That green fluttery insect near your porch light at night — with wings like green lace? That’s a green lacewing. Lacewings are beneficials — good insects, ones that prey on insects you don’t want. Actually, what you’ve seen is an adult lacewing; it feeds on flower nectar, pollen, and aphid honeydew. It’s the lacewing larvae…Continue Reading Green Lacewing a Good one!!
Keep Records on Pests
They’re back! Insect pests, plant diseases, weeds, birds, biting flies — the works. And tracking them year to year is critical. How better to know your options are, this year and in years to come? So pick up a pencil, smart phone or tablet and write them down on a field-to-field or livestock basis. Write…Continue Reading Keep Records on Pests
Field Crop Go-to Report Profits — You
Grow field crops, or know someone who does? What’s happening in the field — and where? The growing season is upon us and keeping on top of what insect, disease and weed pests are out there — and when — can make a big difference in a farm’s profit margin. Where can you get timely…Continue Reading Field Crop Go-to Report Profits — You
Conference Call? Call Me When It’s Over!
But hey, this one’s a big deal with broad implications. Meeting Cornell University’s high standards for extension outreach is all-important. Extension educators are Cornell’s front line, bringing timely, quality information to that ever-changing landscape called farming. Our weekly conference call brings seasoned experts and newbies together, each one with their eyes on the ground, sharing…Continue Reading Conference Call? Call Me When It’s Over!
Eastward Ho!
Critters that did little damage before agriculture replaced natural ecosystems can prove tough customers when provided easy access to hundreds of thousands of acres of their favorite food. Even so, sometimes such pests are content to stay on their home turf until … until …. The western bean cutworm (WBC for short) is a High…Continue Reading Eastward Ho!
Side by Side: “Strip-Trial” Techniques for On-Farm Research
Field corn is the king of crops in New York. This highest net-value and most widely grown crop occupies more than a million acres statewide. Some years it’s hammered by leaf blights that can cost considerably if not treated in time. Other years your fields get off almost unscathed. How to know which conditions tip…Continue Reading Side by Side: “Strip-Trial” Techniques for On-Farm Research