HEAT UNIT ACCUMULATION UPDATE

As of September 5, 2002:

Heat Unit accumulations have slowed to some degree with cooler nights and shorter day-lengths. Fields that have a good moisture profile will show more gradual signs of senescence than those which have dried out prematurely and are 60 to 80 % open. Some areas are lucky enough to be getting some light showers randomly - perhaps these will serve to keep the cotton alive and in fair condition until harvest-aids are applied.

Bollworm, budworm and beet armyworm moth catches as of August 28th are:

Moth trap catches are highly variable by week and area which is probably an indication that few host plants exist that are as attractive as the pheromone contained in the traps. However, viable and fertile moths continue to lay eggs which may still impact our growing season. If not in cotton, then some other crop.

Growers who are sowing wheat this week need to be especially watchful as the crop emerges for evidence of fall armyworm and possible beet armyworm feeding as these pests (moths) will tend to key on fresh, succulent growth to lay eggs. Also, the residual grasshopper populations will bear watching as they can "graze" a wheat patch quickly.

With last week's latest rainfall event, the mosquito population has exploded again after the hot and dry month of August had shown some relief from this pest.

Standing pools of water should be kept to a minimum to help reduce mosquito survival.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is solely dependant upon the mosquito vector as a transmitter of disease.

Horses in Ralls have been tested positive for this disease and several other cases have randomly appeared in the last week over the High Plains area. It would seem imperative to have horses inoculated with the vaccine as rapidly as possible in light of the 12 week period needed to establish immunity.

REPEAT: Information regarding WNV may be researched on the TDH website at tdh.state.tx.us or by calling your local Texas Department of Health office. Another site is http://eit.tamu.edu/westnile/ which is a streamed video conference conducted by Texas Cooperative Extension. Each county extension office is supposed to receive a videotape entitled "West Nile Virus : A Survival Guide" in the very near future.

Upcoming meeting of interest:
September 10 - Floyd County Ag. Tour - Call Donna at (806)983-4912 for more information.

This newsletter is the last of the regularly scheduled mail-outs and e-mails for crop year 2002. Our "Bulletin Board" recipients (gins, elevators, agri-businesses, etc.) will receive off-season mailings to be posted in their respective establishments. We wish to thank all those individuals who help with Extension's educational programming and also all those who have participated in our program in 2002.
Good luck with harvest !!!!

Steve Davis
Extension Agent-IPM
Crosby/Floyd Counties

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