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A new broad-spectrum fungicide has arrived with excellent foliar disease control properties. The common name of the product is azoxystrobin and it is the first of--what will probably be--many strobilurin-type fungicides to reach the market. (Novartis and BASF are working on similar products.) Azoxystrobin is currently registered for use in Turf (trade name=Heritage), Bananas, Peaches, Peanuts, Pecans (trade name=Abound) and tomatoes (trade name=Quadris). The manufacturer (Zeneca) expects the Quadris label to include the cucurbit crop group (cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, watermelon, etc.) in Jan 1999.
Azoxystrobin is derived from a naturally occurring chemical found in certain species of mushroom, and its mode of action is new. Azoxystrobin kills fungi by interrupting the electron transport chain, thus shutting down essential functions of fungal cells, causing them to die. This new mode of action is being received favorably by EPA who has put it on a fast track for registration. Why? Because, with the advent of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), pesticides with similar modes of action are tossed into the same finite risk cup, causing many to overflow. This will inevitably lead to the loss of several important pest control products, especially those that qualify as organophosphates and carbamates. So when effective products with new modes of action appear, everybody gets very excited. The hope is that the new products will minimize the effects of the loss of other products that are eliminated due to FQPA.
Quadris has received a lot of praise for its ability to control a large number of fungal diseases. It's especially good against tomato early blight. It will be a welcomed addition to the fungicides labeled for use on cucurbits. This is especially true for powdery mildew because of widespread resistance to Bayleton and Benlate. Quadris has provided excellent control of this disease in field trials in NC and many other states. Quadris also shows excellent activity against the other fungal leaf spots (e.g., anthracnose and gummy stem blight). We have not seen good activity against downy mildew of cucurbits. There is speculation that Quadris will control belly rot because the product works well on Rhizoctonia diseases in other crops (e.g., turf and rice), but data from field trials is lacking. More field testing is currently underway.
Clearly azoxystrobin is an excellent fungicide. However, it should not be viewed as a cure-all material. The real danger in the introduction of new and effective fungicides is that they will be abused. Because they work well on certain diseases, many will assume that they work well on most or all diseases. This is a leap of faith that should not be taken until results from actual field trials are available. Another type of abuse involves misuse of the fungicide. For example, treating a disease after it is well established in a crop (rather than preventatively) or failing to rotate its application with other, chemically unrelated products (resistance management). Everyone wants fungicides to remain effective as long as possible. The risk of resistance development to azoxystrobin is probably high because of its highly specific mode of action. This makes resistance management practices of paramount importance.
So what's the take home message? Follow the label; use recommended rates; alternate with other, chemically unrelated products; use it preventatively, don't use it for things it's not labeled for. Depend on data to tell you how a product performs on a specific crop and disease. The rest is speculation.
Gerald J. Holmes, Extension Plant Pathologist
Dept. Plant Pathology, NCSU
gerald_holmes@ncsu.edu
http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/project/plantpath/Personnel/Faculty/holmes.html
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Know any good sustainable farmers or ranchers? If so,"1,000 Ways to Sustain U.S. Agriculture," a pilot project funded by the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program, wants to hear from you.
SARE and project partners hope to paint a clearer picture of sustainable agriculture by profiling successful farmers and ranchers. While the case studies will describe production and marketing practices, they also will detail how these practices improve profitability, the environment, rural communities, and the families' quality of life.
"Sustainable agriculture defies simple definition," says Dr. John Ikerd, an agricultural economist at the University of Missouri-Columbia and coordinator of the "1,000 Ways" project. "The best way to communicate the meaning of sustainable agriculture is through real-life stories of people who are developing these systems in their own fields."
"To be sustainable, these operations must be profitable," adds Ikerd, who is also coordinator of the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program at the University of Missouri. "But these producers aren't maximizing profits at the expense of family, community, and the environment."
Craig Cramer, former editor of The New Farm magazine and author of the Sustainable Farming Connection web site, will research and write the profiles. By gathering information directly from practitioners, he believes the case studies will reflect a true from-the-fields perspective.
If you would like to recommend a farmer or rancher for the case studies, have other suggestions, or want more information about the project, contact Cramer (cdcramer@clarityconnect.com or 607-753-8925), or visit the project's web site (http://1000ways.baka.com).
"Our goal is to take sustainable agriculture out of the abstract and show a
thousand different ways that it works in reality," says Ikerd. "When you
have
that many examples, it's hard not to find at least a few strategies that will
work on your own operation."
For more information, contact:
Craig Cramer, Project Manager
(607) 753-8925, cdcramer@clarityconnect.com
Valerie Berton, SARE Communications Specialist
(301) 405-3186, vberton@wam.umd.edu
Submitted by Doug Sanders, Extension Specialist
Horticultural Science, NCSU
doug_sanders@ncsu.edu
Submitted by Doug Sanders, Extension Specialist
Horticultural Science, NCSU
doug_sanders@ncsu.edu
Heating Manual - The National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association (NGMA) has published "Heating Considerations" to assist growers in making decisions on heating systems that enhance efficiency, productivity, equipment longevity and safety. The book is available separately, at no charge, or as part of the NGMA standards notebook. Contact NGMA at 1-800-792-NGMA or fax 303 798-1315 for notebook cost information. The mailing address for NGMA is 700 S. Elati, Suite 113, Littleton, CO 80120
Hydroponic Tomato Reference - A newly released book entitled "Hydroponic Tomato Production, A Practical Guide to growing Tomatoes in Containers" takes a comprehensive look at various soilless production techniques and how to manage them. The book examines different growing media, nutrient levels, irrigation regimes, and the 20 best tomato varieties for hydroponic production. Call 408-873-1610 or fax to 408-873-1619 for cost information.
Ag Plastics Conference Proceedings - This 300+ page compilation of the research papers presented at the 27th National Agricultural Plastics Congress in Tucson in February is available. To receive an order form, call Patricia Heuser 814/238-7045 or e-mail peh4@psu.edu
Submitted by Doug Sanders, Extension Specialist
Horticultural Science, NCSU
doug_sanders@ncsu.edu
A number of growers have turned to backpack or tractor-drawn flamers to perform weed management tasks on the farm. Flamers are propane fueled and are used to pass heat quickly over small weeds. Weeds are killed not so much by being burned as "boiled" -- water in cells boils and bursts the cells as the flame touches the leaves. Weeds begin to wilt and die within a few minutes after flaming.
Backpack units can be constructed from parts purchased by the grower or purchased completely assembled for slightly more than $100. Backpack flamers consist of a propane tank which is carried in a backpack, a wand and hose to carry the fuel, and a shielded torch. Weight of the entire unit, including a full tank of propane weights around 45 lbs. These units are best for small jobs around the farm--killing weeds in drive rows, wheel marks, or in small areas missed with herbicides or cultivators. The advantage of this type of unit is that it is quick and easy to use.
Tractor-drawn flamers must be custom-built from parts purchased from specialty manufacturers. Propane companies will occasionally give assistance to growers assembling flamers. Tractor-drawn flamers are most often used for "stale seedbed" weed control - the flame is passed over small weeds which have emerged in a fully-prepared bed. The bed can then be planted. Weeds will still emerge, but in small numbers. Alternatively, the crop can be planted and the flamer can be used just before crops emerge. Some growers will also flame over the top of young corn and onion plants.
The main disadvantage of flamers is that they do not kill grasses, particularly crab grass, very well. If you do decide to use a flamer on grasses, try driving slower or flaming with a little more heat and wait until the seedlings are in the two-to four leaf stage. In small grass seedlings, the growing point is often below the soil or protected within the plant's stem. Waiting until this growing point has emerged will give you a better kill.
A video on weed management tools, produced by the Universities of Massachusetts and Vermont Extension, features three farmers discussing backpack and tractor-drawn flamers. The video also discusses a number of types of cultivation tools which may be used on vegetable farms. It can be purchased from Extension Publications at University of Massachusetts or from University of Vermont at "The Center for Sustainable Agriculture at UVM," 590 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05405-0059.
Some sources for flame weeding equipment:
Flame Engineering - 800-255-2469
Thermal Weed control - 715-743-4163
Goss, Inc. - 412-486-6100
Flame Weeders - 303-667-0809
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply - 916-272-4769
ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas) has a free information packet on flame weeding. Contact them at 800 346-3740. (Source: _The Capital Vegetable News_, Cornell Cooperative Extension Capital District Area Vegetable Program newsletter.)
Submitted by Doug Sanders, Extension Specialist
Horticultural Science, NCSU
doug_sanders@ncsu.edu
Web page last updated on October 5, 1998 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr..