“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese proverb When it comes to integrated pest management, we talk, a lot, about prevention. Keeping mice and brown marmorated stink bugs out is preferable to dealing with them once they’re in your house. So remember those…Continue Reading What’s Bugging You? – Missed Opportunities
We can’t leave out diseases. Let’s go back to the cover crop. One potential downside to growing organic rye is ergot infection. Claviceps purpurea is a parasitic fungus that can infect rye and other cereal crops. The sclerotia of the ergot fungus contains alkaloids which can be fatal to livestock and humans if ingested. Scout…Continue Reading “Weeds in Organic Squash Production” Part Three: Disease Concerns, and a Look Back Over the Season
Insects! Plant it and they will come. Or not. In a research farm setting, unlike a commercial farm, we actually WANT pests to show up so we can conduct a trial. But sometimes we plant it and they don’t come… In fact, there’s a joke that if you want a pest to disappear for a…Continue Reading “Weeds in Organic Squash Production” Part Two: But What About Insects?
Thank you to Margaret Tuttle McGrath with the Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center for providing the following content and opportunity! Occurrence of two important diseases is being monitored to be able to inform farmers, so they know when preventive fungicide applications are warranted, and to increase knowledge about these diseases. Occurrence of these…Continue Reading Gardener Assistance Needed with Monitoring Downy Mildews Affecting Cucurbit Plants and Basil
In an effort to improve growers’ understanding of cultural practices, host plant resistance, and use of biological or chemical controls, Vegetable IPM Extension Area Educator Marion Zuefle ran one-on-one IPM field demonstrations with three NY farmers in 2019. Her initial interviews pointed to typical pepper pest issues like aphids, thrips, mites, European corn borer, and…Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: Pepper Problems Don’t Have to Prevail!
Mature fields of grain crops moving in the wind is a lovely sight. Having admired the beauty of ‘cereal rye’ in a field, I asked NYSIPM Integrated Weed Management Specialist Dr. Bryan Brown if rye has been part of successful weed suppression efforts. The answer is yes, but even better, there’s anti-fungal benefits too….Continue Reading Cover Crop’s Double Success for Soybeans
Stubborn Pests: Organic Solutions All crops have pests. Managing them on certified organic farms is firmly rooted in IPM practices such as crop rotation, sanitation, and the use of pest-resistant varieties. In fact, it’s written into the regulations. But despite the best IPM prevention practices, pesticides are still needed for certain stubborn pests. With organic…Continue Reading Our 2018-2019 Annual Report #7 Organic Farming…and Don’t Get Ticked NY
Certifiably IPM Growers and crop consultants need training like everyone else, so they go to school. The Northeast Region Certified Crop Advisers (NRCCA) offer regional and international certifications. NRCCA has online courses and a three-day intensive training conference covering four competency areas. And did we mention exams? Becoming a certified crop advisor takes dedication. The…Continue Reading Our 2018-2019 Annual Report #6- Certified Crop Advisor Training; Saving the Douglas-fir
Soybean Disease Identification, Expansion of Soilborne Soybean Diseases and the Soybean Cyst Nematode in NYS, and Considerations for Soybean Seed Treatment Options for these Threats Cayuga County CCE specialist Ron Kuck held a shop meeting at Dumond’s farm in Union Springs on February 19th. Jaime Cummings, Field Crops and Livestock IPM Coordinator at NYSIPM shared…Continue Reading Soybean Disease Workshop at Cayuga County ‘Shop Meeting’
“None of us is as smart as all of us.” –Ken Blanchard Each year, NYS IPM staff are busy blogging about relevant topics. Here’s a recap of some of our more popular 2019 offerings: ThinkIPM is our catchall blog and a great way to keep a pulse on what’s happening in New York State IPM….Continue Reading NYS IPM’s Best of 2019