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Online Field Crop Alerts - July 2001
July 11, 2001
Pennsylvania and New Jersey agricultural agents, farmers and others can now take advantage of new online bulletins that give timely information on pests such as Alfalfa weevil, Ear rot diseases, perennial broadleaf weeds, poisonous pasture plants and more.
The Penn Jersey Field Crop Alerts, created by the Penn Jersey Extension Partnership, are now available at the Pennsylvania IPM Program's web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/245.htm.
The Penn Jersey Extension Partnership is a regionally based Cooperative Extension working group that combines the expertise and programming efforts of agricultural agents and specialists from both Rutgers and Penn State Universities.
The bulletins give information on pests such as life cycle, damage caused, how and when to begin scouting and other useful information. They also contain information on the crop the pest feeds on, such as value per ton, plant height, as well as pesticide information.
Greg Solt, Penn State Cooperative Extension Agent in Northampton County and chairman of the partnership, says the effort is so successful because it's truly a joint one. " Its rare that cooperative extension from other states work together. The partnership has been in existence for 20 years, but the fact sheets are our first across state effort of this kind," he explains.
In addition, the Penn Jersey Extension Partnership has been posting weekly crop alerts at their site at http://www.cropmaster-icm.com/index.html . By clicking on the "Special Notice" section of the web site, growers, agricultural agents and other can get the latest updates on pests that are causing devastation within the two states.
"The crop alerts are updated weekly, sometimes daily when a pest is causing widespread devastation, such as that of the armyworm this year," says Solt. The site has already received over 5,000 hits this growing season.
According to Solt, the weekly reports are popular with growers as well as the fact all the information you need on a given pest is right there. The site includes recent pictures taken in the field of pests and damage they cause. There is also additional information describing the pest, how it has gained a foothold in the fields, larvae feeding patterns, and methods of control, including IPM practices. Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, aims to control pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, profitable and environmentally compatible.
Growers are even provided phone numbers so they may call in what they are finding in their own fields. Growers can also get additional information from Solt at (610) 746-1970 or by email at gws5@psu.edu.