Quincy, Marianna,
Monticello, Live Oak
Research and Extension Updates
Vol. 3 No.
25 December 3, 2001
From the Director: As we begin our third year of publishing the
newsletter, we would like to extend a thank you to our readership. Our goal is and has been to provide the
faculty in the county extension offices with the latest news, dates, and other
information from the various disciplines of
research and extension programs which take place at NFREC-Marianna, Quincy, Monticello and Live Oak. We hope you are able to use information from
ongoing research in your county newsletters and education activities. If you
would like additional information, contact the faculty member author or our
editor,
Regards, Dr.
Dates of Interest:
Tuesday, February 26: NW Fla Beef Conference & Trade Show
Saturday, March 2: Florida Bull Test Sale
Thursday, December 6: Gadsden Tomato Forum
The Golf Club of Quincy, 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
NEED MORE DATES!!
There are a lot of events
going on. Let me know where and when!!
PERSONNEL
Thanks
to NFREC-
Suwannee
employees who helped getting exhibits to the North Florida Fair: Lei Lani Davis, Mary Mclain, Jerry Butler,
Hats off to John Zadakis and Richard
Brumley, of NFREC-Monticello! Dr.
Another employee who keeps things running, literally, is Mr. Acye Chason at NFREC-Quincy. As the Auto Equipment Mechanic, he’s been keeping things oiled and going for
over 20 years. One of his recent
projects was getting a 1957 cotton picker ready to use. Good job, Acye!
Recently we said “good bye” and “good luck” to Sue
Anne Poppell, who accepted a position with FEMA.
Sue Anne and her enthusiasm will be missed. We nicknamed her the “Sugar Cane Queen”, as
she graciously handled the public who came in for the Sugar Cane Give Away
Days.
Good bye to Dr. Robert Idiak, visiting
scientist from the Agriculture University in Poznan, Poland. Robert has
been working in Dr. David Wright’s agronomy
program since May and will be leaving soon. NFREC-Quincy
enjoyed getting to know you and has appreciated your help.
Dr.
Sea Grant
Scott Jackson, Sea
Grant Extension agent for Okaloosa and Walton counties, suggests these websites
for some
fascinating information on Northwest Florida Sea Grant Extension
Programs:
http://walton.ifas.ufl.edu/Marine%20Science/default.htm
http://walton.ifas.ufl.edu/Marine%20Science/Aquaculture%20Home.htm
http://walton.ifas.ufl.edu/Marine%20Science/agent_bio.htm
Thrips Biology and
Management
A
new website entitled Thrips Biology and Management has been created to
highlight some of the interdisciplinary research being conducted at
NFREC-Quincy! Check it out at http://thrips.ifas.ufl.edu/
The
purpose of this website is to provide knowledge of thrips and the diseases
they transmit (tospoviruses), and information about management of these severe
pests in field-grown crops using reduced-risk tactics. We hope the information will be valuable to
extension personnel, growers, crop consultants, and other researchers.
Faculty
members involved in the research presented in the website include
A
talk to be given by
Development of the website is a portion of
the effort to disseminate information from research conducted for a US
Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Extension, and Education
Service / Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grant in
Pest Management.
Effects of Plateau on Native
Wildflower Seedlings
Jeff Norcini and Jim Aldrich
Plateau 2AS (imazapic; BASF) is an herbicide labelled for use in noncrop areas such as roadsides and in restoration projects. It is especially useful in these sites because it will kill weeds (and prevent their regrowth) yet allow establishment of many desirable native wildflowers and grasses. Weeds are the number one pest in establishing and maintaining field plantings of native wildflowers. We have not been able to consistently achieve a high level of weed control when applying Plateau as broadcast postemergence spray over established wildflowers because the higher rates that provided good to excellent weed control caused moderate to severe injury to the wildflowers.
However, Plateau can be applied before weeds and wildflowers emerge. The objective of our experiment was to determine the effect of Plateau to newly emerging native wildflower seedlings when Plateau was applied prior to germination.
On April 13 (Expt. 1) and May 16, 2001 (Expt. 2), Plateau 2AS at 1, 2, 4, or 8 oz product per acre was applied (broadcast) to seed of several native wildflower species that had been sown the day before in small pots containing either MetroMix 200 or a sandy subsoil. The experiment was run under greenhouse conditions, with pots overhead irrigated daily. The wildflower species were:
Seed
Source
Coreopsis lanceolata lanceleaf coreopsis Wildseed
Farms*; North Florida ecotype
Gaillardia
pulchella blanketflower Wildseed Farms; North Florida ecotype
Ipomopsis rubra standing
cypress Wildseed Farms
Lupinus perennis perennial
lupine Wildseed Farms
Phlox drummondii annual
phlox Wildseed Farms
Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed
susan Wildseed Farms; North
Florida ecotype
Salvia
coccinea scarlet
sage Wildseed Farms
*Fredericksburg, Texas
The effect of Plateau on seedling population numbers
28 days after treatment (DAT) was frequently variable and not rate dependent
because genotype, seedling vigor, depth of the seed when it germinated as well
as other factors affected seedling mortality due to Plateau (Jeff Birk, BASF;
personnel communication). In contrast, injury to seedling shoots 42 DAT was
generally rate dependent. Listed below are general observations about the
effects of Plateau in this study.
·
The most tolerant species was annual phlox. Plateau did not reduce the
number of young seedlings and caused only slight injury to seedling shoots
(Expt. 1 only).
·
Seedling populations of standing cypress and lanceleaf coreopsis
(Florida ecotype and Wildseed Farms) were not reduced but Plateau caused
moderate injury to standing cypress seedlings and slight to slightly moderate
injury to lanceleaf coreopsis seedlings.
·
Plateau reduced seedling populations (slightly to moderately) and
injured seedlings (slightly to moderately) of blanketflower** (Wildseed Farms),
perennial lupine, black-eyed susan (both seed sources), and scarlet sage.
·
Reductions in seedling populations due to Plateau were usually greater
in field soil than in MetroMix 200. This was probably due to the greater
organic matter content of the MetroMix (which contained sphagnum peat) compared
to the predominantly sandy field soil. Organic matter adsorbs Plateau and
renders it inactive at pHs of about 5.5 to 8 (Jeff Birk, BASF; personnel
communication).
In
conclusion, Plateau applied prior to emergence of native wildflowers will
frequently result in some thinning (as is currently stated on the label) as
well as some injury to seedlings. However, these costs must be considered in
light of the broad spectrum of weed control provided by Plateau and how much
thinning of wildflower populations can be tolerated during establishment (an
issue that could possibly be remedied by higher seeding rates).
____________________
*The effect of Plateau on seedling populations of
the Florida ecotype of blanketflower was not clear since germination rate was
so low; however Plateau did cause slight to severe rate dependent injury to
seedlings 42 DAT.
(Norcini, NFREC News, 3-25)
Whole
Cottonseed for Beef Cattle
High local supplies and low
prices have made whole cottonseed an attractive feed ingredient for use in beef
cattle rations. Whole cottonseed is very
high in energy (90% TDN), high in protein (23%), high in phosphorus (0.75%) and
high in fiber (21%). The high TDN is
mainly due to the high oil/fat content of the whole cottonseed (20%).
Pertinent points on the feeding of
whole cottonseed to beef cattle:
1. Because of the high oil
content of whole cottonseed, the maximum amount to be fed should not exceed
0.5% of body weight per day. For
example, a 600 lb stocker should not receive more than 3 lbs per day per
animal. In mixed rations, whole cottonseed should not exceed 20% of the total
ration dry matter, including dry matter from hay and/or pasture. The high fat content of whole cottonseed
could result in diarrhea if fed at high levels.
2. As with any new feed, cattle
may have to be enticed to eat cottonseed, which can be done by top dressing it
with molasses or other palatable feed.
3. Cottonseed can be fed
without feed processing.
A few cautions:
1. Cottonseed can combust
spontaneously if stored too wet and stacked high. Moisture level should not exceed 14% for safe
storage.
2. Aflatoxins can be a problem
especially if whole cottonseed is stored too wet.
3. Gossypol toxicity is usually
not a concern with beef cattle except for young calves under four months of
age.
Further information can be obtained from local
county extension service or the animal science extension website of North
Carolina State University
(www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/animal/nutr/ahnutr.html).
(Myer, NFREC News)
Pecan Spacing Recommendations
for North Florida
Pecans
typically require 20 to 30 years to reach maximum yields at standard 60’ x 60’
spacings. Many pecan growers have
planted pecan trees at relatively high densities during the last ten years to
expedite a return on investments. However,
dwarfing pecan rootstocks or growth-inhibiting chemicals are not currently
available. “Cheyenne” is the pecan
cultivar best adapted to high density management, but unfortunately, it is very
susceptible to fungal diseases and nut quality of only fair.
Irrigated
pecan trees planted at 30’ x 30’ spacings may become crowded in as little as
ten to twelve years. Problems
encountered with tree crowding include a loss of bearing wood around tree
periphery due to limb shading by adjacent trees. Disease severity may be enhanced because of a
more humid microclimate. This situation,
if not remedied, results in a reduced yield, poor nut quality, and in a weak
tree with pronounced upright growth.
Pecan
growers are faced with three alternatives:
1) remove alternate trees;
2) transplant alternate trees with a
large tree transplanter; 3) prune frequently. Alternative #1 is the cheapest of the three
choices but sawing alternate trees at the ground level often comes before a
positive return on investments is realized.
Alternative #3 is a short-term solution to a long-term persistent
problem, and research data has shown that pecan trees do not respond
particularly well to pruning.
Equally
important, it is not realistic to delay maximum yields for 20 to 30 years at
standard spacings. In 1975, a density
trial consisting of 8 cultivars was planted at the NFREC-Monticello with the
following spacings: 25’ x 20’, 25’ x
40’, 50’ x 40’
50’
x 50’. Table 1 is a composite of
information gained from this study and from my observations. Precocity is a very high priority when tree
spacings are selected where alternate tree removal is eminent within 15
years. Precocious, disease-resistant
cultivars which are well adapted to high
density management are needed in the Southeast.
Table
1. Recommendation status of twelve different
pecan orchard spacings.
Spacing #Tree/A Thinning scheme if
necessary z
Recommendations Status
0’x20’ 109 Thin to 40’ x 40’
NR
15’x30’ 96 Thin to 30’x 30’ NR
25’x25’ 69 Thin diagonally to 35.4’ x
35.4’
CR
30’x30’ 48 Thin diagonally to 42.4’ x
42.4’
R
35’x
35’ 35 Thin diagonally to 49.5’ x
49.5’
R
40’x40’ 27 Do not thin or thin
diagonally to 56.6’x 56.5’
R
30’x60’ 24 Thin alternate trees to 60’x 60’ R
40’x50’ 20 Do not thin
R
35’x70’ 17 NR
50’x50’ 17 Good initial spacing if not
concerned
about return on investment NR
60’x60’ 12
NR
70’x70’ 9 NR
z Tree thinning should not be delayed to the
point that tree limbs of adjacent trees contact one another.
Y R=recommended, CR=conditionally recommended for “Cheyenne”
only, NR= not recommended
(Andersen,
NFREC News, 3-25)
Thought for the Day: A lot of people
approach risk as if it’s the enemy when it’s really fortune’s accomplice. (Sting)
E-Mail: cvergot@ifas.ufl.edu
Phone:
(850) 875-7112
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