE EARLY Beginning this year, the NCDA&CS will charge $4 per sample during the peak season (Nov 28 –  Mar 31). I hope you’ll agree that this is still an incredible value! And you can still get samples analyzed for …

RALEIGH – Rainfall in most of North Carolina has been at record high levels from early spring through summer, with some areas receiving more than 30 inches. As a result, most crops have struggled due to poorly developed root systems. Agronomists warn that the growth of upcoming crops is also likely to be affected unless soil-nutrient reserves are monitored and replenished.  Dr. David Hardy, chief of the Soil Testing Section with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and …

RALEIGH — Fescue is a cool-season grass, so it grows best in fall, winter and early spring. In the heat of summer, it goes somewhat dormant and persists in survival mode. But, as fall approaches, the time is right to prepare for reseeding and fertilization. “Now is a good time to collect soil samples from fescue lawns,” said Jagathi Kamalakanthan, agronomist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “The most common fertility problem found in lawns across North …

RALEIGH – A low-cost vaccination may have prevented the deaths of six equine that died after contracting Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, according to state veterinary officials. A seventh animal appears to be recovering from the disease. State Veterinarian David Marshall recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from EEE and another mosquito-borne disease, West Nile virus. The EEE and WNV vaccinations typically require two initial doses for horses, mules and donkeys that …

FROGEYE LEAFSPOT ON SOYBEANS http://www.nccrops.com/2013/07/26/frogeye-leaf-spot-on-soybean/ CUCURBIT DOWNY MILDEW WIDESPREAD ACROSS STATE ID and management information is here: http://projects.cals.ncsu.edu/veggiepathology/sites/default/files/Cucurbit_downy_mildew_eng_2013.pdf LATE COTTON SUSCEPTIBLE TO DROUGHT http://www.nccrops.com/2013/07/25/1845/ UPDATE ON STINKBUGS IN COTTON http://www.nccrops.com/2013/07/25/stink-bug-predictions-anyone/ PLANT BUGS ON COTTON http://www.nccrops.com/2013/07/25/plant-bug-feeding-frenzy/ SMALL GRAINS VARIETY TEST DATA The data for 2013 are available at http://www.ncovt.com/ SCOUT PASTURES/HAYFIELDS FOR FALL ARMYWORM http://wayne.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/07/look-out-for-fall-armyworms-in-pastures-and-hayfields/ NORTH CAROLINA SMALL GRAIN GROWER ASSOCIATION ASSESSMENT REFERENDUM The North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association (NCSGGA) has announced that an Assessment Referendum will take place on …

RALEIGH — The State Farmers Market is on a hunt to find the largest watermelon in North Carolina. The weigh-in will take place during the market’s annual Watermelon Day on Aug. 1. The grower with the heaviest watermelon will win bragging rights and $1,000. The second-heaviest melon will earn $500, the third-heaviest will earn $300 and the fourth-heaviest will earn $200. All entries must be from North Carolina, and growers must be prepared to identify where the watermelon was grown. …

RALEIGH – Gummy bears or brownie bites, chocolate sauce or whipped cream, frozen yogurt shops allow customers to fill up a cup with frozen yogurt, top it as they please and then pay based on weight. Inspectors from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are busy inspecting scales at these establishments to make sure customers are getting what they pay for.  Customers are supposed to pay only for the weight of the contents of their filled cup, not …

FOLIAR FERTILIZATION OF COTTON Here is an update from NCSU’s Keith Edmisten: http://www.nccrops.com/2013/07/15/foliar-fertilization-of-cotton/ UPDATE ON COTTON INSECTS http://www.nccrops.com/2013/07/21/late-cotton-crop-may-impact-insect-pests/ FALL CHECKLIST FOR BLACKBERRIES http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/FALL-CHORES-2012-Blackbery-and-raspberry.pdf COMPARISON OF COTTON INSECTICIDES http://www.nccrops.com/2013/07/18/cotton-bollworm-and-stink-bug-insecticides-rates-and-active-ingredients/ CORN EARWORM POPULATIONS LOW THIS YEAR http://www.nccrops.com/2013/07/17/earworm-bollworm-populations-low-in-corn-what-does-that-mean/ PICS OF DOWNY MILDEW IN VARIOUS CUCURBITS (DIAGNOSTIC TOOL) http://plantpathology.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/07/do-you-know-how-to-diagnose-cucurbit-downy-mildew-in-different-cucurbit-crops/?src=rss ORGANIC GRAINS Are you searching for another opportunity for diversification? Organic grain production is worth considering. To learn more, check out the Organic Grain Field Day on July 30 at the Center for Environmental Farming …

The New York Times offered a tidbit on the Western North Carolina Cheese Trail. Writer Diane Daniel notes the new Cheese Trail plots out a road trip highlighting 10 artisanal and farmstead cheesemakers located across the scenic western wedge of the state. While the guide doesn’t yet rival the 44-stop Vermont Cheese Trail, it’s a great start, said an organizer, Jennifer Perkins of Looking Glass Creamery in Fairview, Stop 5 along the trail. “People are surprised to learn that not …

RALEIGH — The recent over-abundance of rainfall in North Carolina has helped to minimize wildfire risks, but it also has made logging much more difficult. The N.C. Forest Service is reminding loggers, timber buyers and forest owners to take extra precautions to prevent sediment or soil from washing into creeks, to prevent excessive rutting or compacting of saturated soil, and to keep ground disturbance to a minimum when logging. “The Forest Service has been busy inspecting logging sites around the …

RALEIGH — A farmer referendum on whether to continue an assessment on sales of seven types of grain will take place Aug. 7, the N.C. Small Grain Growers Association has announced. The assessment amount would be half of 1 percent on sales of wheat, rye, oats, barley, rapeseed, canola and grain sorghum. The assessment period would run from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2019. All North Carolina small-grain growers who are at least 18 years old by Aug. 7 …

PONDS MAY BE UNDER STRESS Due to the heavy rainfall and saturated soils, landowners may want to inspect ponds. Be sure to check drains and emergency spillways to be certain they are operating properly. DON’T MOVE FIREWOOD With the recent discovery of Emerald Ash Borer in Vance, Granville and Person Counties, everyone is reminded that it’s best to obtain firewood from a local source. Those who enjoy summer camping trips should procure firewood at their destination, and leave any leftovers …

RALEIGH — The annual window of opportunity for ordering seedlings from the N.C. Forest Service Nursery Program is open. “The Forest Service produces about 20 million quality seedlings for 54 species of both conifer and hardwoods each year at its nurseries, using solid nursery research and experience,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The genetically superior Loblolly pine seedlings, for instance, are grown from seeds produced by orchard trees that are proven to give landowners increased growth and are more disease-resistant.” …

RALEIGH – 2013 marks an important year for the North Carolina State Fair Premium Book, which is in its final print edition. The Premium Book contains the rules, deadlines and entry forms for each competition and explains contest changes and additions for this season. “With nearly 30,000 entries and more than $600,000 awarded in premiums, the N.C. State Fair is an exciting venue for North Carolinians to showcase their talents,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Participants will find plenty of …

RALEIGH — For many, summer conjures thoughts of family vacations, fireworks and sweet, juicy peaches. Growers are expecting a strong harvest that will ensure a steady supply of the delicious summer fruit into September. “We lost some early varieties because of the late freeze, but we’ll be picking a lot starting the first week of July,” said Danny Bynum of Bynum Peach Farm in Richmond County.  Bynum is a third-generation peach grower, and has been working with peaches since he …