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  • UGA Research Aimed at Protecting Produce Packing Plants from Listeria

    Diez

    One University of Georgia (UGA) research project in 2021 will be aimed at protecting produce packing plants from Listeria, according to Francisco Diez, Director and Professor at the UGA Center for Food Safety in Griffin, Georgia.

    The lead investigator is Diez. The grant project is funded by the Center for Produce Safety and covers the entire 2021 year. His objective will be to see if the antimicrobial blue light, which has shown antimicrobial effects and is considered safe for humans, can kill the Listeria monocytogenes.

    “It’s been found by a number of reports that blue light can be lethal for some bacteria. There’s been applications of blue light in some settings like hospitals in which they can leave the blue light on and eventually that protects if there’s any presence of bacteria on the surface in the room; on floors, on walls or other materials,” Diez said. “What we’re trying to address in this proposal is under simulated conditions in the laboratory that will resemble surfaces that would be found in a packing plant is whether we can kill Listeria monocytogenes.”

    Grant Description

    According to the award description, Listeria monocytogenes as dried cells or biofilms will be placed on a wide range of surfaces (stainless steel, plastic, etc.) and exposed to blue light to evaluate its antimicrobial efficacy.

    Diez stresses that this research would not replace the normal sanitizing and cleaning procedures that are already in place at packing plants across the Southeast. Blue light would be used only as a supplement. It could really be useful in case a piece of equipment or spot on a wall or floor was missed and was left exposed to the Listeria pathogen.

    “Listeria is not so easy to control. Most treatments can kill listeria. A good sanitizing program with a combination of good cleaning and sanitizing may control listeria in most cases but the organism is so capable of surviving that it can remain on surfaces or equipment, in small niches and crannies,” Diez said. “If a piece of equipment has a little corner that didn’t get cleaned or sanitized properly and gets in contact with vegetables, either packing or cutting or cleaning, then (the bacteria) could get into the product.”

    What is Listeria?

    Listeria is one of the major food-borne pathogens that is extremely dangerous if consumed.

    “Fortunately, it doesn’t cause as many cases per year as salmonella. But we’re very concerned because Listeria Monocytogenes has a relatively high death rate. About 20% of people that contract Listeria, they die or they develop serious conditions,” he said. “Listeria is a very pervasive organism in nature. It’s found in many, many natural environments. Plants or plant tissues could be colonized by Listeria.”

  • HELM Agro US Launches New Gamma™ Herbicide for Grapes

    Tampa, FL – HELM Agro US, Inc., a global manufacturer of high-quality crop protection and fertilizer products announced that Gamma™ herbicide has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Gamma is a non-selective PPO-inhibitor herbicide with a novel active ingredient called Tergeo™ for directed postemergence applications in grapes.

    In product development trials and regulatory studies, Gamma has demonstrated extremely promising performance ratings in burndown control for more than 50 broadleaf and grass weeds, including ALS, triazine and glyphosate-resistant species. 

    Additional characteristics of the new herbicide include an ultra-low use rate, broad tank mix compatibility and a signal word of Caution. The new product is also fast-acting with herbicidal effects occurring within 24 hours after application.

    Classified as a Group 14 herbicide, Gamma is formulated as a water-dispersible granule (WG) and contains 0.70 pounds of active ingredient per pound of formulated product.

    “HELM is excited to bring new weed control technology to the U.S. grape industry,” says Dave Schumacher, President of HELM Agro US. “Not only will Gamma help with long-standing weed challenges, but as a new herbicide with a novel active ingredient, this product will be a critical option for growers to add to their toolbox specific to resistance management.

    Tergeo is a new molecule discovered by Farm Hannong, a Korean agrochemical company, and developed and registered by ISK Biosciences Corporation, a subsidiary of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd., for use in the United States. Earlier this year, HELM Agro US and ISK Biosciences Corporation agreed to collaborate regarding the distribution of Gamma herbicide for the U.S. crop protection market.

    “At a time when few new herbicides are being brought to market, Gamma is truly breakthrough technology,” says Schumacher. “At HELM, we have a passion for discovering new technology that will help shape the future of agriculture while creating greater value and profitability for our customers.”

    To learn more about new Gamma herbicide, go to discoverhelm.com, call 813-621-8846 or contact your local HELM sales representative.

  • Problematic Pests of Florida Strawberries

    Stunted young trifoliates in the plant center (compact leaf mass). (Photos by Sriyanka Lahiri, UF/IFAS)

    By Sriyanka Lahiri

    Several arthropod pests occur in strawberries in Florida during the various stages of the crop cycle.

    Cyclamen mites (Phytonemus pallidus), if present, originate from strawberry nurseries as hitchhikers on transplants. Thankfully, a very small percentage of growers reported a cyclamen mite infestation during the strawberry season of 2019–2020.

    Soon after planting, armyworms (Spodoptera spp.), twospotted spider mites (TSSM, Tetranychus urticae) and the invasive polyphagous chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) are typically found infesting plants.

    TSSM can also arrive as hitchhikers on transplants, occasionally. The presence of armyworms on young foliage becomes immediately evident due to feeding holes left by their biting-chewing mouthparts. Both TSSM and chilli thrips feed on foliage using their piercing-sucking mouthparts. TSSM produce webbing on the surface of the foliage and lay eggs on these webs. However, chilli thrips differ in their oviposition practices.

    The more devastating chilli thrips prefer feeding on the youngest open leaflets. Eggs are laid by the chilli thrips female into the leaf tissue using a saw-like ovipositor. This protects eggs from insecticides and predators. Both chilli thrips adults and larvae find refuge in concealed areas of the foliage, which makes them a very effective cryptic pest.

    As plants progress toward flowering and fruiting, more thrips species appear, such as western flower thrips (WFT, Frankliniella occidentalis), common blossom thrips (F. schultzei) and Florida flower thrips (F. bispinosa) in addition to chilli thrips. Of these thrips species, both chilli thrips and WFT cause significant economic damage and develop resistance to insecticides easily.  

    DAMAGE

    A cyclamen mite infestation can lead to severely stunted and crinkled leaves, aborted flowers, and bronzed and cracked fruits.

    Chilli thrips larvae and adult. (Photo by Joseph D. Montemayor, UF/IFAS)

    Chilli thrips cause necrosis at the site of feeding, which leads to darkening along the leaf mid-rib, followed by the spread of the dark coloration to lateral veins and petioles. Leaf bronzing, crinkling and deformation occurs during severe chilli thrips infestation.

    Severe thrips and cyclamen mite infestations lead to bronzed and cracked fruits that are unmarketable.

    An infestation of TSSM will lead to stippling of leaves initially. Uncontrolled TSSM populations become evident by the appearance of webbing.

    MANAGEMENT

    Management of cyclamen mites is best done with a preventive approach. Therefore, obtaining clean transplants is of utmost importance. Since all life stages of cyclamen mites show high mortality when exposed to hot water, a dip of frozen transplants into hot water at 111 °F for 10 minutes before planting may help. Alternatively, infested plants should be removed from the field.

    The most significant early-season strawberry pest that is currently posing a management challenge in Florida is the invasive chilli thrips. Conventional insecticides are being used to manage thrips pests, but there are several naturally occurring beneficial insects that could be used. These include predators such as the big-eyed bug (Geocoris spp.) and the minute pirate bug (Orius insidiosus). Additionally, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) greenhouse experiments using potted strawberry plants have confirmed the efficacy of the WFT predator Amblyseius swirskii as effective for suppression of chilli thrips larvae.

    An infestation of TSSM in open-field strawberries is best controlled by releasing the specialized predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.

    Armyworms are effectively managed by early-season application of biological insecticide formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis, subsp. kurstaki.

    Pesticides registered for various strawberry pests are listed in the UF/IFAS Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/CV/CV13400.pdf). It is important to select pesticides that are least harmful to beneficial arthropods, rotate modes of action and follow the label.

  • Extension Economist Doesn’t Expect Hemp Acres to Increase in Southeast in 2021

    File photo shows a field of hemp

    With hemp harvest beginning across the Southeast, predictions are already being made about what next year’s crop might look like. One Extension economist believes there will not be an acreage increase in 2021.

    Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension economist Adam Rabinowitz does not expect acres in the Southeast to increase until the market shows significant recovery.

    Rabinowitz

    “I don’t think we’ll see more acres in the Southeast. We’re not seeing the price rebound back up to the point to where there was this huge interest of getting into that production,” Rabinowitz said. “I think we’re going to have to see a little bit more of the market really play out in terms of what the real consumer demand is and get a better understanding of that, and then potentially, try to find some efficiencies in the production practice before we’ll see an acreage increase.”

    Alabama Hemp Applications

    Hemp applications for the 2021 season are already being accepted in Alabama. They are available at agi.alabama.gov/hempapp.  The final day to apply for a hemp license is Nov. 30, 2020 by 5:00 pm (CST).

    It will be the third year that the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has administered the program.

    Georgia Hemp

    According to Tim Coolong, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist, he estimates that between 300 and 400 acres were planted this year with 108 licenses issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Some of those, though, may be processors and others may be farmers who decided not to plant.

    Florida Hemp

    According to Holly Bell, director of cannabis for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), “Florida is becoming the leader in the country – if not the world – on how we’re getting our hemp rolled out and the standards we’re setting.” On April 27, FDACS began issuing hemp cultivation permits for the 2020 growing season. As of mid-August, 550 permits were issued and another 400 were being processed. The 550 permits encompass 18,000 acres of indoor- and outdoor-grown hemp.

  • Clemson Extension Agents Provide Crop Updates

    Clemson Extension agents provided updates in The South Carolina Grower this week about the status of various crops being produced throughout the state.

    Weekly Field Update – 10/19/20

    Posted on by Justin Ballew

    Coastal

    Rob Last reports, “As we approach the time where strawberry plants will be delivered, I would urge all growers to inspect plants before planting.  Whiteflies continue to be numerous along with caterpillars in fall brassica crops. Scouting, as always, will remain very important.”

    Zack Snipes reports, “Hide ya collards, hide ya tomatoes, they eatin’ everything! The Southern Armyworm is wreaking havoc on crops in the Lowcountry. The Southern Armyworm is a heavy feeder on a wide range of crops. They are dark in color, with yellow to cream colored horizontal lines and a reddish/orange head. If inspected closely, one will find a yellow “Y” shape on their head. I see this pest in fields with a variety of crops as well as weedy field borders. We have a full offering of insecticides to battle this pest but remember to rotate insecticides each time you spray. We are also finding some Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLC) in tomato. This virus is transmitted via the whitefly. Strawberry cut-offs and plugs are going in. Be sure to inspect roots and crown before planting. Give me a shout if you need an extra pair of eyes to check them out.”

    Two Southern Armyworm larvae that are just about large enough to pupate. Photo from Zack Snipes.

    Midlands

    Justin Ballew reports, “We had a welcome light rain towards the end of last week and the temperatures cooled off nicely. Strawberry planting has begun and is progressing well. Remember to supervise planting crews closely to make sure plants are being set at the proper depth. Now is also the time to get deer fences up. Once the plants develop new leaves, it won’t take the deer long to find them. We’re still seeing a fair amount of powdery mildew and downy mildew in cucurbits and anthracnose in pepper. Caterpillar populations remain high in brassicas as well.

    We’re seeing a fair amount of anthracnose fruit rot on pepper in the midlands. Photo from Justin Ballew.

    Pee Dee

    Tony Melton reports, “Greens are loving cool weather and growing well.  Very little disease or insect problems. Large numbers of armyworm moths in some green fields but they are not feeding on greens but on the purslane, pigweed, and other weeds – control the weeds. Sweet potatoes are being harvested as quickly as possible. Many strawberries are planted – already seen some deer damage. I have seen large fields of peas without a pea left on top of the plants – from deer damage. Pickle harvest is finished for the year. Cool weather is slowing bean and pea growth and production. Agri-tourism is flourishing because people want to get out of the house.”

  • North Carolina Forestry Association, N.C. Forest Service Promote National Forest Products Week

    RALEIGH – National Forest Products Week is celebrated the third week in October every year, and in celebration, the North Carolina Forestry Association and the N.C Forest Service recognizes the $33.6 billion contribution of the forest products industry to our state’s economy.

    Troxler

    NCFA Executive Director John Hatcher says, “Forestry is a significant economic driver for our state, ensuring jobs and tax dollars necessary to the livelihoods of the many people who depend on this industry.”

    According to economic contribution data from Rajan Parajuli and Robert Bardon with N.C. State University, in 2018 the forest products industry in North Carolina — including forestry and logging operations, sawmills, furniture mills, and pulp and paper industries — was the top employer among manufacturing sectors in the state, supporting more than 150,400 jobs.

    The N.C. Forest Service protects, manages and promotes forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina.

    “The partnership between the NCFS and landowners is an integral part of keeping forests and our forest products industry productive, vibrant and healthy, ensuring our greatest natural resources are around to benefit our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

    For more information about the economic contribution of the forest sector in North Carolina, visit https://forestry.ces.ncsu.edu/economic-impact-data/. Media interested in learning more about National Forest Products Week should contact Amanda Murphy at amurphy@ncforestry.org.

  • Cold Outbreak at End of October Could End Growing Season in Northern Alabama, Georgia

    Map from UGA Extension blog.

    According to Pam Knox, University of Georgia agricultural climatologist, in her UGA Extension blog, the forecasts are starting to show a strong cold front passing through the Southeast at the end of October.

    This will usher in a period of much colder air which could include frost across northern Alabama and Georgia as well as western parts of the Carolinas and Virginia.

    Some of the mountainous areas have already experienced frost conditions, but this looks like it could be a much more widespread event. The latest models put the front through the region on Wednesday, Oct. 28, with lingering cold conditions in the mornings for the next few days after the front passes.

    It is important to be mindful that this is still 10 days out. Changes in the timing and strength of the cold air are likely, but it is something to watch out for, especially if you have plants that are sensitive to freezing conditions.

  • Wait to Prune Fruit Trees

    Pruning of southern highbush blueberries is required to open the middles of the plants for machine harvesting from the top.

    Pruning fruit trees is an important management tactic that producers and homeowners need to implement every year. Industry experts emphasize, though, the importance of growers waiting until the winter dormancy period before beginning the pruning process.

    Gray

    In doing so, producers will avoid damage from colder temperatures.

    “Years ago, we used to prune our peach orchards, for example, in the fall. A lot of our growers did that to get it done. They had a lot of pruning to do. We learned over the years, (though), that makes the fruit trees bloom earlier,” said Gary Gray, Alabama Regional Extension agent.

    More Susceptible to Colder Temps

    According to a University of Georgia Extension blog, pruning stimulates the growth of the trees. That’s why industry experts insist growers wait until later in the dormant season to prune. If trees bloom early, they’re more susceptible to damage from a potential freeze.

    “When we prune, that sets them up to bloom a little earlier and it causes them to be more cold sensitive as a result. The one aspect of that would be, for example, whenever you go in and prune and lets say we’re pruning … after Jan. 1 up until bloom, basically is a good time to get it done…a commercial grower who has a lot of trees, he can’t wait too late to get it done,” Gray said. “There’s a risk that if we had a freeze immediately following or really cold weather immediately following pruning that we might get increased damage on those trees.”

    If growers wait until later in the dormancy period, it reduces the risk of being impacted by freezing temperatures since the weather starts to warm with the impending arrival of spring.

    Why Prune?

    UGA Extension says pruning is one of the most important cultural practices for maintaining woody plants. For fruiting plants, like peach trees, pruning plays an important role in improving overall fruit quality, primarily by increasing light penetration into the tree. But proper pruning requires understanding of how plants respond to the different pruning cuts.

    That’s why it is essential that growers wait as long as possible before implementing the pruning process.  

    “If a grower or a home (owner) can wait, the later those trees are going to bloom. You’re not promoting the dormancy breaking process that happens when you prune. For example, if the buds are still dormant, we’d like for them to stay that way to reduce our risk of freeze damage in the spring,” Gray said.

  • Collins, Scott Work to Increase International Market Access for U.S. Pecans

    Collins

    WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) joined Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) and 31 of their colleagues in sending a letter with bipartisan support to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer encouraging the Administration to prioritize reducing India’s tariffs on American pecans as trade negotiations continue.

    “As you may know, American pecan producers have faced many challenges due to rising imports from Mexico, Chinese tariffs, natural disasters like Hurricane Michael, and the COVID-19 pandemic,” they wrote. “Gaining access to new markets for pecans will help ease the pain while orchards are replanted and a trade deal is negotiated with China.” 

    India’s current tariff rate for U.S. pecans is 36%, much higher than its 10% rate for pistachios and almonds. Lowering these high tariffs will allow American pecan farmers to compete in this important market.

    “Lowering the tariff on pecans would provide the Indian people with more economical access to tree nut varieties, while providing a much-needed economic boost to rural America,” they continued.

    Scott

    Read the full letter here.

  • Supergene in Fire Ants May Lead to Understanding of Developmental Behaviors

    UGA CAES photo/A trio of winged fire ants perched on a branch.

    By Sean Montgomery for UGA CAES News

    A unique study conducted by University of Georgia entomologists led to the discovery of a distinctive supergene in fire ant colonies that determines whether young queen ants will leave their birth colony to start their own new colony or if they will join one with multiple queens. Researchers also found that ants were more aggressive toward queens who don’t possess the supergene, causing colony workers to kill them. This critical finding opens the door to new pest control methods that may be more efficient in eradicating problematic fire ant colonies. 

    “Learning about the way fire ants behave is very important baseline information,” said Ken Ross, a longtime professor of entomology at the university. “This information is key to helping us manage pest populations and predict what dissimilarities can happen in their environment.”

    What is a supergene?

    A supergene is a collection of neighboring genes located on a chromosome that are inherited together due to close genetic linkage. Studying these unique genes is important to understanding the potential causes for differences among the social structure of fire ants, specifically for controlling the species and building upon the existing knowledge base.

    Researchers focused on young queen fire ants embarking on nuptial flights. They compared the supergene’s impact on the fire ants’ two primary types of social structures: monogyne, which is reproduction from queens that form a new nest, and pologyne, reproduction from queens that join an existing nest.

    Ross initially worked alongside colleagues in his lab to discover a remarkable example of genetically encoded differences in social organization within the fire ant species Solenopsis invicta. The next step was to understand how these genetic differences result in complex behavioral and physiological variations among ants from single queen colonies versus colonies with multiple queens. Compounding this knowledge helps scientists further understand patterns of development in the species, increasing alternatives to combat invasive populations.                                                                  

    Led by a pair of UGA entomology graduate alumni, Joanie King, who earned her master’s degree in 2017, and Samuel Arsenault, who earned his doctoral degree in 2020, the team developed an experimental design that utilized a collection of samples from two fire ant organs — brain and ovarian tissues — and the complete range of social chromosome genotypes and social forms within this fire ant species.

    Scientific Methods

    The innovative study incorporated various scientific methods, leading to a collaboration of tools and resources throughout many different areas of the institution.

    “UGA was a very supportive environment to conduct this research,” said Brendan Hunt, associate professor of entomology. “We received help preparing samples for RNA-sequencing from Dr. Bob Schmitz’s lab in the Genetics department, performed the sequencing at the Georgia Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, and utilized computational resources from the Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center to analyze the data.”

    These types of student-led projects give young researchers the chance to grow in a hands-on environment with mentorship and guidance from scientists with proven track records in the field.

    “The graduate students gained experience that helped them transition to the next stages of their careers,” said Hunt. “Both have gone on to continue their studies of ant genetics.”

    After earning their degrees and completing the research at UGA, King began pursuing a doctorate at Texas A&M University to study alongside Edward Vargo, and Arsenault works as a postdoctoral researcher with Harvard University’s Buck Trible Lab.

    To read the full published research, check out the Wiley Online Library digital archive. For more information on the UGA department of entomology, visit ent.uga.edu.