T-Y IPM NEWS

news about integrated pest management in Terry and Yoakum counties
Scott A. Russell, EA-IPM
Telephone: (806) 637-4060
Mobile: (806) 893-1041
Fax: (806) 637-2588
E-Mail: sarussel@tamu.edu   http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ipm  
Vol. 3, No. 7
209 South Fifth Street, Brownfield, TX 79316
July 11, 2002

In this issue:
General Situation
Questions to Ask Before Pest Management Decisions Are Made
IPM Decision-Making
Turnrow Meetings

General Situation:
Precipitation over the holiday weekend added hope to many area fields. The majority of our area received some moisture. The moisture, along with the returning hot temperatures, has really allowed cotton to take off. We had our first white flower in a program field on July 5th, since several other fields have begun to bloom. Square retention rates are excellent with program fields being greater than 85%.

Fleahoppers are diminishing in number, at the same time the crop is less susceptible to their damage as we reach bloom, especially with the high square retention rates. Bollworm egg numbers as well as worm numbers are up slightly, although not a concern in any field this week. With the hot dry weather, worms will not survive well where the crop canopy is open. Should we cool off again we may see more survival, as well as once the canopy closes.

Beneficial insect numbers are increasing, both inabundance and in diversity, many feeding on newly hatched worms.

Peanuts have benefitted from the rainfall as well, although the moisture will certainly provide an opportunity for disease to get started. Monitor those peanut fields carefully.

Questions to Ask Before Pest Management Decisions Are Made:
1. What pests are present, in what numbers and stages of development?
2. What conditions exist that may increase or decrease pest problems?
3. What natural enemies of the pests, such as parasites, predators, and diseases, are present that may play an important role in control?
4. What amount and type of damage is being caused or may soon be caused by pests?
5. What is the stage of development, condition, and value of the crop?
6. What is the potential for economical injury? How much damage is tolerable? Has the action threshold been reached?
7. What pest management options are available, and how do the advantages and disadvantages of each apply to the situation?

Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied.
The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
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8. If alternatives are not available, is a pesticide treatment justified for the situation? If so, what is the material of choice?
10. If a pesticide is not justified, what approaches, if any, should be taken?

Field scouting and action thresholds can be used to provide much of the information needed to answer these questions. Thorough field scouting provided by an unbiased source who understands the crop and cropping system remains a major tenant of IPM

IPM Decision-Making:
There is a 6 step process to decision-making in IPM
1. Identify the problem or pest
2. Determine the severity of the problem (scouting, traps, past history)
3. Assess the management options (do nothing, cultural, biological, chemical control)
4. Select and apply one or more options
5. Measure the success of options employed
6. Record the results

Turnrow Meetings
(Earn 1 C.E.U. in I.P.M.)

Tuesday, July 16, 2002
8:00 A.M.: Terry Co. Coop Gin, Brownfield, TX.
10:30 A.M.: Needmore Gin, Needmore, TX.

Thursday, July 18, 2002
8:00 A.M.: Meadow Coop Gin, Meadow, TX.
10:30A.M.: New-Tex Gin, Plains, TX.

Friday, July 19, 2002
9:00 A.M.: Yoakum County Coop Gin, Plains, TX.
10:30 A.M.: Tokio Coop Gin, Tokio, TX.

T-Y IPM News is a publication of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service IPM Program in Terry and Yoakum Counties.
Editor: Scott A. Russell
EA-IPM,
Terry & Yoakum Counties		 Production: Bea Pippin


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