Deer also are a valued source of food, not only for hunters but also a wide range of charities that benefit from donated deer meat, he said at the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Commodity Conference. And they support a broad array of corollary businesses, such as taxidermists and hunting suppliers.

But, McKinley notes, there is another side of the coin for the popular game animals: they’ve become so numerous that they’re causing millions of dollars annually in damage to agricultural crops, home landscaping and gardens, and to vehicles involved in collisions with deer.

“We’ve done population reconstruction analyses that show there are now at least two million deer in the state — and the figure could be even higher than that,” he says. “The result is that we’re seeing an upward trend in crop depredation, vehicle collisions, destruction of gardens, and other deer-related problems.”

That’s quite a contrast to 80 or so years ago when wildlife biologist Aldo Leopold, considered the father of conservation in the U.S., made a tour of Mississippi and estimated that there were only 1,200 deer left in the entire state.

“Our agency was formed in 1932 and by 1933 deer refuges were created across the state,” McKinley says. “As their numbers increased, they were moved into other areas of the state and released. All those releases involved only a dozen or so deer, but in the years since they’ve multiplied to the point that in many areas it’s not safe to drive down the highway at night.”

All this necessitates management programs and annual harvest to insure that the population doesn’t explode further, he says.

“If we don’t keep this deer population under control, we could face big-time problems. The only way to limit their numbers is to take out females.  And while there are some who oppose this, imagine what would happen if we stopped harvesting 350,000 or so female deer each year.

“As bad as things are now, within one year those 350,000 could become 700,000, and in another year there could be another 1 million-plus deer out there.

“Good deer management can reduce these accident numbers and depredation of crops, gardens, etc.”

For the past three years, McKinley says, hunters have shot more does than bucks. “Mississippi hunters have been very cooperative in harvesting antlerless deer. One-third of the herd must be harvested or die each year to keep a level population, but even though the bag limit is eight, the average hunter takes only two deer each year.”

Because of a massive acorn crop this past fall and a very mild winter that has resulted in a lot of green native vegetation, the deer harvest has been below normal, he notes.

“There has been an ample amount of food, which has made the deer lazy, and lazy deer that don’t move around as much, and hunters don’t harvest as many. The observation rate of deer this winter has been the lowest in my 11 seasons with the agency. On the other hand, antler quality of deer harvested has been some of the best I’ve seen, and may be the best ever in the state.”

In 2009, when heavy rain and flooding resulted in large concentrations of deer in some areas, crop losses were extensive, McKinley says.

For the rest of the story, go to Delta Farm Press.

Several Southeast and Mid-South university entomologists discuss potential insect problems, and what growers can do about them.

The kudzu bug is a new insect pest that has invaded the Southeast and is probing the Mid-South.

“In the fall of 2009, the kudzu bug was first found in the U.S. in nine northeast Georgia counties,” says Phillip Roberts, Extension entomologist, Tifton, Ga. “Today, it’s in 120 counties of Georgia, all of South Carolina, 50 North Carolina counties, one Virginia county, and five Alabama counties.

“We observed a 19 percent average yield loss in Georgia trials in 2010, and even greater losses in 2011. We harvested five trials and our yield loss ranged from 22 percent to 47 percent.

“Growers definitely need to scout for the kudzu bug and treat if necessary. We’re still developing workable thresholds; we suggest treatment when you find three to five bugs per plant.”

While Georgia researches ways to control the new pest, the state still contends with its regular insect problems. The state’s primary pests are pod feeders, mainly stink bugs.

“We also have a complex of foliage feeders, with the velvetbean caterpillar and soybean looper being the primary ones,” Roberts says. “We’ve also had some tough situations with lesser corn stalk borer, which is a sporadic pest for us.”

In 2010, the kudzu bug was found in 16 out of 46 South Carolina counties. Its population exploded and completely covered the state in 2011.

Jeremy Greene, Clemson University entomologist, Blackville, S.C., says, “Depending on factors such as planting date, maturity group, and others we are just beginning to learn about, yield losses from this insect range from zero  to 50 percent loss if not controlled.

“We’re still researching cultural methods to control this pest. The kudzu bug responds well to insecticides, but it’s not listed on any insecticide label. We can still legally, but carefully, make recommendations to producers for using insecticides already labeled in soybeans, but we will have to work with the chemical companies to get this pest added to their labels and recommended in ways that will provide good control.

“We have generated some data, but need to initiate more trials, showing which products are efficacious on this insect. We have only had 2011 to do any appreciable field research on this species. We are currently planning for significant research next year.”

Go to Delta Farm Press for the rest of the story.

To register for this teleconference, please visit http://www.ncipmc.org/teleconference/.  If more than one individual from your unit plans to participate in the teleconference, we suggest you consider participating as a group using a speaker phone and LCD projector.  This approach will reduce telephone expenses and hopefully facilitate further discussion within your unit following the teleconference.

Background:

The President’s FY2013 budget proposes to consolidate funding for Expert Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Decision Support System, IPM & Biological Control, Minor Crop Pest Management IR-4, Pest Management Alternatives, Smith-lever 3(d) Pest Management (State IPM Coordinators), and Regional Pest Management Centers into a single program called Crop Protection administered under Integrated Activities. This consolidation will enhance NIFA’s ability to support research, education, and extension activities needed to ensure global food security and respond to other major societal challenges.  Funded activities will be for IPM projects that respond to pest management challenges with coordinated regional and national research, education, and extension programs, and promote further development and use of IPM approaches.

USDA NIFA is planning a series four of listening sessions, the first of which will occur at the conclusion of the 7th International IPM Symposium on March 29,2012, from 2:00 -5:00 p.m., in Memphis, TN.  If you are attending the 7th International IPM Symposium, I urge you to attend this session.  The purpose of the listening sessions is to gather stakeholder input on how the new “Crop Protection” line item should be implemented.  We realize not everyone will be able to participate in these listening sessions, so the North Central IPM Center will summarize the discussions from the March 7, 2012 teleconference to share at the March 29, 2012 listening session.

Additional listening sessions are scheduled for:

April 11, 2012 – via web and conference call.
April 16, 2012 – Washington, DC at the Waterfront Center, NIFA offices.
May 1, 2012 – via web and conference call.

Details on all sessions will be published in the Federal Register and posted on the NIFA website (www.nifa.usda.gov).

The book has 60 +color photographs, plus descriptive profiles of over 22 wasp and bee species, detailing habitat, appearance, behavior, risk level, and more. It also includes instructions on trap-assembly, a checklist outlining seasonal management tasks, an appendix to help identify common species and their risk level, and a list of resources for further information.

For more information, click here.

Learn how to improve the success of your IPM initiatives for bed bugs and lice by scheduling and tracking inspections as part of a preventive maintenance program.

The webinar will cover IPM standards and proven best practices that will help you:

• Identify, monitor and manage bed bugs, lice and other pests in schools
• Improve precautionary measures
• Prevent an infestation problem
• Improve pest management with less pesticide use and no increase in cost
• Establish preventive maintenance activities to manage pest problems long-term
• Educate instructors, administrators, maintenance/custodial staff, and students

Register now at:  https://cc.readytalk.com/r/wiutd6w0iyuf

A confirmation page will appear with a link to add the event to your calendar and an email will soon follow that also has the connection information.  If you have questions, ideas or issues, please contact Roger Young at roger@k12masters.com or 1-978-886-6093.

The school is March 7 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. CST, and presentations by UK College of Agriculture specialists in weed science, soil science, plant pathology and entomology begin at 9 a.m. Topics include nitrogen management for corn, herbicide-resistant weeds, warmer temperatures and changing pest control challenges, a corn fungicide update, plant diseases in corn, soybeans and wheat, and managing insect pests of field crops in 2012.

The program is approved for the following pesticide applicator education hours: two general and one specific in categories 1A, 10, 12 and 14. Five continuing education units are available for Certified Crop Advisors including 2.5 in pest management, 0.5 in professional development and one each in nutrient management and crop management.

The school is free, and lunch is provided. The entire program and directions are available on the UK Integrated Pest Management website, http://www.ca.uky.edu/Ag/IPM. For more information about the meeting, contact Patty Lucas, UK Integrated Pest Management extension specialist, at plucas@uky.edu or 270-365-7541, ext. 218.

Marestail (also known as horseweed), Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are examples of weeds that are not being controlled with glyphosate. James Martin, UK weed scientist, said all three weeds can pose problems for soybean growers.

Glyphosate-resistant marestail was found in Kentucky in 2001. It is now in almost all of the counties west of Interstate 65 and is spreading eastward. Martin said the majority of marestail in the state has glyphosate resistance. While it can emerge in the fall and overwinter in Kentucky, it often emerges early March through the summer.

“It’s important to control marestail before planting soybeans,” Martin said. “Once soybeans are in the ground, there are not many treatment options and they are not very effective.”

Both Palmer amaranth and waterhemp grow as warm-season annuals and are members of the pigweed family.  The emergence pattern of these pigweeds tends to be delayed and prolonged compared with other warm-season annuals.

Palmer amaranth and waterhemp may be present is as many as 19 counties, mostly in Western Kentucky. They were first observed in fields located in flood plains or river bottoms but are now appearing in upland fields.

“The excessive flooding the past two springs may have contributed to the spread of these two weeds,” Martin said.

Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth was first reported in Fulton County but now is found in the majority of the Purchase Area and in some Western Kentucky counties bordering the Ohio and Green rivers. Glyphosate-resistant waterhemp is found mostly in counties along the Ohio and Green rivers and is also in counties along the Mississippi River.

“Fields need to be monitored closely in order for growers to respond in a timely manner. This is especially true for Palmer amaranth,” Martin said. “If Palmer amaranth exceeds 3 inches tall, growers are going to have trouble controlling it. There’s a little more leeway with waterhemp, but not much.”

Along with timeliness, Martin added soil-residual herbicides are going to be important in controlling these weeds. Specific weed control recommendations for all three weeds and others are available in UK Cooperative Extension publication AGR-6, Weed Control Recommendations for Kentucky Grain Crops. The publication is available online at http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr6/01.pdf or at the local office of the UK Cooperative Extension Service.

Contact: James Martin, 270-365-7541, ext. 203

Writer: Katie Pratt, 859-257-8774

More at Delta Farm Press.

Go to http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-01/pdf/2012-2106.pdf for details on the session.

You will notice additional requests for stakeholder input regarding the Capacity Building Grants for Non Land-grant Colleges of Agriculture Institutions and regarding the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) following the information on EIPM.