Wednesday, June 23, 2010

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator, Webster County June 18, 2010 Edition We have a reprieve from the rain, and I do say that with a lot of respect for Mother Nature because I like everyone else in this part of the country knows what it is like to not have the rain fall, grass green up, or the sick feeling you have when the ponds and dams go dry. It is so good to see our pastures coming back, those ponds full, and even tall grass in the road ditches. Of course you always have concerns. We have seen fungus and disease in our wheat, gardens are experiencing some wilting from too much moisture instead of not enough and we are certain to see plenty of flies and perish the thought – mosquitoes. I would imagine when the sun comes out with this type of moisture around us it is not going to take much to sweat or feel uncomfortable and that applies not only to we humans, but to the animals that we have under our care. Whether it be our companion animals, or the livestock that dot the landscape, we need to be cognizant of their needs when the conditions are such that we have heat, but not only heat, but heat with a lot of humidity with it. It may be wise to keep a close eye on all of our animals and while you’re at it, take care of yourself as well. You would think with all of the rain we have had, with creeks running high and rivers at or near flood stage that you wouldn’t even worry about how much water is destined for Kansas. That seems so far out of the realm right now that many of us forget about the struggles we are having with water issues in South Central Nebraska. These next few days will bring us the opportunity to take a closer look at the Republican Valley and those water issues. If you have been under a rock, or just don’t pay attention to what is around you, it is no secret that Nebraska is fighting again over the Republican River, which stretches 200 miles between the southwest corner of the state to south of Guide Rock. You may want to tune in to NET Radio Monday, June 21, through Thursday, June 24, for a series of NET News reports which will explore the controversy. "Republican River Currents" will air at 6:35 and 8:35 a.m. CT during "Morning Edition." An audio link to each story will be available at a special NET website "http://www.netNebraska.org/extras/republicanriver/" http://www.netNebraska.org/extras/republicanriver/ along with photos, maps, video and a timeline about the issue. Part of the fight over the Republican River is with Kansas, which says Nebraska is using more than its fair share of the river that runs near the two states' border. This fight is rooted in a 1943 compact that was signed between Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska to fulfill requirements for a Federal Grant to build Harlan County Dam, or at least that is my take on it. That strife between Kansas and Nebraska and the suits that have followed is pretty well documented, but there are disagreements within Nebraska as well, with people on different sections of the river having different ideas about how to handle it. You can find out more about this aspect of the conflict when the host of the program introduces listeners to people along the river with different perspectives on how to address water problems, and then takes a look at how state and local governments are approaching the policy and legal questions. If you are heavily involved along the Republican River Basin or have an interest it may be a good program to watch. Not only am I getting questions on crops, it is the season for lawn and gardens as well and those types are coming about as frequently as the questions we had earlier on wheat and June bugs. I think it prudent to address some of the most common ones in this week’s edition. I think we will spend a little time on bagworms and grubs in the room we have left. Bagworms are hatching, so now is the time to monitor for their presence on evergreens. If present, you can either pick them off by hand or you may consider applying insecticides. At this time of year, young bagworms will be approximately ¼ to ½” long and it is time to control them. According to UNL entomologists, a number of insecticides are labeled for control or suppression of bagworms including: acephate (Orthene), Kurstaki (Dipel, Thuricide), cyfluthrin (Tempo), trichlorfon (Dylox), indoxacarb (Provaunt), chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn), spinosad (Conserve) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Some of these active ingredients are often sold under different trade names so look for the active ingredient. Insecticide applications are most effective on the young caterpillars. Older caterpillars in the bags may be 3/4 inch long and are more difficult to control or obtain sufficient mortality. Females tend to feed less as they prepare for reproduction, which reduces their susceptibility to insecticide sprays and any residues. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is highly active on young caterpillars; however, the material must be ingested to be effective, so thorough coverage of all plant parts is essential. Spinosad (Conserve) works by contact and ingestion, and is extremely effective in suppressing bagworm populations. Cyfluthrin (Tempo), trichlorfon (Dylox), and indoxacarb (Provaunt) are typically used against the larger caterpillars. Again, thorough coverage of all plant parts is essential, especially the tops of trees and shrubs, where bagworms commonly initiate feeding. We have more information on bagworms in our office, just give us a call. Grub control- If you think you may have grubs, or just want to make sure you don’t lose your lawn to them, the best time to apply these insecticides is from the third week of June to mid-July. In other words - its time! Insecticides for preventative grub control include Chlorantraniliprole, Imidacloprid, and Halofenozide. Trichlorfon can be applied for curative control if white grubs exceed threshold levels (8-10 per square foot) later in the season. Happy hunting! The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: HYPERLINK "mailto:dlienemann2@unl.edu" dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: "http://www.webster.unl.edu/home" http://www.webster.unl.edu/home

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