The first step in tackling a pest problem in hemp is proper identification. A new University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agriculture Services (IFAS) hemp pest identification tool helps producers take the guesswork out of identifying some of those pests. The hemp pest identification guide, available for purchase through the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore, includes 20 of the most …
Fall Armyworm Infestations: Be Sure to Scout Against Insect Pressure
High pest pressure in Alabama means vegetable and specialty crop producers needs to stay vigilant in their scouting especially as fall crops like brassicas are being planted. Fall armyworm moths continue to be very active throughout Alabama. They have almost doubled in numbers since August 2021 and are more than five times the numbers from 2020. According to the Alabama …
Whiteflies a Factor in South Florida Crops
Whiteflies are already being observed at high levels on tomatoes and watermelons in the South Florida region. According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, up to eight whitefly adults have been observed on melons in the Immokalee, Florida area. Scouts report between 15% to 60% of plants having one or multiple adults. It’s a similar scenario facing tomato …
Weed Control Essential for Container Nurseries
By Clint Thompson It is essential for container nurseries to keep plants weed free from start to finish. According to Alabama Extension, weeds can reduce the growth and marketability of nursery crops. Jeremy Pickens, Alabama Assistant Extension Professor in Horticulture at Auburn University, says when selling ornamentals, “aesthetics is everything.” “There’s really no margin for error. You’ve got to have …
Asian Citrus Psyllid Management Key for Georgia Producers
By Clint Thompson The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is not yet well established in Georgia. University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and small fruits pathologist Jonathan Oliver wants to keep that way. The psyllid vectors citrus greening disease (HLB), which has decimated Florida’s citrus production. Oliver encourages producers to scout their orchards regularly to avoid a similar fate happening in …
Sanitation Remains Key in Whitefly Control
By Clint Thompson Sanitation of vegetable crops susceptible to whiteflies remains a key management strategy for Florida producers. Hugh Smith, an associate professor of entomology and nematology at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, encourages growers to clean up their fields properly following harvest to reduce the risk of feeding damage and potential viruses. “If you don’t make …
High Insect Pressure Reported in Alabama
By Clint Thompson Insect pests continue to increase in numbers across Alabama. According to the Alabama Insect Pest Monitoring Report, as of Saturday, Aug. 21, moth numbers collected at 19 locations across the state continue to be high for fall armyworm, southern armyworm, tobacco budworm and squash vine borer. There were 1,230 fall armyworm moths, compared to 252 this time …
Bayer’s Expanded Movento MPC Label Boosts Management Options for Whiteflies
By Clint Thompson Dry weather in the Southeast is inevitable. Those conditions could bring a resurgence of whitefly pressure, says Roy Morris, senior technical sales rep at Bayer. “When it’s wet, although your plants are lush, you start getting some fungi and things that’ll naturally occur and take out the (whitefly) populations. When it’s hot and dry, they can turn …
Weed Management with Fumigants
By Nathan Boyd Fumigants are the cornerstone of pest management programs in most high-intensity plasticulture production systems. They are used to manage soil-borne pathogens, nematodes and weeds. Fumigants have been broadly adopted because they reduce pest populations prior to crop establishment and provide a means to control pests for which there are no other viable alternatives. In addition, fumigants enable …
Whitefly Populations Increasing in Georgia
By Clint Thompson Whitefly populations are on the rise in South Georgia. While their numbers are not overwhelming, they have increased in recent weeks, says Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist. “Whiteflies have increased over the last week or so, not dramatically, but they’ve obviously increased. Phillip (Roberts) tells me in cotton there’s not high numbers, but …