Vol 4 # 2
Field activities are proceeding with gusto now! Planting grain as early
as possible, like most of you are doing, could definitely be advantageous later
in avoiding aphid infestations and cereal leaf beetle problems. In these days of
low prices, it is nice to avoid treating for insects. Most everyone is familiar
with aphids and treatment numbers. I’ll cover those again later in another
issue. Also, the newer seed treatments do a great job on controlling aphids. As
far as cereal leaf beetle goes, that’s another story. This is a new pest for
us and perhaps we are spraying when we don’t need to. Again, this year try to
avoid excess insect control costs. Wait until the larvae show up. At the
threshold of one per flag leaf, the field will look fairly ragged with
populations below this level and still do OK yield-wise. So, keep a careful eye
on those little blighters and only spray if needed.
We have checked our sites where we’ve released the larval parasite of
cereal leaf beetle. After two years in Albion, we had 75-100% parasitism by the
wasp. We will check our site at the Coors plant this summer as well as south of
Buhl. Parasites have also been recovered in Bonneville county. Thus, we have
another reason to spray only when necessary. If we give the beneficials a
chance, they could take care of this problem for us!
One more note on cereals, we’ll be doing some more testing of wireworm
control with the new seed treaters. So far, they look promising.
You’re asking for trouble if you already have your tomatoes out! Get
back in the house and get those spiders and other overwintering invaders taken
care of like we talked about last time. Ah, springtime in the Rockies!
As you start to think about insect problems, begin thinking about your
arsenal of insecticides. Homeowner use of diazinon will be phased out within the
next four years and Dursban will be gone sooner. So, alternatives are in order.
There are many coming on the market so replacement should not be big problem.
Start testing some of the new ones now so you’ll be ready when these two old
standbys are gone. Watch for more neem –based products for general organic use
and for permethrin and imidicloprid for synthetic materials. Other are also on
the way. So, if you’re like me, you’ll still be confused as ever when you
gaze at the shelves of products!
I’d recommend buying and using as few as possible. That way you can use
them up before they lose potency. Who knows, increasing your tolerance level a
little may reduce the need for many of them anyway!
If you have questions,
contact your nearest county office with a Master Gardener program. They have
lists of materials and what they control. I know because I gave them the list!
There are lots of sources of information out there. Tracking them down will keep
you out of the garden for a while until it REALLY warms up. Happy bugging!