One of the more interesting parts of my job happens to be that I am constantly learning new information from research that is conducted at land grant universities. As might be expected, I am closely associated with our local land grant university here at Auburn. But all states have land grant universities and conduct agricultural research.
With the use of the Internet, it has become so simple to access our sister universities’ extension fact sheets on a wide variety of topics. I regularly use and provide clients information from Georgia, Clemson, Mississippi State, N.C. State, Florida and LSU. All of these are the land grant universities for their states. The reason I use their information in addition to ours is that all these states have similar climate conditions to Alabama. Some may actually be further along on some topics than we are. The recent discovery of the kudzu bug in Georgia and South Carolina came several years ago before they were discovered in Alabama last year. Consequently, both those two agriculture research universities in those states are further ahead with information development on this particular topic.
We have many invasive species that cause lots of problems in Alabama. Things we are all familiar with, such as fire ants, kudzu, privet, gypsy moths, Japanese beetles, feral hogs — the list is long for invasive species. Many were purposely introduced, but some, like the chestnut blight and Formosan termites, made their way into our area accidentally on their own. We have a limited number of USDA color photo handbooks on invasive plant species in the Southeast. They are available from our office in Opelika at 600 S. Seventh St.
Japanese beetles are back
I’m not sure how the Japanese beetles got into the United States, but they have been a pest of the North and East for years. We really didn’t have too much of a problem with Japanese beetles in Lee County until about 10 or 15 years ago. Now, they are everywhere, and they have begun to emerge from the soil this past week. Japanese beetles have become a regular pest to invade Lee County each year about this time.
Hand-collecting beetles may not be the most effective method of control, but it can be used when beetles are less numerous. Simply drop the beetles into a solution of soapy water where they will drown. A hand-held vacuum cleaner can also be used to remove beetles.
Avoid traps to catch beetles. In most home landscapes, using one or more traps may do more harm than good. Traps attract more beetles into the area, many of which do not make it to the traps.
Carbaryl, such as registered formulation of Sevin, can be used by homeowners as well as by commercial applicators. If you use carbaryl for beetles or other insect pests, be sure to check for spider mites. A mite “explosion” on plants with a few mites often occurs after an initial use of carbaryl. Other insecticides available for controlling Japanese beetles include acephate, cyfluthrin, imidacloprid and bifenthrin. Use products according to label directions.
ANR 1250, “Japanese Beetles,” is available online from our website www.aces.edu or from the Lee County Extension Office in Opelika.
Canning Workshop
Lee County Extension is offering a Home Canning Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon June 19 at the Lee County Extension Office, 600 S. Seventh St. in Opelika. The telephone number is 334-749-3353.
Participants will have the opportunity to process tomatoes while learning water-bath-only canning techniques, and jelly-making.
The cost for the program is $8 per person, which includes supplies used during the workshop. Space is limited to 15 participants. Pre-registration and payment is due by 4 p.m. June 14.
If you have a dial gauge canner, please bring it with you. We will be testing it for accuracy, and the test is free.
Organic Vegetable Production Meeting and Tour
An Organic Vegetable Production Meeting and Tour will be hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension from 9 to 11:30 a.m. June 21. The meeting and tour will be at Randle Farms on 9215 Lee Road 54 in Auburn. The topics to be discussed are vegetable production practices, irrigation, cover crops organic certification process and organic insect pest management. Pre-registration and payment is required by June 19 at the Lee County Extension Office. The cost is $5 per person.
Master Gardener Helpline
The Master Gardener Helpline is available for anyone in the state of Alabama for your gardening questions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday through August. The number is 1-877-252-GROW (4769), and the call is toll-free.
Farmers Markets
Local farmers markets are open. On Tuesdays, Opelika’s Main Street Market on the Courthouse Square is open from 3 to 6 p.m. On Thursdays, The Market at Ag Heritage Park on the corner of Lem Morrison and South Donahue drives is open from 3 to 6 p.m. On Saturdays, the market at Sikes Pet Farm Supply on East Glenn Avenue in Auburn is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Chuck Browne is Lee County’s Cooperative Extension System coordinator and writes a weekly column for the Opelika-Auburn News. Contact him at 334-749-3353 or cbrowne@aces.edu.
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Chuck Browne speaks to Kiwanis Club of Opelika
Chuck Browne, Lee County Extension coordinator, recently spoke to the members of the Kiwanis Club of Opelika at a regular meeting at Saugahatchee Country Club. He was assisted by Kirsten Holt, 4H regional extension agent. They talked about the benefits of gardening with children, explaining how to start children gardening and methods to help them progress as they age. Club member Charles Whatley arranged the program. Shown, from left, are club president Boles Pegues, Browne and Holt.
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