The following is a final statement from Bayer on Di-syston use in Christmas trees.
Di-Syston 15G:
Christmas Trees: Distributors, retailers and growers can sell and use Di-Syston 15G on Christmas Trees until stocks are exhausted.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Pesticide Licensing & Certification
The following is a link to a fact sheet with information about the new requirements for pesticide licensing and certification. http://ipm.ncsu.edu/pesticidesafety/AG714W.pdf
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thousand Cankers Disease
Another new pest could be coming our way. Thousand Cankers Disease has be identified in Tennessee. Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD)is a disease of Black Walnut. TCD poses a serious problem to the health of the black walnut tree. Walnut trees are important because of their nut crop and the desired wood for various products. TCD is a progressive disease that kills a tree within two to three years after initial infection. The disease-causing fungus, Geosmithia, is transmitted by the walnut twig beetle. Branches and trunk tissue are killed by repeated infections by the fungus, as the beetles carry the fungus into new bark cambium tissue.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued a quarantine of all plants or plant part of the genus Juglans coming into the state from Tennessee and many other western states that already have Thousand Cankers Disease established.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued a quarantine of all plants or plant part of the genus Juglans coming into the state from Tennessee and many other western states that already have Thousand Cankers Disease established.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Spruce Spider Mite
Growers should be keeping a watch for spruce spider mite with the hot, dry weather we have been having recently. Growers should be scouting to determine the presence of mites and they should review the economic thresholds to determine if or when they would need to treat.
The economic thresholds used by most growers are listed below. However, each grower has different needs for tree quality. These numbers should be adjusted up or down by each grower based on his or her own experience and needs.
Size of Tree
Less than waist high 40%
Waist high to year before sale 20%
Year of sale 10%
*Percentage of infested shoots to sampled shoots
The economic thresholds used by most growers are listed below. However, each grower has different needs for tree quality. These numbers should be adjusted up or down by each grower based on his or her own experience and needs.
Size of Tree
Less than waist high 40%
Waist high to year before sale 20%
Year of sale 10%
*Percentage of infested shoots to sampled shoots
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Elongate Hemlock Scale
Elongate Hemlock Scale seems to be exploding this year over most Christmas tree farms in Mitchell County. The treatment window for this summer is getting close to closing so now if the time to be out scouting and evaluating the amount of infestation you have from Elongate Hemlock Scale.
The elongate hemlock scale, sometimes known as the fiorinia scale, is a serious armored scale insect pest of hemlock and Fraser fir. It is believed that this armored scale insect was unintentionally introduced into the United States from Japan.
The EHS is found almost exclusively on the underside of needles and will be found on multiple years of growth. On infested branches, scale numbers average 10 per needle and there can be as many as 30 on a single needle with scales sometimes found on top of each other.
When infestations are heavy, trees may have yellow blotches or patches on the needles and growth will be stunted. However, such symptoms are not commonly seen on Fraser fir in western North Carolina. More commonly what is seen are the white, waxy excretions of the male scales found on the upper surface of needles especially during summer months when males are maturing. Infestations that do not reduce tree growth can still make trees un-saleable because of this white covering to the needles.
The EHS has two, overlapping generations in the southern Appalachians. Because of this overlap, all life stages can be found almost any time of year, though proportions of one stage to another will vary. Crawlers emerge throughout the growing season and even in winter months, but peak crawler emergence is in May into June and again in late October into November.
The crawlers must find an appropriate feeding site. Crawlers may move somewhere else on the same needle, crawl onto the new growth, or move passively through wind or bird movement onto other trees or fields. Once a feeding site is found they molt, never moving again.
Immature scales appear to burrow under the waxy layer produced by the needle, making them even more protected against pesticide applications and predators. As the scale matures, it forms behind the original yellow immature, making it look as if a smaller scale is attached to a larger. The feeding tube of the immatures is as long as it is, appearing as a tiny coppery wire. The scales feed in epidermal cells.
Immature female scales go through three stages of development while males have additional prepupal and pupal stages. Males emerge as a tiny winged insect with large black eyes and long antennas. Before they emerge, they can sometimes be found under the white cotton of the pupal stage. They have no mouth-parts and live only a few days, mating with females. Eggs are produced six to eight weeks after mating. Each female produces 12 to 16 eggs at a time, which hatch within a month. Mature females may live for more than one year.
The elongate hemlock scale, sometimes known as the fiorinia scale, is a serious armored scale insect pest of hemlock and Fraser fir. It is believed that this armored scale insect was unintentionally introduced into the United States from Japan.
The EHS is found almost exclusively on the underside of needles and will be found on multiple years of growth. On infested branches, scale numbers average 10 per needle and there can be as many as 30 on a single needle with scales sometimes found on top of each other.
When infestations are heavy, trees may have yellow blotches or patches on the needles and growth will be stunted. However, such symptoms are not commonly seen on Fraser fir in western North Carolina. More commonly what is seen are the white, waxy excretions of the male scales found on the upper surface of needles especially during summer months when males are maturing. Infestations that do not reduce tree growth can still make trees un-saleable because of this white covering to the needles.
The EHS has two, overlapping generations in the southern Appalachians. Because of this overlap, all life stages can be found almost any time of year, though proportions of one stage to another will vary. Crawlers emerge throughout the growing season and even in winter months, but peak crawler emergence is in May into June and again in late October into November.
The crawlers must find an appropriate feeding site. Crawlers may move somewhere else on the same needle, crawl onto the new growth, or move passively through wind or bird movement onto other trees or fields. Once a feeding site is found they molt, never moving again.
Immature scales appear to burrow under the waxy layer produced by the needle, making them even more protected against pesticide applications and predators. As the scale matures, it forms behind the original yellow immature, making it look as if a smaller scale is attached to a larger. The feeding tube of the immatures is as long as it is, appearing as a tiny coppery wire. The scales feed in epidermal cells.
Immature female scales go through three stages of development while males have additional prepupal and pupal stages. Males emerge as a tiny winged insect with large black eyes and long antennas. Before they emerge, they can sometimes be found under the white cotton of the pupal stage. They have no mouth-parts and live only a few days, mating with females. Eggs are produced six to eight weeks after mating. Each female produces 12 to 16 eggs at a time, which hatch within a month. Mature females may live for more than one year.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Emerald Ash Borer
This week the Tennessee Department of Agriculture announced that emerald ash borer has been found in Knox and Loudon counties. This places it very close to Swain and Graham counties in North Carolina. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service are expected to issue quarantine measures on the movement of firewood, ash nursery stock and ash timber.
Emerald ash borer beetles can kill an ash tree within three years of the initial infestation. Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length and one-eighth inch wide, and fly from April until September, depending on the climate of the area (probably more like May to August in North Carolina). Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath the bark of ash trees. When they emerge as adults, they leave D-shaped holes in the bark about one-eighth inch wide.
For more information, see the USDA Forest Service’s Pest Alert on the emerald ash borer at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/eab/eab.pdf. If you want help identifying an ash tree, go to http://www.anr.msu.edu/robertsd/ash/ashtree_id.html.
From: Steve Bambara and Steve Frank, Extension Entomologists
Emerald ash borer beetles can kill an ash tree within three years of the initial infestation. Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length and one-eighth inch wide, and fly from April until September, depending on the climate of the area (probably more like May to August in North Carolina). Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath the bark of ash trees. When they emerge as adults, they leave D-shaped holes in the bark about one-eighth inch wide.
For more information, see the USDA Forest Service’s Pest Alert on the emerald ash borer at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/eab/eab.pdf. If you want help identifying an ash tree, go to http://www.anr.msu.edu/robertsd/ash/ashtree_id.html.
From: Steve Bambara and Steve Frank, Extension Entomologists
Monday, July 26, 2010
2010 Marketing Season
The 2010 marketing season is fast approaching. Below are three tips to get you thinking about the upcoming season.
1.Begin making contact with the customers that you had last year. Make phone calls or personnel visits to discuss this years plans.
2.Look for ways to get your business name out to more potential customers. Design a website if you don't have one, join a growers association that can help market for you, buy adds in papers, magazines or journals that may target the area you want to market in.
3.Deliver great customer service. I read an article recently that discussed the importance of customer service. It stated that customer service was more important than quality when it came down to a determining factor of whether a customer was going to purchase from you or someone else.
1.Begin making contact with the customers that you had last year. Make phone calls or personnel visits to discuss this years plans.
2.Look for ways to get your business name out to more potential customers. Design a website if you don't have one, join a growers association that can help market for you, buy adds in papers, magazines or journals that may target the area you want to market in.
3.Deliver great customer service. I read an article recently that discussed the importance of customer service. It stated that customer service was more important than quality when it came down to a determining factor of whether a customer was going to purchase from you or someone else.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Chemical Mowing Rates
I have had a few calls about rates for chemical mowing applications. Even though the new growth of Fraser fir is out and seems to be hardening up, I would caution going back up to a full 8 oz. per acre rate of RoundUp at this time. You may want to stick to the 4 oz. per acre rate for another couple of weeks if you have fields that need spraying right now.
Summer Pest
Now is a good time to be scouting for a couple of pest. We are seeing some spruce spider mite activity with this hot, dry weather. Be on the lookout for spruce spider mites, especially in fields with little groundcover or along dusty roadways. Also, last week I looked at some trees with Elongated Hemlock Scale and they are producing the white covering right now and are easy to spot. Look on the underside of branches and make plans to treat in late July or early August if you find them.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Rust Mites
Hemlock Rust Mites are continuing to cause problems, especially in fields that were treated last fall and have not had a treatment for mites this spring. The weather conditions have been good for rust mite development, so you will want to get out and do some scouting even in fields you have treated for twig aphids this spring.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
RoundUp Timing
Christmas tree and ornamental conifer growers that are using the chemical mowing practice with RoundUp should begin wrapping up their applications. When the new growth gets out to around 2" then you should stop applying the RoundUp directly to the foliage or cut your rate to the 4 oz. per acre rate instead of the 8 oz. per acre rate. For help with calibrating spray equipment, please contact your local Extension Agent.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Balsam Twig Aphid
Balsam Twig Aphid are very active and pesticide applications should begin on trees that will be going to market this year and next year. Remember to be out scouting for the hemlock rust mites and be ready to make a pesticide application if the economic threshold is reached.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Hemlock Rust Mites
Winters cold weather did not kill out the Hemlock Rust Mite. Rust mites are active and it would be good to be out scouting for rust mites during this beautiful weather. Even with temperatures supposed to cool down, the rust mites will remain active and possibly worsen. Go to the following website for more information on Hemlock Rust Mite and the thresholds to use in determining if you need to treat.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/xmas/ctnotes/ctn034.html
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/xmas/ctnotes/ctn034.html
Monday, March 29, 2010
Christmas Tree and Ornamental Marketing Workshop
Marketing of Christmas trees
and ornamentals has always been
an important tool that many
growers do not use appropriately.
With the slowing economy,
and in response to a slower
Christmas tree and ornamental
market, many growers are now
faced with having to learn to market
their products to effectively
sustain their businesses. The
Mitchell County Extension Center
will be offering two marketing
workshops to help give growers
tips on improving their marketing
skills. Some of the topics to be
addressed include:
▪ Core Components of a
Marketing Plan
▪ How to Target a New Market
▪ Evaluating a Wholesale
Marketing Plan
▪ Getting to Know Your
Customers
Reminder, the workshops will be
held on March 30 & April 6, beginning
at 6:30 p.m. Please make
plans to participate in these beneficial
workshops.
and ornamentals has always been
an important tool that many
growers do not use appropriately.
With the slowing economy,
and in response to a slower
Christmas tree and ornamental
market, many growers are now
faced with having to learn to market
their products to effectively
sustain their businesses. The
Mitchell County Extension Center
will be offering two marketing
workshops to help give growers
tips on improving their marketing
skills. Some of the topics to be
addressed include:
▪ Core Components of a
Marketing Plan
▪ How to Target a New Market
▪ Evaluating a Wholesale
Marketing Plan
▪ Getting to Know Your
Customers
Reminder, the workshops will be
held on March 30 & April 6, beginning
at 6:30 p.m. Please make
plans to participate in these beneficial
workshops.
Monday, March 15, 2010
New Pest Blog
Dr. Jill Sidebottom, Extension Mountain Conifer IPM Specialist, has begun a new IPM blog to keep Christmas tree and other mountain conifer growers updated on pest problems and solutions. The blog can be located at http://fraseripm.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 1, 2010
Christmas Tree Marketing Conference
Feb. 11 — Christmas Tree Marketing Conference 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Watauga Co. Extension Center
The NC Cooperative Extension Christmas Tree program will be offering a training to Christmas tree producers to improve their marketing programs. Information will be provided for improving wholesale and retail markets. Following are some of the topics that will be addressed:
▪ Core Components of a Marketing Plan
▪ Using New Electronic Media
▪ How to Target a New Market
▪ Evaluating a Wholesale Marketing Plan
▪ Effective Retail Display
▪ Product Diversification
▪ Learning From the Road
▪ 360 Anaylsis
▪ Know Your Customers
The cost of the conference is $15 and you can register by calling the Extension Center at 828-688-4811.
The NC Cooperative Extension Christmas Tree program will be offering a training to Christmas tree producers to improve their marketing programs. Information will be provided for improving wholesale and retail markets. Following are some of the topics that will be addressed:
▪ Core Components of a Marketing Plan
▪ Using New Electronic Media
▪ How to Target a New Market
▪ Evaluating a Wholesale Marketing Plan
▪ Effective Retail Display
▪ Product Diversification
▪ Learning From the Road
▪ 360 Anaylsis
▪ Know Your Customers
The cost of the conference is $15 and you can register by calling the Extension Center at 828-688-4811.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Agri-tourism Workshop
Jan. 28—The Business Side of Agritourism Workshop Lake Logan Episcopal Center, Waynesville
Agritourism is an exciting new enterprise. Increasingly, consumers are interested in visiting farms, learning about farm life and purchasing products directly from the farm. From hayrides, barnyard animals and corn mazes to pick-your-own and roadside stands featuring fresh fruit, vegetables, Christmas trees and value-added products to bird watching, fishing, hunting and camping — let your imagination take you and your customers to a field of dreams. To help you, NC Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents have developed a one-day workshop for farmers interested in learning more about The Business Side of Agritourism. Registration fee for the workshop is $35. To register, contact the Mitchell County Extension Center by January 22 at 688-4811.
Agritourism is an exciting new enterprise. Increasingly, consumers are interested in visiting farms, learning about farm life and purchasing products directly from the farm. From hayrides, barnyard animals and corn mazes to pick-your-own and roadside stands featuring fresh fruit, vegetables, Christmas trees and value-added products to bird watching, fishing, hunting and camping — let your imagination take you and your customers to a field of dreams. To help you, NC Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents have developed a one-day workshop for farmers interested in learning more about The Business Side of Agritourism. Registration fee for the workshop is $35. To register, contact the Mitchell County Extension Center by January 22 at 688-4811.
Avery/Mitchell Christmas Tree Production Workshop
►Jan. 29—Avery/Mitchell Winter Christmas Tree Production Wksp. 11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sam’s Center Auditorium, Mayland Community College This year’s workshop will include updates on Deer Spray Research, 2009 Insect Pest Trials, RoundUp Timing Discussion, Propagation of Native Azaleas and Ornamental Crops Insect and Disease Update. Three hours of pesticide recertifi- cation credit will be available.
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