Ramsey County

July 23, 2007

Howdy!!!
“Man oh man” how about this hot weather.  I really do not mind the heat but heat with humidity gets me.  Some of our  crops, gardens and flowers do fairly well in this warm climate while others do not just like us humans.  Just remember to furnish each one with water, as needed, and everyone will get along just fine.  As I look around the country side I can not believe it is already just about August.  Harvest is starting around the county with winter wheat and barley and the gardens are in full swing.  I have had every vegetable grown in my garden served as a dinner delight.  It is also that time of year when good young friends of ours leave for their annual trip to Europe to play professional hockey.  Oh by the way, this family reads weekly columns in Europe to stay in touch with local offerings.  So with that said have a safe journey to the east; Jeff, Angie and Jackson.  There are also many happenings going on the cropping world.  The hot item now is the Banded Sunflower moth.  I had sent this out earlier in an Ag alert but thought I would include it in my column.

PEST ALERT:  BANDED SUNFLOWER MOTH HIGH
Be sure to scout for eggs of Banded Sunflower moth in sunflower fields, especially in the early planted fields.  In going around to NDSU Field Days at Carrington, Minot and Langdon this week, it was easy to find large numbers of egg per heads (over 100 eggs per head in some cases!) indicating high populations of adult banded sunflower moths.  It takes about 5- 8 days for the eggs to hatch.  Eggs turn a yellowish color when they are close to hatching. Spraying should target the early instar larvae (2nd instar) about 4 days after egg hatch.  The first instar larvae feed inside the bracts and will be difficult to kill with insecticide where as the second instar larvae move to the more exposed areas of the developing sunflower head. The current action threshold is 3.6 eggs per 6 bracts using market value of 16 cents per lb, $8.00 for insecticide costs, and 20,000 plant per acre for plant population in the threshold formula.  Adult moth trap captures have continued to increase in Prosper, Fargo, and Mapleton, so we have not peaked yet! Jan Knodel (NDSU Extension entomologist).

524 4th Ave NE #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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