NCDA&CS Reports

Beginning Nov. 1, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will no longer routinely mail out paper copies of agronomic reports. This policy will apply to reports for soil tests and nematode assays, as well as plant tissue, waste, solution and soilless media analyses.

All these reports are readily available through the NCDA&CS Agronomic Division’s Web site, www.ncagr.gov/agronomi.

“By making the switch to electronic-only reports, the NCDA&CS will work within its limited budget to save significantly on postage, printing and paper costs,” said Dr. Colleen Hudak-Wise, director of the Agronomic Division. “Although environmental and fiscal benefits are driving this change, clients should also see increases in convenience and efficiency. Online reports are available to clients faster than mailed reports and make record keeping much easier.”

“Copies can be easily downloaded and saved, and the analytical data can be exported into spreadsheet format,” Hudak-Wise said.

Eventually, the NCDA&CS would like to notify all clients via e-mail when their reports are available online. Clients who provide a valid e-mail address on their sample information form, or who register an e-mail address with the Agronomic Division online, can receive electronic notification. In the interim, all other clients will receive a postcard with instructions on how to find their reports.

Clients who visit the Agronomic Division home page should select the “Find Your Report” link from the left-column navigation bar. This link takes visitors into the division’s laboratory-information site, known as PALS. For most people, using the “Quick Report Search” link is the most convenient way to access reports.
Basic instructions are outlined at www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/reportsearch.htm. Anyone who has difficulty using the PALS report-search feature or has questions can call (919) 733-2655 for assistance during regular weekday office hours.

Bramble Choirs

Gina Fernandez, Small Fruit Specialist
North Carolina State University

This checklist was originally developed for
blackberry growers in North Carolina. Many of
the items apply to raspberry production as well.
You may have to adjust your work activities
either earlier or later depending on your
location. For more detailed information, check
the Southern Region Integrated Bramble
Management Guide and the Southeast
Regional Bramble Production Guide at:
http://www.smallfruits.org/SmallFruitsRegGuide
/index.htm

FALL
Plant growth and development
√ Primocanes continue to grow but
slow down
√ Flower buds start to form
√ Primocane leaves senesce late fall
Pruning and trellising
√ Spent floricanes should be removed
asap
√ Optimal time to prune is after the
coldest part of the season is over.
However pruning can start in late fall if
plantings are large (late winter for
smaller plantings).
√ Start trellis repairs after plants have
defoliated
Weed management
√ Many summer weed problems can be
best managed in the fall and winter
using preemergent herbicides.
Determine what weeds have been or
could be a problem in your area. Check
with your states agricultural chemical
manual and local extension agent for
the best labeled chemicals to control
these weeds.
Insect and disease scouting
Continue scouting for insects and diseases.
Remove damaged canes as soon as possible.
√ Check the Southern Regional Bramble
integrated Management Guide for
recommendations.
http://www.smallfruits.org
Planting

Cutflower Production Workshop

Are you interested in adding cut flower production to your operation?
Are you currently growing cut flowers and looking for the latest
production information? The NC Cooperative Extension Service, McDowell
Center is offering a program on cut flower production for small growers.
The program will be held on Thursday, October 22nd, at 2:00 pm in the
Extension Conference room, 60 East Court Street in Marion NC.

Craig Adkins, Extension Area Specialized Agent - Commercial Horticulture
will be speaking on all aspects of cut flower production including, site
selection, species selection, fertilization, pest control and more.
Meredith McKissick, of Sweet Earth Flower Farm will be speaking about
her experience growing and marketing cut flowers. Meredith has
experience growing flowers and marketing them at tailgate markets and
for weddings and other events. She will also be talking about 3-5
different annual cuts that can be easily grown for each spring, summer,
and fall.

This program is free but pre registration is required by calling the
Extension Office at 652-8104 or by emailing Jane McDaniel at
Jane_McDaniel@ncsu.edu by October 20th. For additional information
please call 828-652-8104.

Burning Guidelines

The memorandum of understanding between the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Division of Air Quality and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sets guidelines for acceptable burning at farms, primarily to control diseases or pests as well as some crop residues. Although it remains illegal to burn man-made materials, the state open burning rule allows some exceptions for the burning of plant materials — such as land-clearing and acceptable agricultural practices.

The following website is a news release from NCDA&CS announcing the burn law. You can also get a free brochure from the Division of Air Quality describing what can and cannot be burnt.

http://www.agr.state.nc.us/paffairs/release/2009/8-09agburning.htm

http://www.ncair.org.

Weed Update

Weeds don't take holidays.

While we are thinking about a holiday trip to the mountains or the coast -- weeds are going to keep doing what they do best -- reproducing. Summer annual weeds are going to seed with wild abandon. Although you cannot stop seed production you can sure reduce the amount of seeds produced by controlling summer annuals now. While herbicides like glyphosate work on mature weeds, the time it takes to die from glyphosate treatments will allow a lot of seeds to mature before plants succumb to the inevitable.

Fall applications work better you say?
I had a salesman once try to explain to me how bentazon (Basagran TO) worked really well on Yellow Nutsedge in early Fall. My response was -- "well, so does frost". Seriously, nutsedge has been making tubers for months but it is still a good idea to kill what you still have to prevent even more tubers from forming. Nutsedge can be controlled by glyphosate or glufosinate or bentazon But please, next year resolve to get serious about nutsedge earlier in the season.

Fall applications of glyphosate do work better on many perennial weeds. In particular, deciduous woody weeds are generally well controlled with late summer or early fall applications of glyphosate. But, you often don't see the results until next spring when plants begin to grow -- ahh, then the fun begins. New growth, if it occurs, will be stunted, malformed, and yellowed. Plants usually die back but often will start new growth after a time. When this occurs, treat again with an appropriate herbicide such as glyphosate or triclopyr for the one--two punch that knocks your weeds flat.

But don't forget to plan ahead --
Winter weeds have already started to emerge in some areas, so get your preemergence herbicide applications out soon to prevent winter annuals like henbit, chickweed and annual bluegrass from turning your Thanksgiving celebration into another gardening labor day.


Joseph C. Neal
Professor and Extension Specialist -- Weed Science
Department of Horticultural Science

Fall Webworms

Fall webworm tents are prominent features of many landscapes this time of year. They set up shop in pecan, walnut, American elm, hickory, fruit, some maples, persimmon and sweetgum trees. They are well protected from contact insecticides within their water proof tent. In addition, fall webworms expand their tent as they feed rather than foray out to feed and return the way eastern tent caterpillars do. Look for large silken tents at the ends of branches. All the caterpillars are in the tent, so if tents are pruned from a tree the problem is solved. For larger infestations, use a systemic insecticide that will move into the plant tissue. This will ensure that caterpillars die when they consume leaves. Some systemic products are acephate, TriStar, and Acelepryn, which can be applied as foliar or drench applications. For recommendations, see http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/shrubs/note07/note07.html.

Euonymus Scale

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Euonymus scale crawlers have emerged on containerized research plants on the North Carolina State University campus. It seems that landscape plants, particularly shaded ones, are still a week or so behind. Therefore if you haven’t dealt with this scale yet this year you have a third and final chance to deal it and prevent problems in the spring. Crawlers are very susceptible to insecticides so scout to determine when they are active in your region. There are several newer products available that may be more effective and softer on beneficials than pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides. More information can be found at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/shrubs/note15/note15.html.