NC

"Plow Sharing"

A monthly newsletter devoted to sustainable farming practices ecological principles, and increasing the profitability of our farming community.

July, 2000 Issue

Raising Muskmelons
Challenge of Raising Organic/Low Spray Peaches
Carolina Fresh
Hog Producers Forum
Farm Fun Day
Chatham Farm Tour
Steve Groff Sustainable Farm Field Day
Organic Field Day
Insecticides From Sugar?

RAISING MUSKMELONS

Muskmelons (Cucurbitaceae) gourd family Cumumis melo, Reticulatus Group

Cantaloupes (common name) are a warm season crop. They require a long growing season for production, often reaching a 100 days or more from seeding to marketable fruit. Cantaloupes do better in a more sandy, well drained soil. Cantaloupes develop better in early warm soils. Using black plastic, trickle irrigation on raised beds works well for melon production. Wind damage can occur to the large leaves on the vines as the season goes on. Tall cover crops or green manures could be grown in strips between a number of rows of cantaloupes to act as a windbreak. Follow strict rotations schedules to minimize melons following melons or other cucurbits due to potential insect and disease problems. Three years should be the minimum amount of time between cucurbit crops sharing the same plot.
Cantaloupes can be direct seeded to the field or grown as transplants in the greenhouse or hotbed then transferred to the field. When direct seeded, rows should be 5-6ft apart with plants thinned to hills 2-3ft apart in the row, with 2-3 plants/hill. Generally, 2lbs. of seed is needed per acre, and planted «-3/4 inch deep.
Transplants help produce earlier ripening fruits and will often bring much higher prices early. With transplants, plant the seed three weeks before the plants are to be transplanted to the field. The plants should have 2-3 true leaves. Plant 2-3 seeds in a 3-4 inch peat pot, soil block, or plug tray. Do not allow pots to dry out, but, do not over water or overfeed.
Since melon plants have male and female flowers separated on the same plant, adequate pollination is necessary. On larger plots of an acre or more, beehives may be necessary. One to two hives per acre is advised. With the presence of bees, careful consideration to insect control is essential. Many organic pesticides are general kill sprays or dusts that are harmful to bees.

Fertilizer

Maintain the soil pH between 6.5-7.0. Liming will be necessary when pH is below 6.5. Low pH can cause toxicities by aluminum and manganese (yellow spots on leaf followed by death of leaf margin tissue). Increased levels of magnesium has been shown to increase the sugar content of the melon fruit considerably. Dolomitic lime contains approximately 12% magnesium.
When grown under plastic, the shallow rooted plants may experience magnesium deficient symptoms if the pH is below 6.5 and there is moderate levels of applied N present. Molybdenum can also be deficiency can also occur under these conditions. Be sure pH levels are adjusted beforehand and that the N source is well blended or slow release (as is the case with decomposed green manures).

Muskmelons: Fertilizer Recommended Based on Soil Test Results:

Phosphorus

Soil Test Reading Lb Phosphorus (P2O3)/Acre
Low <30lb/A 180
Med 31-60lb/A 120
High 60-80lb/A 60

Potassium

Soil Test Reading Lb Potassium (K20)/Acre
Low <200lb/A 150
Med 201-300lb/A 100
High 301-450lb/A 50
V-High>450lb/A 0
(>=greater than,<=less than)

Nitrogen:

Apply 70lbsN/A before planting and till thoroughly into soil As plants begin to vine apply an additional 50lbs N/A. If running a fertigation schedule, use approximately half the recommendation of the pepper fertigation rate. If a leguminous cover crop or green manure has been used and adequate compost, rotted manure, or other fertility has been added early in the season, fertigation may not be necessary for the growing season.

Harvest

Cantaloupes that are to be sold locally should be harvested at the full slip stage. This means that the vine will pull away from the fruit easily. For melons that are to be shipped and held for a time, it will be necessary to harvest at half slip or just before. Harvest every other day during periods of high temperature. Honeydew melons do not slip from the stem when ripe, but may change color instead. They usually take on a yellowish white color and give off a slight aroma when ripe. Melons should be picked in early morning before the air temperature gets too hot. When walking through field, take care not to injure plants.

Post Harvest

Cantaloupes benefit from pre-cooling. In the field, fruit can reach temperatures above 850F. Pre-cool as soon as possible after picking. Hydrocooling melons to 550F is desirable with a humidity level of 95%.

Insects

Aphids can be controlled with yellow sticky traps and insecticidal soap.
Mites can be controlled with an introduction of predacious mites purchased from an insectiary on large scale operations. A ultra-fine horticultural oil or mineral/vegetable oil lightly sprayed on the infected areas will reduce mite populations,
Cucumber beetles is the key insect on melons. Cucumber beetles are either striped or spotted (eastern or western species). They show up about mid May through out the summer. They feed on flowers and young leaves by sucking juices. The biggest concern is that they can carry the disease, bacterial wilt, which always kills the vine. Covering young seedlings or transplants with an insect barrier is effective until flowering. Then the coverings have to be removed for pollination. Sensory disruption has been shown in research from Michigan State Univ. by interplanting cucurbits with tomatoes. Cucumber beetles can overwinter in the south and will lay eggs in the soil at the base of melon or cucumber plants. The larva will hatch and feed on roots before emerging later in the season and then feeds on the above ground parts. Drenching soil with parasitic nematodes early in the spring could reduce larvae populations. Bacterial wilt organism is thought to overwinter in surrounding weeds. This is where the beetles feed in the early spring. Beetle populations might be reduced through the reduction of weedy areas and the creation of flowering beneficial insect habitat. Beetle populations naturally fluctuate during the season. succession plantings of melons could help avoid a percentage of plant loss. See bacterial wilt. Management can be relaxed when harvest begins.
Other insects: Aphids, cabbage looper, leafhopper, leafminer, pickleworm, thrips, spider mites: Attraction or release of biocontrol organisms such as lady beetles, lacewings, midges, Aphidiid wasps, predatory stink bugs, Trichogramma wasps, Encyrtidae, Pteromalidae, BTK, soldier beetles, broconid wasps, parasitic nematodes, predator mites and flower bugs. Insecticidal soaps, neem, insecticidal oil, (pyrethrins, or rotenone can be effective but will also harm beneficial insects).

Diseases

Alternaria leaf blight It occurs as a brown, circular spot, usually with concentric rings, with weak and senescing leaf tissues most susceptible. This leaf spot is much worse on muskmelons than other cucurbits, making the need for fungicide use more likely. It is seedborne, so use disease-free seed. Crop rotation to noncucurbits for 3 or more years usually provides significant control, but scout for this disease can be reduced through prevention by a 3-4 year rotation of crops not in the cucumber family. Fungus also has weeds for alternative hosts so weedy areas must be eliminated. Copper or sulfur can be used but not during hot or humid weather.
Angular Leaf Spot The spots on leaves are angular and irregular in shape and size, water soaked at first, but later turn gray or brown. The diseased tissues often drop out leaving a tattered appearance. Stems and fruits are also affected. This disease is caused by bacteria that are seedborne and persist in crop residues. It can be spread rapidly during wet weather.
Use disease-free seed and crop rotation of 3-4 years with non-cucurbits. Once active, it is easily spread while working the vines during wet periods. We have noticed increased incidence where air blast-type sprayers are being used on cucurbits, probably because the sprays are being made while the foliage is wet. Fixed coppers can be used but avoided during hot humid weather.
Anthracnose It causes sunken spots (with a pink ooze upon reproduction of the pathogen) on fruit and leaves. The blight begins as yellowish, water-soaked areas that enlarge rapidly, turn brown and shatter to form a ragged leaf. This disease is seed and residue borne. Use disease-free seed and practice crop rotation to non-cucurbits for 2 to 4 years. Grow anthracnose- resistant varieties. At first symptoms, or no later than when vines touch within the rows, apply one of the fungicides listed under Alternaria leaf spot (above) if a susceptible variety is used.
Fusarium wilt This wilt is caused by a fungus and is very different from bacterial wilt, which is also a serious problem on both cucumber and muskmelons. Fusarium wilt is characterized by stunting, yellowing, and a slow death, not the sudden wilting common with bacterial wilt. A diagnostic tip is that with Fusarium wilt, water-soaked to dark brown streaks usually develop at the soil line on the side of the plant most affected. Cuts made into the stem should reveal a brown discoloration of the vascular system if Fusarium wilt is the problem. Use Fusarium wilt resistant varieties such as Superstar, Pulsar, and Saticoy on sites with a history of the disease, but strains of the fungus vary so control with resistance varies. Several other varieties have tolerance to the disease. This specific Fusarium infects only Cucumis melo (muskmelons, cantaloupe, crenshaw, & honeydews) but it may be maintained in the root zone of non-host cucurbits. Rotation to crops other than melons for 3 years (5 years if the disease is known to be present on the site) should help to reduce buildup of the disease but is not completely effective.
Virus Complex (Cucumber Mosaic, Watermelon Mosaic I & II, and Zuccinia Yellows Mosaic) are common in some seasons in the southeast. They overwinter in perennial weeds and are spread into melons by aphids and cucumber beetles. Planting cucumber mosaic resistant cultivars helps with CMV; this step is very important if tomatoes or tobacco are also on the farm, because CMV is also a serious pathogen. Elimination of perennial weeds within 150 ft of planting by using grasses or non-susceptible annual crops around the melon planting is helpful. Maintaining good aphid control helps to reduce secondary spread from within the planting only. Do not plant melons adjacent to peppers or tobacco or other cucurbits as they host some common viruses.
Bacterial Wilt Sudden wilting of individual runners or the whole plant is typical of the disease. A diagnostic tip is to cut the wilted runners near the crown and squeeze sap from the newly cut areas. If a white exudate is present, touch a knife blade to it and slowly string out the material. If these signs are present, bacterial wilt is most likely present. This is the most serious disease threat to muskmelons. The bacterium causing this wilt overwinter in and is carried (vectored) by cucumber beetles so it is especially serious following mild winters. It is essential to control these insects before they feed, starting from day of plant emergence through fruit set. Once the bacterium has been introduced into the plant, no control is known. Use appropriate insecticides (SEE INSECT CONTROL SECTION).
Downy mildew appears as yellow to brown, irregular shaped spots on the leaves, usually the center (older) leaves of the vine. This disease is closely related to tobacco blue mold, so under moist conditions, a blue to gray mold may be present. One important difference is that the cucurbit fungus also produces swimming spores in the dew drops, so it can quickly spread to all parts of the plant under wet conditions. This disease appears erratically but can be quite damaging, especially during and following prolonged cool, wet weather in the late summer and fall. Watch for advisories. During July-Sept, when blue mold is present in tobacco, downy mildew is usually also present in cucurbits. Several downy mildew resistant cultivars are available. Rotate 2-3 years after outbreaks.
Gummy Stem Blight and Powdery Mildew Gummy stem blight is increasing in importance especially late in the season and on late plantings. It occurs as cracks on the stems with gummy ooze, and as brown spots and marginal leaf blighting of the foliage. Use disease-free seed and clean uncontaminated trays if transplanting. Plant into rotated land (out of cucurbits more than 2 years). Waiting until the disease is evident to start copper sprays usually does not work if there has been a history of cucurbits on the site. Instead, start sprays when vines begin to touch in rows, or with the first symptoms/signs, whichever is first.
Powdery mildew Powdery mildew affects the crown leaves first, occurring as white, powdery mold on the leaf surface, followed by withering and death. The powdery mildew pathogen is airborne from outside planting initially then spreads quickly on air currents within the planting. Two separate fungi are involved - Erysiphe and Sphaerothecia. Copper can be used as well as sulfur but do not use it if weather is hot and humid ( do not apply if temperatures exceed 90øF).
Root Knot Nematode is very damaging to muskmelons, and if present, stunting and root galling occur. Rotation to endophyte-infected tall fescue for 2 or more years is highly effective. Cercospora Target spot when first seen in field, spray with fixed copper, remove and destroy all infected plants, follow 3-5 year rotation out of cucurbits.
Field selection, crop rotation, sanitation, fungicides and seed treatment are important practices. Select fields with good soil and air drainage and those that have not been used during the past two years for any cucurbit crop, tobacco, peppers, or tomatoes. Bacterial wilt control is critical. An excellent reference source is available: "Diseases and Pests of Muskmelons and Watermelons" from Purdue University, Cooperative Extension Service, West Lafayette, Indiana; the cost is about $15.

THE CHALLENGE OF RAISING ORGANIC/LOW SPRAY PEACHES

I have received many calls this month regarding raising organic peaches. Usually the conversation starts out with,"...Have you seen the price of organic peaches at the market...!" Yes, they are quite expensive and there is a very good reason for it, they are hard to produce due to heavy insect and disease pressures. If you are thinking about producing any tree fruit or bush fruit organically, really look into it before ever buying the plants. Setting up the orchard that enhances the biological activity of ORGANIC/LOW SPRAY PEACHES ATTRA publication Prepared by Guy Ames ATTRA Program Specialist

Introduction

Peaches can be difficult to produce even under good conditions and with a full spray schedule. At least two key insect pests and several serious diseases present formidable obstacles to organic or low-spray peach production. Nevertheless, with proper management and a good site, growers can greatly reduce - and in some cases eliminate - their reliance on synthetic pesticides. Because of new directions in research emphasizing less dependency on chemicals, the future prospects for low-spray and organic peach orcharding look promising.
There are certain considerations and practices in peach production that will be the same for low-spray/organic growers and conventional growers. For instance, variety choices must be made with cold hardiness and chilling requirements in mind. Also, pruning and training will be approximately the same for all kinds of culture. This type of information is available through conventional channels such as the Cooperative Extension Service and common gardening or orcharding texts, magazines, bulletins, etc.
Accordingly, this publication focuses primarily on organic and low-spray pest and disease control. For general information on non-chemical weed control and organic fertilization see ATTRA's Overview of Organic Fruit Production.
Related ATTRA Publications on Fruit Production Overview of Organic Fruit Production; Organic Culture of Blackberries & Raspberries; Organic and Low-Spray Apple Production; Organic Blueberry Culture; Organic Grape Production; Strawberries: Organic & IPM Options; Pawpaw Production
Geographical factors impacting on disease and pest incidence. West of the so-called "tree line" (roughly a line running from Fort Worth, TX through Fargo, ND) a key pest of many tree fruits, the plum curculio, is not present, and this - coupled with reduced disease pressure in much of the arid West - facilitates the organic production of peaches. The peach twig borer, however, is a greater problem west of the Rocky Mountains than in the East. In the high-rainfall areas of the Pacific Northwest and coastal California, leaf curl is a particular concern.
Eastern growers have the plum curculio, bacterial spot, and increased incidence of fungal diseases to contend with. At present, commercial-scale organic production of peaches in the East would be very difficult, largely due to the presence of the plum curculio. However, pest control is a rapidly changing technology, and research continues on non-chemical control strategies for plum curculio control. "In the East...commercial-scale organic production of peaches is currently extremely difficult."
Eastern commercial-scale growers wanting to reduce the amount of pesticides sprayed on their peach crop can take some encouragement from studies conducted by Clemson University Cooperative Extension personnel. Results of this South Carolina research indicate that under proper management the number of annual sprays can be reduced from 12 to 6, resulting in a savings of almost $50 per acre (1). The details of this management program are presented in the box Reduced Spray Program for Eastern Growers.
Pest and disease problems of peaches that may be economically damaging include brown rot, peach leaf curl, bacterial spot, peach scab, peach tree borers, peach twig borers, plum curculio, and the Oriental fruit moth. Information on other pests and diseases of local or intermittent importance not covered herein is available from regional Cooperative Extension publications. For convenience and clarity, each of these problems is presented under separate headings.
Diseases Brown rot. It is very difficult to grow peaches without the use of fungicides, since they often are grown under climatic conditions that are conducive to the development of fungal diseases, brown rot being the foremost among these.
Brown rot of stone fruits (causal organisms: Monilinia fructicola and M. laxa) occurs throughout the world where stone fruits are grown and where sufficient rain falls while the fruit is ripening. Life cycle information on brown rot is presented in Figure 1. Ideal conditions for infection exist during warm rainy periods when the temperature is 63ø F. The critical time for infection is the bloom period, since the flower parts are very susceptible (1). Brown rot is not as prevalent west of the Rocky Mountains as it is in the East, but even in the West brown rot can be troublesome.
In the East, control of rot is made more complicated, not only by higher rainfall and humidity, but also by increased levels of insect feeding, which spreads the inoculum and opens the fruit to infection. Moreover, the presence of alternate hosts for brown rot such as wild plums and other wild Prunus species further aggravates the situation. Under such conditions, commercial-scale organic production of peaches is currently extremely difficult.
Control of brown rot involves the integration of several tactics. Cultural practices are the first line of defense against brown rot. Good air circulation through the tree is essential. he objective is to facilitate rapid drying of the foliage and flowers after rain or overhead irrigation. Planting site selection and pruning are critical to providing the necessary air circulation within the canopy. Thinning branches to open the center of the tree is a good practice and can be done in July, as well as during the regular dormant-season pruning.

Reduced Spray Program for Eastern Growers

More than 15 years ago Clemson University Extension specialists Clyde Gorsuch and R. W. Miller reported research that would allow peach orchardists to cut the number of pesticide applications in half, from 12 to 6, provided they met certain criteria (1). Better fungicides available today might even allow for further reductions in pesticide use, but Gorsuch and Miller's basic principles are still relevant to orchardists today who are wanting to reduce pesticide use.
Their criteria for a minimum spray schedule included: 1) All trees must be sprayed thoroughly and applications carefully adjusted to the proper stage of development of the plant (e.g., a "petal fall" spray must be applied at petal fall); 2) No sources of brown rot within one-quarter mile (wild plums and unsprayed peaches are the main culprits that must be eliminated); 3) Anthracnose and powdery mildew are not a threat; 4) Scab has been controlled in previous years; 5) No resistance to Benlate or Topsin-M has been detected (newer fungicide options make this criterion a little less important than it was 15 years ago, though development of resistance by pathogens to pesticides must always remain a concern); 6) Kinds of spray material used are chosen according to weather conditions and disease development in the orchard; 7) Weed control is excellent (unmowed weeds and grass provide an ideal environment for spore production from peach mummies and provide habitat for catfacing insects like stink bugs); and 8) Brush piles must be destroyed before bloom.
A primary focal point of these criteria is sanitation in and near the orchard to remove sources of brown rot and of insects. The early-season sprays for plum curculio will still have to be applied, and if diseases other than brown rot and scab are a problem, adjustments may have to be made. The authors cautioned that this is an effective program for good managers who are willing to scout the orchard on a weekly basis for brown rot, scab, other diseases, plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, Japanese beetles, and other potential pests. If problems should appear, prompt application of a pesticide will probably be required to avoid economic loss. This reduced spray program should be attempted only when such prompt action can be applied when needed.
Sulfur can be used by organic growers for control of brown rot. The first application of sulfur should be done at the "pink" stage, just before the petals open. This should be repeated at seven-day intervals, especially if rain occurs, for a total of three applications. Two other applications should be made - one at the petal drop stage, the other at the sepal drop stage (usually about 10-14 days after petal drop). The crop is still susceptible to infection later in the season, but treatments during the early "critical" stage will reduce the amount of crop loss without leaving a sulfur residue at harvest. When the weather is hot and dry, the need to spray is not as great. Carl Rosato (3), with support from the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), the Kokaro Foundation, and the University of California, is testing novel compounds in his California orchard for brown rot control. The substances under investigation include compost tea, hydrogen peroxide, kelp sprays, basalt rock dust, a pink mucoid yeast, copper fungicides, and combinations of these. To date, the kelp, basalt rock dust, and pink mucoid yeast appear to hold the most promise. This research is ongoing.
Farmer Profile: Carl Rosato, Organic Peach Pioneer (Excerpted by permission from "Woodleaf Farm" in the Winter 97-98 edition of California Certified Organic Farmers Statewide News; for subscription information, please call 831-423-2263.) If Carl Rosato ever decides to erect a sign at the entrance to his Woodleaf Farm, it should read "Home of the Pampered Peach." Tucked onto a hillside near Lake Oroville [California] are three and a half acres of Carl's trees, producing peaches with a near-legendary flavor.
Carl's fertility program would make any tree happy. When preparing a new orchard site, he starts with 50 tons per acre of organic matter, then adds limestone, gypsum, and kelp. For established trees, he applies six tons per acre of compost in the fall, and more in the spring if it's been a wet winter. "After the heavy rains, the poor guys want to eat," he says affectionately.
Carl also makes aerobic compost tea in a 3,000 gallon "brewer." A circulating system pumps water through 1,500 pounds of compost suspended above the vat, so that plenty of air is introduced into the mix. Diluting 100 gallons of the brew into a 250 gallon sprayer, he foliar feeds each acre every ten days. "Then you've got it made," he says. "You've got the soil fertility and you're feeding them all the time - of course, you're going to get good results."
Farmers' market shoppers throughout northern California agree. Carl commands top dollar for his product, working a staggering eleven markets per week in Berkeley, Marin, Sacramento and Davis. A master of understatement, he concedes that, "It gets a little intense during the peak ten weeks of summer." After eleven years he knows many of his customers by name and acknowledges that their willingness to pay a premium price allows him to make a good living from three acres of trees.
Although there are few disease problems on the farm, Carl battles brown rot in some years. He's experimented with different foliar sprays, including rock dust, sulfur, and kelp, and feels that rock dust works as well as anything. Peach twig borer is controlled with applications of Dipel (Bt) at bloom and with pheromone twist ties later in the summer. He worries about gopher control now that strychnine bait is no longer allowable by CCOF rules, and plans to install barn owl boxes to augment his trapping efforts.
The OFRF also helped fund a series of studies conducted at Oregon State University by J.W. Pscheidt and Hans Wittig (4) investigating the fungicidal properties of various "organic" substances, including aerated compost tea, seaweed extracts, micronized sulfur, a yeast (Aureobasidium pullulans) and M-Pede[tm] insecticidal soap. Of these, soap, sulfur, and the yeast and seaweed combined (but not separately), were effective in suppressing brown rot in peaches in the relatively arid conditions of eastern Oregon. More details on Pscheidt and Wittig's work appears in the box New Generation Fungicides: Safer and More Effective .
At least one new biofungicide (a fungicide derived from another living organism), Serenade[tm], shows some promise for brown rot control. For more information on Serenade[tm] see New Generation Fungicides: Safer and More Effective. Harvested fruit is also susceptible to infection. To prevent infections at harvest and during storage, the peaches should be picked and handled with care to avoid punctures and kin abrasions on the fruit. Any damaged fruit should be discarded, since wounds enable the fungus to gain entrance more easily. Rapid cooling or hydrocooling to remove field heat prior to refrigeration at 0§ to 3§ C. will also reduce infection (5).
Hot water treatments also appear to hold promise for post-harvest control of brown rot. The hot water treatment takes two basic forms, mist or dip. In both cases the water is 50-52§ C. (approximately 122§ F.), but the mist treatment lasts approximately 15 minutes, while the dip lasts only 2-4 minutes.
USDA researcher Dr. Doug Phillips (6) claims the treatments are effective, but two minor problems remain. The two problems are recontamination by Monilinia fructicola and other pathogens and skin browning on some cultivars.
There are no varieties presently available with sufficient genetic resistance that would allow growers to rely exclusively on such resistance for control of brown rot. However, there are sources of resistance that are being incorporated into current breeding programs (7). Due to the complex inheritance of brown rot resistance, it may be several years, if ever, before varieties are released with appreciable resistance.
Peach leaf curl. Using the life-cycle diagram above, one can see that the infection period for leaf curl is when the new leaves start emerging from the buds in the spring. Spraying after the buds have opened is ineffective, because infection takes place as the young leaves emerge, and the fungus develops inside the leaf.
Accordingly, sprays must be applied during the trees' dormant period - after the leaves have fallen and before the first budswell in the spring. Many orchardists spray during the months of February and March. Orchards with a history of severe leaf curl might benefit from being sprayed in the autumn at leaf fall and again in the late winter or early spring before budswell.
Fortunately for the certified organic grower, one of the most effective fungicides for control of curl is lime-sulfur. Bordeaux, Kocide[tm] and some of the other "mineral" (copper and/or sulfur) fungicides allowable under most certification programs are also effective but to a lesser degree than lime-sulfur.
New Generation Fungicides: Safer and More Effective
Public and institutional concern about the toxicity of fungicides has prompted research initiatives which are beginning to yield what appear to be better fungicides. Some of these new fungicides will almost certainly pass scrutiny as "organic." Some will not be able to qualify as organic but might still be improvements over older fungicides. "Organic" fungicides. The new generation fungicides that might fall into this category are mostly microbial antagonists, i.e., they consist of "good guy" fungi, yeasts, bacteria, etc. that suppress the damage caused by the "bad guy" plant pathogens. In addition to these "living" pesticides, there are some other materials that will likely be considered organic. Such materials would include soaps, oils, certain minerals, and products made from plants (e.g., neem oil).
Among the microbials, one of the most promising for brown rot controls appears to be Serenade[tm], a product of AgraQuest, Inc. (1530 Drew Ave., Davis, CA 95616). The active ingredient in Serenade[tm] is Bacillus subtilis, a bacteria shown to be antagonistic to the causal organism of brown rot, Monilinia fructicola, in both lab and field trials...in California. An economic level of control in the field in the humid East has yet to be demonstrated.
The research team of Jay Pscheidt and Hans Wittig at Oregon State University has screened several novel compounds with the financial support of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (POB 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061). Two such compounds that appear to inhibit brown rot when used in combination are Aureobasidium pullulans, a yeast-like fungus, and Algamin CPP-85, a soluble seaweed extract. Pscheidt and Wittig also found that M-Pede[tm] insecticidal soap provided some control of leaf curl and brown rot twig cankers, but not brown rot of the fruit. Materials that showed no suppression of either brown rot or leaf curl include an aerated compost tea and Maxi-Crop (another seaweed product).
Newer, safer synthetic fungicides. Among the new fungicides being commercially developed are two new classes of fungicides, strobilurins and phenylpyrroles, which were initially discovered in nature. The first strobilurin, for example, was isolated from European strobilurin mushrooms, and phenylpyrroles were first found in bacteria. Tribloxystrobin (Flint[tm]), a strobilurin, and fludioxonil (Medallion[tm]), a phenylpyrrole, both exhibit good activity against brown rot, low mammalian toxicity and short persistence in the environment.
Other new synthetic fungicides for peaches include tebuconazole (Elite[tm]) and fenbuconazole (Indar[tm]), both sterol inhibitors. These sterol inhibitors boast very low mammalian toxicity and high efficacy against brown rot. However, the nature of their mode of action makes them eventually susceptible to the development of resistance by the pathogen. One way to suppress the development of resistance is to rotate the use of fungicides from different classes. For instance, alternate sprays of a strobilurin with a sterol inhibitor.
Pscheidt and Wittig (5) performed trials comparing Kocide[tm], lime-sulfur, several synthetic fungicides, and Maxi-Crop[tm] seaweed for leaf curl control. Lime-sulfur and one of the synthetics (ziram) were best, roughly twice as effective as Kocide[tm]. The seaweed sprays, despite anecdotal reports, were completely ineffective.
Severe infection may cause the tree to shed many of its leaves and to replace them with a second flush of growth. At this time the tree needs a light feeding with a quickly-available fertilizer such as compost tea or a commercially available water-soluble fertilizer (fish emulsion or soluble blood meal would suffice for organic growers) to help it recover.
There are various levels of resistance to leaf curl among varieties; however, because of the relative ease of controlling the disease, breeding for resistance has not been a priority in peach breeding programs. Compact Redhaven, Early Redhaven, Clayton, and Frost are some of the few cultivars with significant resistance to curl.
Bacterial spot. While copper fungicides like Kocide[tm] are labeled for bacterial leaf spot, it is generally recognized that there are no effective chemical or biological controls for this disease caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas pruni. Symptoms of this disease are most commonly detected on the leaves as small, light brown lesions which eventually fall out, leaving holes the approximate size of shotgun shot. On the fruit, the sunken, dry lesions eventually crack, opening the fruit for secondary infections.
Fortunately, west of the Rocky Mountains this disease is rarely a problem, and in the East, growers are able to rely on resistant varieties. Contact the Cooperative Extension Service for resistant varieties suited to a particular area.

Peach scab. Peach scab symptoms include small, dark green spots on the immature fruit. As the fruit matures, the spots enlarge and turn brown. Sulfur and most other fungicides that are applied for brown rot will also control peach scab.

Insects

Peach tree borers. The peach tree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa, can be a major pest of peaches. Hosts for this pest include peaches, wild and cultivated cherry, plum, prune, nectarine, apricot, and certain ornamental shrubs of the genus Prunus. The adult is a clearwing moth, steel blue with yellow or orange markings. The moths are day fliers and may easily be mistaken for wasps. These insects overwinter as larvae in their burrows at the base of the host tree. The larvae vary greatly in size, some being over one half inch in length, while others are very small, not more than one eighth inch long. The difference in the size of the larvae comes from the fact that the eggs are laid over a long period of time. The larvae pupate in the trunk of the tree, and begin to emerge as adults in July. Adult emergence and egg laying occur from July through September, with the greatest number coming out during August.
The females are attracted to trees that have previously been damaged by borers or to which some mechanical injury has occurred. Therefore, it is important to prevent damage to the tree trunk in order to minimize borer attack. Trees in poor vigor due to weed competition or drought stress seem to be more susceptible to borer attack and damage.
Organic peach growers may use a variety of tactics to control this pest. Interior white latex paint can be painted or sprayed on the base of the trunks. This provides a physical barrier to the newly hatched larvae, thus inhibiting their entry into the trunk. The paint also fills cracks in the bark, which are preferred sites for the larvae to feed. Because the paint is more a deterrent than a perfect control, some organic growers mix rotenone in with the paint; however, no data have been collected to verify whether or not the addition of rotenone increases the paint's efficacy. It is easy to detect a tree that is infested with peach tree borers, since large amounts of gum exude from the damaged areas. The grower can use this exudate to locate a larva, and then kill it by using a knife or flexible wire to probe it out of the trunk. The soil should first be removed from around the base of the tree to a depth of three inches before starting this process, since larval damage also occurs under the soil line. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) may be used to control the larvae before they have entered the trunk. The products Dipel[tm], Thuricide formulations made from this organism. Because B.t. does not have a long residual effect, the trunk should be sprayed weekly with one of these materials during the period of peak moth flight, late July through August. Peach twig borers. This insect is only a minor pest in the Eastern U.S. but can be a problem in the West. Peach twig borers are not usually a problem in orchards which are sprayed each year at the delayed dormant period with lime-sulfur, or with a 3% oil emulsion. In the spring the larvae emerge and then bore into twigs and buds. Treatment once they have gained entry into the tree is much less effective. Bacillus thuringiensis sprays at bloom also appear to be effective against the twig borer.
Mating disruption can be effective if properly implemented (see box below).
Pest Control with Pheromonal Mating Disruption
Mating disruption with sex pheromones has been used successfully to control peach twig borers and Oriental fruit moths in peach orchards. Although different application methods are beingexplored, currently mating disruption entails tying pheromone-impregnated twist ties to upper limbs of orchard trees. Efficacy is highest in orchards with low moth populations that are not close to other untreated peach or almond orchards. In order to work, the system must be applied as evenly as possible to areas at least three acres in size. Small orchard size and uneven orchard terrain will limit the success of mating disruption.
Place pheromone dispensers in orchards according to state Cooperative Extension recommendations or when moths are first caught in pheromone traps. Monitor the orchard regularly to verify that the system is working. Mating disruption twist ties for both the peach twig borer and Oriental fruit moth are available through Peaceful Valley Farm Supply (8) and Harmony Farm Supply (9).
Oriental fruit moth. The Oriental fruit moth is related to the codling moth, a pest of apples, and causes the same type of fruit damage. Larvae burrow in the new shoots in the spring, then move through the stem into the developing fruit. They feed near the pit, so there may be no visible damage to the fruit on the surface. The fruits become much more susceptible to brown rot, and they break down rapidly after harvest. There are up to seven generations of worms each year, with the earliest one feeding on young leafy shoots in the same way as the peach twig borer does, and later ones feeding on the fruit, like the codling moth in apples.
The overwintering stage is a full-grown larva from the last generation of the previous season. The larva spins a cocoon in the litter around the trees or on the bark itself. Pupation and adult emergence occur in the spring, and egg-laying first takes place just after the peaches bloom. Trees that are allowed to grow very dense, succulent foliage are especially attractive to the moths.
Control measures begin with planting the right peach varieties. Early-maturing types discourage the pest because the peaches are picked before the insects attack the fruit. This reduction in the moths' food supply helps control their population. Sanitation will reduce attacks by the remaining moths by removing the leaf litter and dropped or culled fruit where the larvae overwinter. Many of these dormant larvae can be destroyed by cultivating to a depth of two to four inches, one to three weeks before the peaches bloom. Another part of cultural control is annual pruning to control overly vigorous growth on the trees, making them less attractive to the moths.
Parasitic braconid wasps have been successfully used to control the Oriental fruit moth. This involves five releases of adult moths four days apart, beginning in May and using about 500 adults per acre. This program is often combined with a single spray of rotenone shortly before harvest to complete the control of the moth.
A pheromone-based mating disruption system for Oriental fruit moth has been available for several years. Isomate-M[tm] pheromone dispensers have proven as effective as chemical control in California tests. See the box "Pest Control with Pheromonal Mating Disruption."
Plum curculio. Another pest that frequently attacks peaches is the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, and it is especially difficult to control organically. No effective attractant traps or selective monitoring tools are currently available for detecting this pest. Thus, biological monitoring is more difficult than for other insects and is more labor-intensive.
Visual observation of adults and their crescent-shaped oviposition marks is the best technique available for detection. Since the plum curculio moves into orchards from woodlots, fence rows, or hedges during bloom, it is important to carefully check those trees along the perimeter of the orchard. Observations in a nearby abandoned orchard or other group of trees will help to determine when intensive monitoring should begin in the commercial orchard. To control the plum curculio, a variety of strategies must be employed. Dr. Ron Prokopy, an entomologist at the University of Massachusetts has worked to develop low-spray fruit production techniques (10). He uses 2-3 sprays of the synthetic pesticide Imidan[tm]. If he does not spray, he experiences at least some damage on 80-99% of his fruit.

A 5% formulation of the botanical insecticide rotenone provides some control of the plum curculio. However, coverage must be very thorough, and applications made at roughly weekly intervals for a total of 12-15 treatments to keep crop damage under 25% (11). Such frequent treatments with rotenone can be detrimental to beneficial organisms.
A new pest control material, kaolin clay (a.k.a., particle film technology) shows considerable promise in controlling the curculio on apples, but the clay sticks to the fuzz on peaches and is difficult to remove. USDA researchers are working to resolve this problem.
Several cultural control methods can be employed against the plum curculio, but none alone or in combination provides an economic level of control. Fruits that are infested with curculio larvae normally drop from the tree before the larvae complete their feeding. Therefore, prompt gathering and disposal of these fruit drops, before the larvae leave them to enter the soil, reduces the number of first generation adults. Sometimes the fruit that drops in May contains very few curculio larvae. The dropping of fruits in these cases may be due to heavy fruit set, poor pollination, or both. A sample of the drops should be examined to be sure that enough of them are infested to justify this procedure. The drops on the two or three outside rows of the orchard are more likely to be heavily infested than those further in the orchard. The infested drops should be carefully destroyed by boiling, burning or soaking in oil (12).
The adult beetles may also be knocked from trees using a padded board to jar the limbs. They "play dead" when frightened, and will drop from the tree and land on a tarp or sheet held below. This practice should be done early in the morning, while it is still cool, or the beetles will fly away. Curculios caught in this manner can be crushed or dropped in a can of kerosene. Free ranging fowl such as chickens, ducks, and geese, can be encouraged to scratch for the larvae and beetles by mixing wheat seed into the soil under the trees. As alluded to earlier, such methods by themselves do not provide commercial levels of control.
Disking during the pupal period is a method of mechanical control. The pupa of the plum curculio is very fragile. If the cell in which this stage is passed is disturbed, the pupa fails to transform into an adult. Pupation usually occurs within the upper two inches of soil. The most desirable time to begin cultivation for destruction of pupae appears to be about three weeks after the infested fruits start to drop from the tree. Cultivation should be continued at weekly intervals for a period of several weeks. Cultivation before the curculios pupate is of little value. If the pupal cell is broken before pupation occurs, another cell is made by the larva. Covering the drops with soil before the larvae emerge from them is undesirable since it protects the larvae from drying, and from the sun.
It should be made clear that while whole-orchard cultivation is moderately effective in controlling the curculio, historically it was also responsible for considerable erosion and loss of soil organic matter. So, though it is a non-chemical way of curculio control, the inevitable soil deterioration renders it largely unacceptable in terms of agricultural sustainability.
Summary Peaches are probably one of the most difficult perennial fruits to produce organically due to intense disease and insect pressure. In parts of the arid West, organic peach production is possible when adequate attention is paid to the blossom blight phase of brown rot and borer control.
In most of the East, commercial-scale organic production is greatly complicated if not practically impossible due to the presence of the plum curculio and brown rot. Sustainable peach production in the East should center on environmentally sound integrated pest management programs rather than trying to eliminate pesticides altogether.
References
1.Agrios, George. 1978. Plant Pathology. Academic Press, Orlando, FL. p. 311-316.
2.Burnham, T. J. 1994. UC researchers find dicloran alternatives for stone fruit. California Grower. September. p. 35-37.
3.Carl Rosato Woodleaf Farm 6176 Old Olive Hwy. Oroville, CA 95966 916-589-1696
4.W. Pscheidt and H.P.P Wittig Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-2903 541-737-3472
5.Agrios, George. 1978. Plant Pathology. Academic Press, Orlando, FL. p. 311-316.
6.Dr. Doug Phillips USDA/ARS 2021 S. Peach Ave. Fresno, CA 209-453-3167
7.Feliciano, A., A.J. Feliciano, and J.M. Ogawa. 1987. Monilinia fructicola resistance in the peach cultivar Bolinha. Phytopathology. Vol. 77. p. 776-780.
8.Peaceful Valley Farm Supply PO Box 2209 Grass Valley, CA 95945 916-272-4769
9.Harmony Farm Supply PO Box 451 Graton, CA 95444 707-823-9125
10.Dr. Ron Prokopy Department of Entomology University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 413-545-2284
11.Anon. 1990. Recent research on organic orcharding. NOFA-NY News. May-June. p. 12.
12.Wylie, W. D. 1954. The Plum Curculio on Peaches in Arkansas. Bulletin 542. Agricultural Experiment Station, Fayetteville, AR. p. 19-20.

CAROLINA FRESH: Food From Small Family Farms

is modestly building momentum. we are still in the process of signing up farms interested in participating. This marketing program is an attempt to assist local farms in finding profitable outlets for their goods. By marketing under one name, it provides quick name recognition, yet at the same time, we are trying to promote local agriculture. This is done through our flyers and web site by listing all participating farms with short biographies (you provide us) and even some pictures.
We are looking for a commitment from farmers that they will provide what is promised at the designated times. Customer order forms are updated each week. This requires regular correspondence with the marketing coordinator who will track the quantity of items proposed for sale with the actual orders placed.
To participate in the program, farmers need to analyze their production and give their best estimates of what will be ready for harvest at what time and how much quality marketable items would be ready for sale. Also needed is descent packaging and size of packaging. In this way, the marketing coordinator will know if the items are to be sold as pound, bunch, head, or each. For the direct customer sales, the farmer needs to set a fair price (or give a price range acceptable to them). If there are more than one farmer selling the same item for a particular week, we will try to work out a single price for the sake of simplicity for the customer.
The farmer needs to designate how the products or produce were raised. Was it certified organic, organic, conventionally farm fresh, IPM methods followed? Were the animals raised without antibiotic, hormone, or steroids (ASH Free), certified organic, by definition: truly pastured, grass fed/finished, or free ranged? These added bits of information will help us in the marketing of the products to customers.
We want to match the volume of production with specific types of markets. If there are several farmers who have significant acreage for production, then, if they are interested, we can identify larger markets. Wholesaling to institutional accounts would be investigated. There are a great deal of opportunities here but the biggest requirement made by accounts we have talked to would be consistency of the quality and dependability of service.
One aspect of marketing this program under one label is being able to approach accounts and even processors as one entity. We have been told over and over again, that many potential markets are not willing to give time to talking to many individual farmers. But as a farm group, they are more willing.
The goal of this project is to assist farmers with the most important and usually hardest task in farming today, that is marketing. We will use the tools of modern technology, such as the internet as well as face to face contacts to market your products and promote locally grown agriculture. For these services, we are only asking for a 10% service charge based on weekly sales. this will go toward the salary of the marketing coordinator and help pay for the costs of deliveries to customer pick up locations. the grant we received is quite small and covers start up costs. What will make this program work is the commitment of the all the people involved. We are convinced in the true value of the small family farm and will do all we can in order keep agriculture alive and well in north Carolina. Check out the enclosed flyer (to save on printing costs, we have not made these color copies, though for the customer version, we have done color.) Give us a call if you want to come aboard or if you have any questions.

SUSTAINABLE SMALL SCALE HOG PRODUCERS FORUM FARMING 2000 & BEYOND A MONTHLY WORKSHOP SERIES PROVIDING THE TOOLS TO MEET TOMORROW'S CHALLENGES

NC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, NCA&TSU, NCSU, and NCDA

Webb Auditorium, NCA&TSU Greensboro, NC July 17 9:00am-4:00pm

Objectives: Small producers can not (and should not) compete on the same level with the corporate farms, but may be able to produce a unique product that appeals to an up-scale market. This forum will bring together Farmers, Processors, Marketing Specialists, Researchers, and Representatives from State and National Agricultural Agencies to engage in a dialogue addressing issues and options that face small producer survivability and profitability.
Program:
9:00-10:30 am The NC Swine Industry: Is There a Place for Small Farms? NC and National Trends, Slaughter Restraints and Prices, Importance of Small Farms, Panel Discussion with Ag Economists, Livestock Specialists, and Candidates for Ag Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps and Steve Troxler
10:45-12:30 pm Potential Angles for Marketing: Finding the Lost Taste of Pork!!! Factors That Influence the Taste of Pork, Alternative and Upscale Markets, Green Labeling and ASH Free (antibiotic, steroid, and hormone free), Panel Discussion with Marketing Representatives
12:30 pm Lunch: Locally Raised Pork BBQ and Taste Test Panel: (conference participants) Iberico Ham, Neiman Ranch Pork, Locally Produced vs. Iowa Pork: You Decide!
1:30-2:45pm Slaughtering Options: Revitalizing an Existing Small Slaughter Plant, Contracting a "Uniform" Supply for an Existing Plant, "Backyard Kill Floors" for Ethnic Markets, Advantages and Disadvantages of Cooperating and Cooperatives, Panel Discussion with Processors
2:45-4:00pm Sustainable Production: Pasture Raised Pork for Profit, Swine Breeds for Taste and Outdoor Production, Pasture Development, Electric Fences
After 4:00pm Field Trip to A&T Swine Unit and Pasturing Research Trials
Speakers Include: Delane Johnson USDA, Don Bixby American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Gary Bullen NCSU, Duane Larick NCSU, Morgan Morrow NCSU, Ray McKinnie NCSU, Micheal Sligh RAFI, Virginia Pastured Hog Farmer, Cory Templeman, Weaver Street Market, Nature's Way and Fresh, Matkins Processors, Sam Groce NCCES, Chuck Talbott NCA&TSU, Robert Hadad NCCES
For more information, Please contact Robert Hadad 919-542-8202

CHATHAM CO. FARM FUN DAY OCTOBER 28

The Chatham Co. Farm Fun Day will be Saturday, Oct.28 from 9-4pm at the National Guard Armory in Siler City. Last year's event attracted over 400 people and was sponsored by Chatham Co. Cooperative Extension and other local businesses. This year we really want to highlight local agriculture, farmers, and their farms. Planned, will be tents for local agricultural and horticultural farms and operations to sell their products.
We realize that this is a market day for some of you but having a captive crowd here for the many other events going on will almost guarantee good sales for you as well as another great opportunity for you to show off Chatham Co. local agricultural pride.
We expect much lager attendance this year because of greater advertising and through some of the added events. One such event will be through pie baking competition. Another event will feature "Flavors of Chatham" where locally grown meats, cheese, fruits, and vegetable products can be sampled in a tasting challenge.
The earlier people can sign up for participation, the greater exposure through advertising will occur. Please call the office and let us know if you are interested in being involved.

CHATHAM FARM TOUR

Part of the overall Farming Week activities we help celebrate each year, is our annual FARM TOUR. Through your local Extension office, we set up several farms for a bus tour on a day in the fall. Last year we had two buses stopping at four sites. There were nearly 70 people on this tour. The biggest statement these folks made was wouldn't it have been nice to be able to go to some farms where they could purchase farm fresh products while they were on the tour? Talk about a captive audience!
The real purpose of the tour is to get the non-farming community to see first hand the importance of agriculture is in the county. By getting these people to support local agriculture, they can become strong allies as encroachment and development start to push in and threaten agriculture.
We are looking for some volunteer farms who are interested in participating to give us a call. I promise, we won't do it on a market day! We do have to start making plan now, however. So let me know as soon as you can. The FARM TOUR will take place on Friday Nov. 3rd. Call Robert Hadad 919-542-8202 for details.

7TH ANNUAL STEVE GROFF SUSTAINABLE FARM FIELD DAY

National Ag Experts to Converge on Groff Farm 7th Annual Farm Field Day will explore the latest in sustainable farming techniques National agricultural experts will gather at Cedar Meadow Farm on July 26, 2000 for the 7th Annual Farm Field Day. This free event will be hosted by farmer Steve Groff, owner of Cedar Meadow Farm, in cooperation with The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Lancaster County Conservation District?s Expo. The Northeast Region SARE Program and Pennsylvaina Association of Sustainable Agriculture are sponsoring the field day as well. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As indicated in its theme, ?More Mouths, Less Land, Greater Expectations: A Balanced Approach,? this year?s Farm Field Day will focus on the latest, most innovative farming techniques that are proven to conserve soil while increasing productivity and sustainability. A host of national experts will be on hand to speak about and demonstrate these groundbreaking techniques, including Steve Groff, a local and national agricultural leader. Groff?s efforts to implement environmentally-sound farming practices have not gone unrecognized as he continues to attract national media attention. In April 1999, Cedar Meadow Farm was featured in a three-part mini-series, ?Journey to Planet Earth,? which was nationally broadcast on PBS. Groff was also selected as the 1999 National No-Till Innovator of the Year. The April, 2000 issue of Successful Farming Magazine featured a story on Cedar Meadow Farm.
The event will be highlighted by the expertise of some of today?s most noted agricultural leaders who will speak about the up and coming farming practices of the 21st century. Experts will include: Dr. Robert Steele, Penn State Dean of Agriculture; Mike Hubbs from the USDA Soil Quality Institute; Paul O'Connell, Natural Resource Economist of Rural Development for the World Bank; Dr. Ray Weil, University of Maryland; Dr. Fred Magdoff, University of Vermont and many others. This year's learning stations will feature a number of fascinating demonstrations. A 4-foot deep soil pit will give attendees an understanding of what happens underground, allowing them to see earthworm channels and plant roots in the soil. USDA - Agricultural Research Service will operate their Rainfall Simulator to determine if phosphorus leaves fields during heavy rainfalls. The Lancaster County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department will be on hand to demonstrate its Color Infrared Imagery (CIR), and will explain how this technology is used by farmers, researchers and the government. New to this year?s event will be backhoe excavations immediately following deep tillage passages and a primary field trial of fiber and cover crops Kenaf, Roselle, and Sunn Hemp. In addition, there will be several demonstrations of the latest in farming equipment, including a new no-till vegetable transplanter designed by Groff and R.J. Equipment of Ontario, Canada.
Children won?t want to miss an educational adventure with local naturalist Chotty Sprenkle, as she takes them on a stream exploration. Kids can alsocrawl through an earthworm tunnel and assemble soil tubes to create asoil profile. There will be plenty of food available for purchase.
Partial funding for this Field Day has been made possible through a grant from the Northeast Region of the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. For more information on the 7th Annual Farm Field Day, please contact Steve Groff: sgroff@epix.net
Steve Groff
"Enhancing the Environment"
http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com/
Cedar Meadow Farm
679 Hilldale Road
Holtwood, PA 17532 USA

ORGANIC FIELD DAY

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) will be holding an Organic Field Day at their Goldsboro research facility. The date is July 31 starting with registration at 2:00pm. There will be tours of the facility where there are many research trials going on. Highlights will include summer cover crops, ctillage implements, no-till vegetable trials, solarization, composting, organic nutrient use efficiency, organic transition experiment,and more. The field tour will last until 6:30 and then there will be a dinner and keynote address by Dr. Alex Stone (Oregon State U.) who will speak on "Soil Organic Matter and Plant Disease Suppression". The dinner is $5 and please RSVP by July 28 by calling Keith Baldwin 515-1199 (keith_Baldwin@ncsu.edu). For more info contact Nancy Creamer, NCSU 919-515-9447. If there is enough interest in car pooling, we here at Chatham Extension could run a van down to the field day. If interested, call me 542-8202.

INSECTICIDES FROM SUGAR?

Sugar esters tested by ARS and university entomologists around the country could find use as environmentally Friendly insecticides. The esters are lethal-almost immediately-to nearly all the mites and soft-bodied insects such as whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and pear psylla that they contact. Then they degrade into harmless sugars and fatty acids. These sugar esters do little harm to beneficial predatory insects and are nontoxic to animals and humans. Some are even approved as food-grade safe. And because of how the esters work,insect pests are not expected to develop resistance to them anytime soon.
This is a control concept that originated about a decade ago. Now 4 years of testing have shown the sugar esters to be as good as-or better than-conventional insecticides against mites and aphids on apples; psylla on pears; whiteflies, thrips, and mites on vegetables; and whiteflies on cotton. Like insecticidal soaps, the esters kill insects by either dissolving their protective waxy coatings or suffocating them. ARS and AVA Chemical Ventures of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, have applied for a patent. The company hopes to market the first of these sugar ester compounds by the end of 2000, pending U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Gary J. Puterka, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville,WV 304-725-3451 ext 361

Robert Hadad
Agriculture Agent
Chatham County Cooperative Extension
PO Box 279
Pittsboro, NC 27312
For more information call 919-542-8202

Any mention of product brand names, companies, organizations, or points of view by individuals does not reflect on or speak for North Carolina State University, North Carolina A & T State University or North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

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Paulette Thomas
Secretary II

Date Created 7/09/00.