SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Participants

• Ron Weeks, Auburn University,Wiregrass Research & Extension Center, jweeks@acesag.auburn.edu
• James W. Todd, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, todd@tifton.uga.edu
• Steve Brown, Extension Entomology, Rural Development Center, bugbrown@arches.uga.edu
• Phil Mulder, Oklahoma State University, philmul@okstate.edu
• Jay W. Chapin, Clemson University, Edisto Research & Education Center, jchapin@clemson.edu
• Scott Armstrong, Texas Tech. University, Plant & Soil Science, joarmstr@ttacs.ttu.edu
• Ames Herbert, Virginia Tech, Tidewater AREC, herbert@vt.edu
• Mike Fitzner, USDA/CSREES, mfitzner@reeusda.gov
• Richard L. Jones, University of Florida, rljones@mail.ifas.ufl.edu. Dennis Kopp, USDA/CSREES

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

• 1:00 Convene at Waterfront Centre, Washington D.C, welcome, opening comments, introductions, Scott Armstrong.
  
• 1:10 Comments from administrative advisors & CSREES representative. Mike Fitzner introduced himself , Nat. IPM Coordinator, as the new CSREES advisor. Federal perspective: reminded us of the need for renewal of this project. He described the ‘agency‘ as a funding agency that disperses funds via grants and non-competitive funding. Mike stressed accountability and the need to report success stories. He also, encouraged developing a web site for this multi-state project and mentioned the new IPM Centers and the interest to develop and sustain them across the US.
  

  Richard Jones provided comments about his role as the new AES administrative advisor. He distributed and discussed the guidelines for resubmitting this project. It expires next fall so needs to be rewritten. Scott Armstrong agreed to do the rewrite.
  

• 1:30 Election of officers and site selection for 2003 meeting. Rick Brandenburg was elected to be the Secretary-elect for 2002-2003. Dr. Brandenburg will work on site selection (Charlotte, NC was suggested by the group as a possible site). The group discussed changing the meeting time to later in the year. December 9-10 was suggested.
  
• 1:45 IR-4 discussion, developing a concerted effort for peanut insecticides? Scott Armstrong suggested that this group visit the idea of coordinating an IR-4 effort among peanut states. This could be enabled by creating a list serve of email addresses of the group so that all could be updated. The group suggested inviting an IR-4 representative to the next meeting to provide a better picture of the process, and show us how we can better coordinate with them. It was suggested that the group spend time on this each year, and when possible, coordinate efforts to improve opportunities for registrations. A list of possible priorities to work on during the next year was developed: Acramite (Crompton Uniroyal Chemical) and Intrepid (Dow AgroSciences). The Chair for next year (Ames Herbert) has been asked to contact IR-4 and set up a visit for the meeting next year, and to check on the status of Intrepid insecticide.
  
• 2:30 Insect updates and crop situations for 2002
  

  Alabama - Ron Weeks: 195,000 acres were planted and yield is projected to be only about 2000 lb/acre. They had average thrips pressure early in the season. Dry weather prevailed early in the season, which reduced activity of in-furrow insecticides. Dry weather persisted throughout most of the season. Sporadic infestations of defoliators [beet armyworm (BAW), soybean loopers (SBL), fall armyworm (FAW), corn earworm (CEW)] occurred. Lesser corn stalk borer (LCB) problems were severe in some areas. Most growers did not treat for LCBs because of high cost and reduced yield potential. Leafhoppers occurred late in the season and 3-cornered alfalfa hopper infestations occurred in some fields. A few growers treated with Orthene or low rates of pyrethroids. Burrowing bugs reappeared in some areas. Shellers are finding BB damaged kernels and are claiming increases in aflatoxin. There was some discussion of BB damage and how it is handled, rated, at the grading/buying stations.
  

  Georgia - Steve Brown: 530,000-550,000 acres, down slightly from last year, with projected yields of 2700 lb/acre, also down from last year. Very heavy thrips populations early and very high incidence of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). TSWV incidence was higher than in recent years. They experienced one of the heaviest foliage feeder years with some fields being treated 3 to 4 times. BAW nearly defoliated some fields in some areas, which was very unusual. Most fields with heavy BAW had been previously treated with Lorsban. Steward insecticide gained a federal label and was used by a lot of growers. Other foliage feeders also came in [FAW, SBL, and velvetbean caterpillar (VBC)]. Leafhoppers came in to many fields, both potato leafhopper and one or two other larger species (sharpshooters). Some wireworm damage was reported, especially in irrigated fields.
  
  

  North Carolina - (submitted prior to the meeting by Rick Brandenburg): I expect our crop will be down to about 80,000 acres next year, a 50% reduction from this year and half what we had a few years ago. We were eaten alive this year by beet armyworms and thrips were heavy early. Irrigated fields got hammered by SCR, a few spider mites, but not as many as I would have expected. Corn earworms weren‘t too bad. A few lesser cornstalk borers were out there in the driest fields. TSWV was worse than last year and we had fields that we documented at 40% infestation levels.
  

  South Carolina - Jay Chapin: 13,000 acres in 2002 with yields estimated at 2200 lb/acre. It was a very bad year with dry conditions throughout the growing season and very poor harvesting conditions. TSWV was worse than every reported. TSWV caused a lot of pod damage. BAW was bad, but FAW was worse. VBC populations were also high. LCB occurred early, but was ignored by producers because of poor control with insecticides, high cost, and problem with flaring spider mites, CEW and cutworm. Lorsban use has been pretty much discontinued in SC. Because of the farm bill, not much future for dry land peanut production. Only irrigated peanuts will make it.
  

  [A comment was made to invite Jon Ruberson, UGA, to become a participant of this project. His research specialty, natural enemies in row crops - especially peanut, would be of interest and add a valuable dimension to the group.]
  

  Oklahoma - Phil Mulder: 65,000 acres, down 15,000 from last year, with an estimated yield of 2200 lb/acre. Almost no insect problems to report. No defoliators, no thrips, very few mite problems. Rainfall was ample. 2002 was a nearly ideal season. However, rainy, cold October weather is preventing growers from completing harvest. This may become a very significant part of our peanut story soon, especially if the freezing weather gets to the crop before we can.
  

  Texas - Scott Armstrong: 172,000 acres in west TX, down from 180,000 last year. If you add central and south TX, an estimated 300,000 acres are grown in TX. Yield is estimated to be high for irrigated fields, up to 7000 lb/acre in the best areas, but 3200 lb/acre statewide. West TX peanuts are mostly irrigated. Water quality is an issue, not good in some cases. Water has salts that can scorch leaves. Disease levels are beginning to show up (Pythium, early leafspot). Thrips populations were fairly high. A few spider mite problems occurred. FAW occurred at high levels in some isolated areas but didn‘t appear to do much damage.
  

  Virginia - Ames Herbert: Virginia‘s peanut acreage has dropped 23% since 2001, to an estimated 57,000 acres in 2002. Because of extended drought conditions and increases in disease levels (especially TSWV) yields are estimated to be below average at 2,400 lb per acre. Uncertainty surrounding the new peanut program and lower potential value will further reduce acreage in 2003. Estimates range from 0 to 20,000-30,000 acres expected in 2003. Thrips populations were high early in the season and plant damage was severe in insecticide-unprotected fields. TSWV was rampant in peanut fields in 2002. Many acres were infested and some with as much as 75% infested plants. Populations of defoliators were higher than normal. CEW populations were high in many fields and many producers applied insecticides for control. Beet armyworm was discovered on cotton, peanut and soybean fields in the last week of July. Many fields were infested and treated.
  

• 5:00 Adjourn
  
• 6:00 Social gathering and meal

• 8:00 Research results and sharing control strategies on problem insects
  

  Thrips, thrips\tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) management: Jim Todd presented information on the GA thrips research/extension program. He distributed the newest version of the TSWV index (UGA Bull. 1165R). C-11-2-39 was the most resistant line evaluated in the 2002 studies and shows promise to be bred with more marketable lines. It is a big-seeded runner, so needs gypsum application to fill out the kernels, but has a red seed coat, which is an undesirable trait according to shellers. Georgia Green is showing more TSWV virus symptoms across the state. INSV (Impatiens necrotic spotted virus) is now showing up in a mixture with TSWV. UF98116 and ‘Hull‘are showing promise. AT-201 has not performed well in terms of TSWV susceptibility. Thimet 20G at the 5 lb/acre rate results in significantly less TSWV and higher yields compared with no insecticide, and the twin row planting pattern results in less virus. Many other lines were evaluated and discussed. In general, results conferred findings from previous years and supported the TSWV index. Steve Brown showed data that indicated the positive impact of adoption of the index by growers on losses to TSWV. On-farm surveys (1996-2000) also show that the index has been fairly accurate. Farmers were shifting to later planting dates in response to the index, but lapsed in 2002. Steve showed data on the impact of wheat straw cover on thrips damage, with damage and incidence of virus decreasing as amount of straw cover increased. Ron Weeks passed out his data on response of thrips to insecticide treatments. Ames Herbert presented data from 5 trials in VA where insecticides, row spacing, plant population and varieties were evaluated for TSWV incidence. Phil Mulder passed out and summarized data on thrips trials in OK.
  

• 9:00 Leafhopper species: Ron Weeks passed out data on insecticide efficacy against potato leafhopper and 3-cornered alfalfa hopper. Karate tends to provide more residual activity compared with Orthene. Steve Brown presented data on leafhopper control with hopper burn (plant damage) ratings and yield.
  
• 9:30 Break
  
• 9:45 Lepidopterous pests (FAW, BAW, SBL, CEW and VBC): Ron Weeks passed out data on insecticide efficacy against CEW, BAW, FAW and SBL. Jay Chapin showed data on foliage feeders (FAW, CEW, VBC). SC is experiencing burrowing bug (BB) outbreaks in some fields. BB damage is associated with tillage (more in minimum tillage) and dry weather (more in dry weather). There could be an association with aflatoxin. Fall or spring tillage, or irrigation, can reduce BB damage. Ames Herbert also reported on field trials comparing product efficacy against mixed populations of CEW, BAW, yellowstriped armyworm and others.
  
• 10:45 Soil pests (southern corn rootworm (SCR), wireworm, burrowing bug): Scott Armstrong presented results of work with SCR and use of cysteine proteinase inhibitors. He presented detailed results of graduate student studies relating to this area of research. Ames Herbert presented a brief overview of the NC/VA SCR Risk Index, and showed a sample of pods with damage to an unknown pest. No conclusions were drawn by the group, except that soil sampling will be needed to determine what insect might be responsible. Ron Weeks showed data on soil samples using a soil-sampling machine developed by Steve Brown. Samples from AL contained BB and various wireworms.
  
• 11:45 Final comments and review: The group had to disband at 12 noon but agreed that more time was needed next year in order to cover topics in more detail. It was suggested and voted upon to increase next year‘s meeting to 1-= days, beginning at 8:00 on a Tuesday (Dec. 9 was suggested) and adjourning at noon the following day. This change is hereby noted and will be revisited during the planning of the 2003 meeting.
  
• 12:00 noon - Adjourn

Accomplishments

Impacts

Publications