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Enjoying the cool weatherBy Miles Dabovich Texas Cooperative Extension Agent Wichita County, Agriculture One thing I would rather be doing than writing this news article is to be outside enjoying this wonderful cool weather we have been blessed with. I know that it wasn't a really hot summer but there is just something about that first cool front of the year that revitalizes your energy and your attitude. I'm not sure that my rain gauge is very precise but I showed close to 4 inches of rain Sept. 8 at my house, north of town. Now talk about something to get a wheat farmer excited--a big rain just prior to planting season is a good start for the 07-08 crop. Hopefully, it will be a great year for our farmers. God they need it. Contrary to some popular belief last year was not all that great for wheat because of diseases and harvest conditions. The cost to put these crops in has become astronomical so our producers need to raise a good crop, get it harvested and get a good price for it. Those producers that are interested in obtaining a private applicators license, may due so on Sept. 25 and 26, beginning at 9 a.m., at the Wichita County Extension office located at 600 Scott Street in the Courthouse Annex. Sept. 25 will be the private applicators certificate training and Sept. 26 will be the administering of the license exam by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Cost of the training will be $20, which will include a study manual. Anyone planing on taking the test on the 26th must pre-register to TDA by calling 214-631-0265. For more information or questions contact the Extension office at 940-716-8610. Now here is some information about armyworms from Extension entomologist, Chris Sansone. I don't know how big of a problem we will have in Wichita County but here is some heads up information for you. Crickets, mosquitos, flies, fleas and spiders: Texans have seen them all this summer thanks to unprecedented wet weather. Dr. Chris Sansone, Extension entomologist at San Angelo, said fall rains can trigger armyworm onslaughts that can destroy pastures, small grain fields and lawns almost overnight. We're seeing all types of armyworms this year: the true, the yellow-striped and the beet armyworm, but the biggest number is the fall armyworm. Conditions are ideal for a real invasion of these pests in coming weeks. This insect can build up large numbers seemingly overnight, causing crops and lawns to disappear before your eyes. The adults lay thousands of eggs and by the time the larvae or Caterpillars' are big enough to see, the damage is done. The tiny larvae chew the green layer from leaves and leave a clearing or "window pane" effect. The first three larval stages or "instars" do little damage and are easy to control. The final two stages are big and tougher to control. They can eat 85 percent of the total foliage consumed by the Caterpillar. That's the reason it's so important to find the infestations before the Caterpillars get too large. Small larvae are easier to control and most of the damage can be prevented if the infestation is caught early. Individual fields and yards need to be scouted carefully, because the moths don't lay eggs consistently across an area. Often a pasture or small grain field will be infested while the field across the road is armyworm-free. The Caterpillars won't kill an established lawn, but new lawns or those weakened by disease or other pests can be killed by the sheer volume of leaf blades the pests eat. Homeowners have an almost overwhelming number of control choices. Products containing deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin and cyhalothrin are effective. These are sold under a wide variety of name brands. Carbaryl or Sevin has been a standard for many years. Homeowners should read the label and make sure the insecticide is labeled for lawns or turf. Small grain producers should consider the stage of their crop when treating against armyworms. In the seedling stage, just three larvae per square foot can ruin a stand. Later in the tiller stage, it takes seven to 10 larvae to cause serious damage. Treating pastures of native or improved grasses is often not cost-effective once all the economic factors are considered. Fall armyworms are worst in the autumn when adult moths are carried into an area with cold fronts that trigger rain. The adult fall armyworm moth is 1.5 inches across the wings. The hind wings are grayish-white and the front pair dark-gray, mottled with lighter and darker splotches and a whitish spot near the extreme tip. Fall armyworms are a threat until the first hard freeze. The larvae range from 1.25 to 1.5 inches long and can have shades of brown, green or black. They can be distinguished from other armyworms by a prominent white, inverted Y-shaped line on the front of the head. Fall armyworms are easily controlled if homeowners and producers monitor their fields closely, The key is proper identification and finding the infestation before the larvae become too large. B 13 9/24/07 5 Star OK Date: 9/18/07 Advertisement
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