Cooperative Extension Service  ________________________________________________ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Cooler drier conditions settled over the area replacing unsettled weather that affected south Florida in advance of Hurricane Michelle, which passed south of the area on November 4th.   With the exception of lower east coast growing areas effects of the storm were minimal.  Rainfall totals reported at FAWN weather stations ranged from 0.64 inches in Immokalee, 1.17 inches in Homestead, 2.32 inches in Fort Lauderdale and 2.43 inches in Fort Pierce.  Localized rainfall amounts totals were much higher in all areas with some growers around Homestead reporting 4 inches or more.  Temperatures at have been seasonable with daytime highs mostly in the 70’s and 80’s and lows in 50’s and 60’s.

Rain bands from Hurricane Michelle interrupted some planting and harvesting schedules as it passed south of the region at the end of last week.  Strong winds in advance of the storm caused variable damage on a number of crops. Beans and cucurbits appear to have been most affected.  Damage includes burning and tearing of foliage, bloom drop and scarring on immature fruit.  Workers continue to prepare land and transplant as well as carry out cultural operations such as pruning, staking, tying and spraying as needed.   “Weather-check” caused by excessive rains earlier in the season is showing up as stem and shoulder cracking in tomato and lowering pack outs.  Some reports of misshapen pepper fruit are also being attributed to adverse weather conditions.

FAWN Weather Summary

Date	Air Temp (°F)		Rainfall	Hours Below Certain Temperature          (hours)
	Min	Max	(Inches)	40°F	45°F	50°F	55°F	60°F	65°F	70°F	75°F
Fort Lauderdale
10/26-11/08/01	57.9	82.6	2.32	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	8.1	31.6	81.80
Fort Pierce
10/26-11/08/01	51.3	82.5	2.43	0.0	0.0	7.0	30.6	69.8	125.0	169.1	246.3
Homestead
10/26-11/08/01	57.3	83.6	1.17	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	8.1	42.1	93.8	198.3
Immokalee
10/26-11/08/01	48.0	85.4	0.64	0.0	0.0	4.3	11.3	43.5	101.7	175.1	273.3

Reports indicate that crops across the area are in fair to good condition.  Growers in southwest Florida have started harvesting snap beans with a fair volume of product starting to become available.   Other vegetable crops available include bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, hot peppers, okra, tomatoes, specialty vegetables, squash, and sweet corn.  Watermelon harvest is finished in southwest Florida.

Forecast from the National Weather Service in Miami calls for cool dry conditions and sunny skies to persist through the end of the week.  Daytime temperatures will remain in the 70’s and 80’s with nighttime lows in the 50’s and 60’s.   The forecast calls for a slight chance of showers as we approach the weekend.  For additional information, visit the National Weather Service in Miami website at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mia/newpage/cgi-bin/master.pl?suite=home

Reports indicate that worm pressure has begun to ease across the area.

Scouts in Palm Beach indicate that worm pressure is light with some loopers and fall armyworms still being reported.  Several east coast growers have indicated that worms are not a significant concern at this time.

Respondents around Immokalee indicate that worms have slowed but pressure is variable between low to moderate depending on the location.  Beet and southern armyworms are most common depending on the crop and location.  There have been a few reports of tomato fruit worm causing damage on pepper fruit.

Around southwest Florida, there are a few big tomato hornworms showing up here and there

The UF/IFAS research station in Immokalee and growers in the Devils garden area continue to report heavy pressure from fall armyworm on sweet corn.  Fall armyworms have also caused serious damage to a number of pastures in the LaBelle area.

Respondents in southwest Florida continue to report heavy pressure from both melonworm and pickleworms on cucurbits.  Pressure is high on many farms.  Melonworms are most common on cucumbers while pickleworms are causing some losses in squash.

Weevil pressure remains low

Growers are finding a few pepper weevils in fallen fruit in the Palm Beach area.  Reports indicate that most occurrences have been isolated and infestations have been kept under control to date.

Pepper weevils are also being seen around southwest Florida.  In many instances, sightings are in fields and areas with a history of weevil problems.  Growers have been picking them up in sticky traps over the past two weeks and continue to find fallen pepper fruit in fields.

Fallen fruit should be checked to determine if weevils are responsible.  Infested fruits can be recognized before they fall by the yellow calyx the presence of oviposition punctures that look like small dimples.

Pheromone traps made by Trece are a good way to detect populations early.   Spraying needs to commence at the first sign of weevils or with flowering in fields with a history of problems.  Vydate is the standard control and has given pretty good results even at 2 pts/acre when sprayed weekly in Phil Stansly’s trials at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. A total of 24 pts can be applied for the season.

Many growers have indicated disappointing results in obtaining satisfactory control in the field.  Some growers have terminated older plantings where weevils had become unmanageable.  A number of growers have indicated obtaining good results in controlling weevils with either Capture or cryolite.  Actara, a newly labeled nicotinoid insecticide from Syngenta has also demonstrated good control in trials, but growers are limited to 2 applications season.  Timing of usage for best results remains to be determined. All currently labeled materials are difficult to work into an IPM program once plantings begin to be harvested due to the 7 day PHI in force for all of them.  This is especially true for hot peppers, which are often harvested several times a week.

Leafminer activity is beginning to pickup around South Florida.

In the Delray Beach/Boynton Beach area, leafminer pressure is continuing to increase on young plantings especially where there are older plantings of tomatoes nearby.  In some cases, plantings have required treatment as soon as two weeks after transplanting.

Respondents around southwest Florida are also reporting an increase in leafminer pressure.  Scouts report finding adults, larvae and stippling on tomato plants.  Reports indicate that some growers in the Immokalee area have begun to apply Agrimek and Trigard for leafminer control. In most areas, populations remain below threshold levels but several respondents have indicated the development of hot spots around field margins and row ends.

Leafminer injury is readily visible to the grower but healthy plants can tolerate considerable damage without excessive loss of vigor and yield.  Heavily damaged leaves will often drop, due in part to entry of pathogenic organisms into old mines.  The Florida Tomato Scouting Guide sets action thresholds at 0.7 larva per plant for young plants with less than 2 true leaves and 0.7 larva per 3 terminal leaflets for larger plants.

An integrated pest management program that stresses conservation of natural enemies is the primary tactic for the successful control of leafminer.  Chemical control is difficult due to the feeding habits inside the leaf of the host plant. Insecticides that specifically target the leafminer are recommended as use of broad-spectrum materials may decimate beneficial insects including those that attack leafminer.  This often results in a larger leafminer problem if the pesticide reduces field densities of leafminer parasites.

Fortunately, populations are usually prevented from reaching truly damaging levels by a number of parasites that attack leafminers.  Several parasites for this insect have been recorded in Florida, but parasitic wasps such as Opius, Diglyphus are most common.  Wasp larvae develop on or in the leafminer larva or pupa. The host ceases to feed and the parasitoid egg or larva is visible through the leaf epidermis using a hand lens against strong light.  In scouting fields, growers should be careful to note the number of parasitized mines before deciding to apply insecticides.

Due to its feeding habit, this pest is resistant to many insecticides.  Cyromazine (Trigard) alternated with abamectin (Agrimek) are effective against leafminer in tomato. Both of these products have limited crop registrations and must not be used on unregistered crops. Spinosad (Spintor) has also given good results and is labeled on a wide range of crops.  Some other materials that may be used to conserve beneficials include azadirachtin (Neemix) and insecticidal oils.  Both are approved for use by organic growers.

Field sanitation is an important control tactic that is overlooked. When crops are not present in the fields, leafminers can survive on a variety of broad-leaf weeds. These plants serve as reservoirs for pest.

Broadmites pressure appears to be easing somewhat across the region.

In Palm Beach respondents indicate that broadmites continue to be a concern and growers are encouraged to examine plants for broadmites especially as they begin blooming and setting fruit.

Around Immokalee, broadmites are still active in pepper and some eggplant.  Some growers report good results using maintenance sprays of 30 pounds of sulfur per 1200 gallons of spray on a regular basis.  Since broadmites can complete mature from egg to adult in as little as 5 days, timing is critical as frequent applications are an essential component of disrupting their lifecycle and gaining control.

A few locations around southwest Florida are reporting problems with spider mites on tomatoes.  These appear to be coming from weeds or cane in sugarcane windbreaks adjacent to the fields.

Respondents in Palm Beach have reported a few flights of winged aphids on various crops.   Reports indicate that associated virus infections have been minimal.

Respondents in southwest Florida continue report low numbers of winged aphids flying into brassicas, tomato, pepper, eggplant and cucurbits.   Incidence is spotty but some reports indicate that numbers seem to be increasing marginally.

Control of aphids is not particularly difficult if a few precautions are observed. It is necessary to select a recommended material for their control, but even more so, a thorough coverage of all the plant surfaces is mandatory. Aphids prefer the undersides of the leaves and young developing buds as feeding sites. Thus they are protected from much of the insecticidal spray unless it is aimed at these crevices and places. Even a few females left uncontrolled can quickly lead to the buildup new populations.

Scouts in southwest Florida report finding an occasional stinkbug or two in tomato.

A few flower thrips (Frankliniella bispinosa) are being found in pepper and eggplant blooms across south Florida.  At this time, pressure is light at 1 to 2 per bloom with no specific sprays being targeted for thrips control.

Although most respondents indicate that whitefly populations remain low across south Florida.  Some reports indicate that populations are beginning increase in some older tomato fields around Immokalee.  Scouts report finding as many as 10 adults per plant in addition to detecting eggs and nymphs.  Growers are encouraged to begin watching populations more closely as crops begin to mature and as the control from early season applications of Admire and Platinum begins to diminish with time.

In at least one case, it has been reported that a grower has considered the use of Provado where soil borne nicotinoids have begun to wear off.  Growers are urged to be careful not to over use this class of compounds to avoid the development of resistance.

Admire and Provado both contain the same active ingredient (imidacloprid).  Like wise Platinum and Actara contain the same active ingredient (thiamethoxam).  Since all are in the nicotinoid class of insecticides, there is potential for the development of cross-resistance.  Such cross-resistance has already been observed in Spain. This fact lends additional import to the necessity for attention to resistance management.

Nicotinoid Resistance Management Strategies
 

• Reduce overall whitefly populations by strictly adhering to cultural practices including

• Do not use a nicotinoid on transplants or apply only once 7 – 10 days before transplanting; use other products in other chemical classes, including pymetrozine (Fulfill®) before this time.

• Apply a nicotinoid at transplanting and use other products of other chemical classes, such as the insect growth regulators Knack® or Applaud® as the control with the nicotinoid diminishes.
• Never follow an application (soil or foliar) of a nicotinoid with another application (soil or foliar) of the same or different nicotinoid on the same crop or in the same field within the same season (i.e. do not treat a double crop with a nicotinoid if the main crop had been treated previously)
• Save applications of nicotinoids for crops threatened by whitefly transmitted plant viruses or whitefly inflicted plant disorders (i.e. tomato, beans or squash) and consider the use of chemicals of other classes for whitefly control on other crops.

Growers are urged to follow these recommendations and help assure the continued effectiveness of these important whitefly management tools.

To avoid resistance growers are advised to use nicotinoids at transplanting and rotate to other products of other chemical classes, such as Thiodan or the insect growth regulators Knack® or Applaud® as the control runs out.

Whiteflies are also being widely detected in cucurbits although populations remain low.

Bacterial spot infection remains widespread on tomato and pepper in all areas.  Occurrence varies widely with many growers indicate they remain relatively clean.

Reports from Palm Beach indicate bacterial spot continues to increase.  Some respondents indicate that the incidence and occurrence may be greater on tomato.  Although bacterial spot is still showing up on peppers, in some cases, it seems that pepper plants seems to be growing out of earlier infections.

Dr Ken Pernezny, plant Pathologist at EREC reports seeing quite a bit of bacterial spot in tomato on the east coast.  Based on symptoms, he indicates that they are seeing both race 1 (little shot-holing) and race 3 (lots of shot holes).

In some fields around Immokalee and Naples, there are widespread reports of bacterial spot on tomato.  The windy rainy weather at the beginning of the period fueled the spread of the disease and appearance of new infections.  In some cases reports indicated the occurrence of multiple fresh lesions all the way to the top of tomato plants.  In some cases, incidence was moderate to heavy and damage including some fruit lesions.

Cooler drier weather and abundant sunshine this past week appears to have checked many infections.

There have been few reports of peppers with the disease around Immokalee. Incidence and severity is mostly low.  Some growers have reported good control using a combination of manzate and phage.

Around Immokalee, growers are beginning to see low levels of early blight and target spot on tomato.

In Palm Beach, respondents report finding target spot on tomatoes and eggplant.  In one instance, there is a report of one farm having problems with target spot on tomatoes plants since they were transplanted.  These fields have now been picked twice.  Target spot is still present and has primarily infected the interior of the plant.  It is important to note that the traditional copper/mancozeb sprays for controlling bacterial spot will have little affect on target spot.  Bravo was used as a rotational product to help keep the disease under control.

Target Spot is the name often used for vegetable diseases caused by the fungus Corynespora cassiicola.Target spot has a wide host range, attacking over 60 species of plants. Target spot is a particular problem on cucumbers and tomatoes in Florida.

On cucumbers, the disease starts as small, yellow leaf flecks that gradually enlarge to about 1 cm (0.4 in) across and become angular. Individual mature lesions are very light tan with a thin brown margin. Lesions may coalesce, with the development of large circular areas of dead tissue that dries up and tears out. Small, elongate target spot lesions may occasionally occur on cucumber petioles and stems. Target spot, especially in the early stages, is difficult to distinguish from angular leaf spot and downy mildew, two common foliar diseases of cucumber. In late stages, the disease can be confused easily with anthracnose of cucumber. Microscopic examination of lesions in the lab for signs of specific pathogens is necessary to make an exact diagnosis.

On tomato leaves, the disease first appears as small necrotic lesions with light brown centers and dark margins. Some varieties show a pronounced yellow halo around these leaf spots. Later, somewhat circular lesions about 1 cm in diameter develop with sunken tan to light brown centers. Individual lesions often coalesce and cause a general blighting of leaves.  Symptoms also occur on flower and fruit stalks and stems.

On tomato fruit, a succession of symptoms is observed. Small, brown, slightly sunken flecks are observed first. As fruits mature and the disease progresses, lesions be-come larger and darker. Coalescence of lesions result in large pitted areas. Advanced disease on fruit appears as large and deeply sunken lesions, often with visible dark gray to black growth of the fungus in the center. A recessed zone of healthy looking tissue will usually surround the zone covered with fungal growth.

In artificial inoculation trials conducted at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, very slight wounding (as from fine sand particles abrading the fruit surface) was essential for reproduction of the fruit symptoms observed in the field. It is likely that wind-blown sand is important in outbreaks of target spot on tomato fruit in the field.

Target spot symptoms, especially in the early stages, can be readily confused with two other tomato diseases, bacterial spot and early blight.

Early blight produces a wide range of symptoms at all stages of plant growth. It can cause damping-off, collar rot, stem cankers, leaf blight, and fruit rot. The classic symptoms occur on the leaves where circular lesions up to one-half inch in diameter are produced. Within these lesions dark, concentric circles can be seen. The leaf blight phase usually begins on the lower, older leaves and progresses up the plant. Infected leaves eventually wither, die, and fall from the plant. On the fruit the black spots are ridged, sunken, starting around the calyx scar.

Microscopic examinations of tissue samples for spores of the Corynespora fungus is needed for proper disease identification.

Use of plant resistance in cucumber to control target spot has been a long-standing control practice in Europe for over 15 years. Due to the sporadic occurrence of target spot in Florida, however, breeding efforts for vegetable cultivars have not concentrated on this particular pathogen. Currently, target spot is controlled primarily by periodic applications of protectant fungicides.

It should be noted that tank-mix sprays of copper fungicides and maneb do not provide acceptable levels of target spot control. In the past, several outbreaks of target spot of tomato have been correlated with frequent use of copper/maneb tank-mixes, primarily for bacterial spot control, to the almost total exclusion of other fungicides. Correct diagnosis of the cause of tomato foliar lesions obviously is needed if proper fungicide choices are to be made.A complete description of the disease with color photographs can be found at http://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu/takextpub/Fact%20Sheets/pp39.pdf

Reports from Palm Beach indicate there were some new outbreaks of Phytophthora on pepper and eggplant that coincided with the warm, wet weather that affected the area last week.  These outbreaks have not increased this week.  In general, the incidence of Phytophthora remains low.

Some growers located east of Immokalee and in the Devils Garden area report significant problems with Phytophthora blight on pepper.  One scout indicated that the incidence and severity of Phytophthora this season has been the most severe in the past few seasons.  Incidence is localized.

Respondents from the east coast indicate that the wet rot (Choanephora cucurbitarum) reported in the last “hotline” on pepper has mostly dried up with improved weather conditions.

Reports of powdery mildew on squash have come in from both coasts.   Growers in Palm Beach also report treating strawberry transplants for powdery mildew.

In southwest Florida, downy mildew and powdery mildew is widespread on squash.  Incidence and severity is generally low.

Growers in southwest Florida also report starting to find  “mosaic” on squash.

Respondents on both coasts continue to report finding tomato yellow leaf curl virus in a few widely scattered tomato plants.  Incidence is low although some scouts have reported a slight increase in the number of infections noted in the past two weeks.

Although there have been no new reports of late blight around Immokalee, scouts in Palm Beach are reporting some spotty occurrences of Phytophthora (late blight) on tomatoes.  Most of the infections are being found on stems and branches of plants around first bloom.  Ridomil combination products are being used for control.

Scattered reports of gummy stem blight have been received from respondents in southwest Florida.

There have been a number of reports of tobacco mosaic virus and tomato mosaic virus infections being detected in tomato fields in south Florida.

Symptoms consistent with an infection typical of a member of the tobamovirus group, which includes tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), were observed in several commercial tomato fields in south Florida in late October and early November.  A mild light and dark green mosaic or mottle was generally present on leaves, frequently accompanied by slight distortion (puckering).   In a few instances, a distinct yellow mottle was observed on leaves.  Symptoms were generally most noticeable on new growth.  Plants affected at an early age were stunted.

The presence of tobamoviruses was confirmed by symptoms induced on indicator host plants and by inclusion body morphology.  Serological tests (ELISA) were used to identify the tobamoviruses as TMV and ToMV, two very closely related viruses.  These viruses can be seedborne and are also readily transmitted mechanically by plant sap spread on hands and implements.

Reports indicate that these infections are associated with infected seed lots.  Growers have indicated that infections have tended to occur in isolated patches and have initially not displayed the linear spread often associated with mechanical transmission.

Avoidance is the best control.  Only seed that has been tested and determined to be free of tobacco mosaic virus and tomato mosaic virus should be used for plant production.  Once disease is present, infected fields should be worked (staked, tied or harvested) last to prevent further spread of the virus by mechanical transmission.  Removal of infected plants may result in additional spread of the disease if proper sanitation procedures are not followed before handling healthy plants.  Effective sanitation procedures include washing hands and tools with a disinfectant to destroy virus particles.

University of Florida and USDA scientists have posted information and photographs on a tobamavirus, which includes tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), on the Florida Pest Alert WWW site at http://extlab7.entnem.ufl.edu/PestAlert/.  Additional information on these viruses can be found at
http://image.fs.uidaho.edu/vide/descr803.htm and http://image.fs.uidaho.edu/vide/descr832.htm

Up Coming Meetings

Palm Beach County

November 20, 2001  Vegetable Growers' Seminar on Methyl Bromide Alternatives Update and Products for Pest Control:  Confirm, Nova, and Spintor
    Whitworth Farms Shipping Dock, 11400 State Road 7, Boynton Beach, FL
Lunch 11:45 - 12:30 PM; Program 12:15 - 1:10 PM with
    Telone Application Equipment Demonstration to follow at
    Green Cay Farm, 12750 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach, 1:30-5 PM
    1.0 CEU's (Private, Aerial, Ag Row Crop, Demo/Res), 1.0 CCA credits
Contact Ken Shuler at 561-233-1718 or 1725

Southwest Florida

November 13, 2001                                Weather seminar - Short term forecasts
                                                                - Weather by the Seat of Your Pants with Jim Clarke, meteorologist,
                                                                NBC-WBBH TV - 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
                                                                UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
                                                                Hwy 29 N, Immokalee, FL
                                                                Note: Lunch will be served to only those that RSVP.
                                                                Contact Sheila at 863-674-4092 to register.

December 4, 2001                                 Vegetable Growers Meeting - Fundamentals of Irrigation,
                                                                Southwest Florida Mobile Irrigation Lab and Roundup Herbicide
                                                                Formulations and Vegetable Application Updates.  6:00 – 8:00 PM
                                                                UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
                                                                Hwy 29 N, Immokalee, FL
                                                                Contact Gene McAvoy 863-674-4092

December 12, 2001                              Fall Vegetable Field Day  - 10:00 AM – Noon
                                                              UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
                                                              Hwy 29 N, Immokalee, FL
                                                             Contact Gene McAvoy 863-674-4092

Other Meetings

November 20, 2001                             Irrigation Project Demonstration - Pacific Tomato Growers – 9 AM
                                                              Myakka City, Florida
                                                              Use Wauchula Road entrance approximately 1 ¼ mi north of SR 70

November 28-29, 2001                      The IV Americas Food and Beverage Show
                                                            The largest in the Western Hemisphere will take place on in Miami Florida
                                                            featuring more than 600 exhibits from 24 countries. This is a great opportunity
                                                            for ag-products (fresh and processed) for export to Latin America, Europe,
                                                            and Asia.  For more information contact (305) 871-7910.

December 8-12, 2002                         Cucurbitaceae 2002
                                                             Naples Beach and Golf Club, Naples, Florida
                                                             Contact Don Maynard at 941-751-7636 ext 239 or dnma@mail.ifas.ufl.edu.

Thiodan Up for Assessment and Re-registration by EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently considering comments on their risk assessment and re-registration of the pesticide endosulfan (thiodan). The agency is accepting comments until Tuesday, November 13, 2001. Submit your comments to EPA on their risk assessment and re-registration decision for endosulfan on or before Tuesday, November 13, 2001. EPA's endosulfan re-registration and risk assessment documents are available on line at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/endosulfan/.

Send emails to  opp-docket@epa.gov , with OPP-34242 in the subject line, or send a letter referencing Docket No. OPP-34242 to:

Ms. Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator
Public Information and Records Integrity Branch
Information Resources and Services Division (7502C)
Office of Pesticide Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460

A number of environmental groups are calling for registration of this product to be cancelled, make your voice heard if continued registration is important to you.

Consulting Services

Agricultural Pest Management, Inc is a newly formed scouting service for growers in SW Florida.  APM is owned and operated by Kathy Carbiener.  Kathy has over 23 years experience scouting Florida vegetables including 10 years experience in SW Florida.  Growers interested in learning more about this service can call 941-628-4541 or 863-494-3112.

UF/IFAS Research and Education Centers may be closed.

The Gulf Coast Research and Education Center near Bradenton celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. Now the agricultural lab affiliated with the University of Florida anticipates that it will be shut down, because of state budget cuts.

The center's fate won't be known for certain until after Thanksgiving. Unable to agree on how to slash $1 billion from the state budget in a recent special session, the Legislature intends to try again during a 10-day special session that begins Nov. 27.

But the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, which runs the Gulf Coast center, is not optimistic. "We have several centers that could be forced into closure, (staff) reductions or consolidations," IFAS assistant vice-president Don Poucher said. "The Gulf Coast center is one of them."
IFAS informed the heads of its 22 research centers this week that it expects the agency to take deep fiscal cuts. The center directors, in turn, relayed the grim prediction to their employees.

The 200-acre research center, 5007 60th St. E., has 15 university faculty members and 80 technical workers. It specializes in developing ways to improve production of numerous crops grown in this region, such as strawberries, vegetables and ornamental plants. The center has developed more than 65 varieties and breeding lines of various crops.

HeraldTribune.com
11/07/2001

Congratulations

Donna and Mark Verbeck announce the birth of a daughter Haley Jo.  Haley was born on Wednesday November 7 and weighed in at 8 lbs and measured 20 inches. Mother and child are healthy and doing fine.  Fortunately for Haley, mom persisted and did not yield to Mark’s idea to name the baby Haley Husker.  Congratulations and all the best to the Verbeck family.

Websites

FMC launches Spiderweb for Bug Ids - the new Web site, http://www.spiderweb.fmc.com, lists more than 60 kinds of crop-munching insects to help growers identify those that are infesting their fields.

Growers and crop consultants can search by crop or insect name. Or, they make a visual ID from a "bug zoo," an interactive, 360-degree view of insects. There is a forum for chatting online with fellow crop consultants and growers about what’s bugging them, a virtual insect library, infestation maps, and a link to enroll in FMC’s annual Bug Camp held in July.

Licensing questions?  -  This Florida DACS website called Licensing, Permits, Registration provides licensing information on everything from aerials spraying to fair rides.  Go to http://doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/  The section on Pesticide Licenses looks particularly helpful.  At the bottom of the page is a link to Spanish translation software.

New Insecticides Disrupt Bug Life Cycles

A new generation of chemical pesticides will disrupt the life cycle of insects, preventing them from reaching their normal adult form. Because the pesticides attack insect juvenile hormone, which has no equivalent in higher animals, they will be harmless to vertebrate animals and humans, says CSIRO, the public research agency for Australia.

A research team of scientists from the United States and Australia has cloned two proteins, which regulate the level of insect juvenile hormone.

"The level of this hormone is crucial in development where it controls the process of metamorphosis," says Tony Zera of the University of Nebraska. "In insects such as locusts juvenile hormone is also one of the factors that controls the switch between their sedentary stage and their migratory stage.  "In the flight stage of their life cycle they are a moving target and much harder to control."

Two key proteins called juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) and juvenile hormone binding protein (JHBP) control the level of juvenile hormone. This in turn regulates the passage of juvenile insects through their various moults to become adults.

Alterations to JHE and JHBP disrupt development and in the case of insects like crickets and grasshoppers can prevent commencement of the migratory phase.

Dr John Oakeshott, leader of CSIRO Entomology's biotechnology program, says that his research team has cloned the genes producing JHE and JHBP from several different insects.

"We can now format these proteins in high speed screening systems to scan libraries of natural and synthetic chemicals for molecules that would disrupt the function of the proteins and give us new candidates for chemical insecticides," Oakeshott says.

Crop Protection Magazine
Jan. 11, 2001

"Important Words"

The six most important words: I admit that I was wrong.

The five most important words: You did a great job.

The four most important words: What do you think?

The three most important words: Could you please. . .

The two most important words: Thank you.

The most important word: We.

The least important word: I.

--Author Unknown~

Quotable Quotes

"Some people make things happen, some watch while things happen, and some wonder 'What happened?'" ?? Unknown

"The cat could very well be man's best friend but would never stoop to admitting it." ?? Doug Larson

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." ?? Nelson Henderson

THE OWNERSHIP OF COWS:

A CHRISTIAN: You have two cows. You keep one and give one to your neighbor.

A SOCIALIST: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.

A REPUBLICAN: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So what?

A DEMOCRAT: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You vote people into office who tax your cows, forcing you to sell one to raise money to pay the tax. The people you voted for then take the tax money and buy a cow and give it to your neighbor. You feel righteous.

A COMMUNIST: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk.

DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government.

CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours the milk down the drain.

JAPANESE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an
ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.

A GERMAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You reengineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a
month, and milk themselves.

Southwest Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline is now the South Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline

You may have noticed that the name of the hotline has changed to the South Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline.  In response to numerous requests from readers and in an effort to better serve growers and the vegetable industry, we are expanding coverage of the hotline to include southwest Florida and eastern Palm Beach County.  Comments and suggestions are appreciated.  Let us know what you think.

Contributors include: Joel Allingham/AgriCare, Inc, Karen Armbrester/SWFREC, Jim Connor/SWFREC, Bruce Corbitt/West Coast Tomato Growers, Fred Heald/Farmers Supply, Sarah Hornsby/AgCropCon, Cecil Howell/H&R Farm, Bruce Johnson/General Crop Management, Leon Lucas/Glades Crop Care, Gene McAvoy/Hendry County Extension, Alice McGhee/Thomas Produce, Jimmy Morales/Pro Source One, Tim Nychk/Nychk Bros. Farm, Chuck Obern/C+B Farm, Dr Ken Pernezny/EREC, Dr. Pam Roberts/SWFREC, Nancy Roe/Farming Systems Research, Wes Roan/6 L's, Kevin Seitzinger/Gargiulo, Jay Shivler/ F& F Farm, Ken Shuler/Palm Beach County Extension, Ben Stanaland/Pacific Tomato Growers, John Stanford/LNA Farm, Mike Stanford/MED Farms, Dr. Phil Stansly/SWFREC, Eugene Tolar/Red Star Farms, Dr.Charlie Vavrina/SWFREC, Donna Verbeck/GulfCoast Ag. and Mark Verbeck/Bayer Crop Protection.

The South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline is compiled by Gene McAvoy and is issued on a biweekly basis by the Hendry County Cooperative Extension Office as a service to the vegetable industry.

Gene McAvoy
Extension Agent II
Vegetable/Ornamental Horticulture  863-674-4092 phone
Hendry County Extension Office  941-860-8811 mobile  - Nextel Agnet 28950
PO Box 68     863-674-4097 fax
LaBelle, Florida 33975   gmcavoy@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu

http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~gmcavoy/index.htm

Ken Shuler
Extension Agent IV
Vegetables
Palm Beach County Extension
559 N Military Trail    561-233-1718 phone
West Palm Beach, Florida 33415-1311 kds@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu

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