This in today from the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (GFVGA):
The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Vegetables is pleased to announce that more than $85,000.00 has been awarded for nine 2009 research projects. These are the first research grants awarded since the new vegetable marketing order and commission was approved by vegetable growers in February of 2008. Bo Herndon, Chair of the Commission stated, “As vegetable growers we are extremely pleased we have been able to come together under this marketing order and are able to provide funds to our UGA scientists for this research. The projects funded will give direct assistance and information to help our growers in producing their crops.”
Results of these research projects will be published and distributed to growers. In addition the findings will be reported at the 2010 SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. The following is a summary of the projects funded. For more information, the GFVGA office has a complete proposal of the work to be conducted as a part of each of these projects.
Measuring Volatile Emissions from Mulch Covered Vegetable Beds
Project Directors: Paul E. Sumner, Extension Agriculture Engineer, University of
Georgia and Stanley Culpepper, Extension Weed Scientist, University of Georgia
Funding: $20,000
The objectives of this proposal will be to:
1) Conduct replicated field test using chloropicrin and DMDS fumigants varying the moisture content of two different soil types. Measure the amount of chloropicrin and DMDS gasses being emitted through LDPE and VIF mulch and bare ground.
2) Conduct replicated field test using chloropicrin and DMDS fumigants varying the bed compaction of two different soil types. Measure the amount of chloropicrin and DMDS gasses being emitted through LDPE and VIF mulch and bare ground.
3) Conduct replicated field studies to evaluate weed and disease control using the schemes indicated in objective 1 and 2.
Evaluation of foliar insecticides for management of silverleaf whitefly in cucumbers and snap beans
Project Director: Alton N. Sparks, Jr., Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Funding: $2,500
The proposed research will provide needed information on the efficacy of a variety of insecticides against silverleaf whitefly in cucurbits and beans. This should aid in development of improved control recommendations for this pest, maximizing economic benefits of insecticide use.
Developing New Herbicidal Tools for Sweet Corn and Cole Crops
Project Director: Dr. Stanley Culpepper, Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Funding: $10,000
The objective of this project is to obtain new labeled herbicide uses for sweet corn and cole crops in Georgia. The potential benefits from the study will be new more effective weed management programs and new 3rd party herbicide labels for fruiting vegetables. Laudis weed management programs to manage Texas panicum in sweet corn and new 3rd party registrations and management programs for Dual Magnum and Prowl H20 in cole crops.
Generating Nitrogen and Potassium curves for fruiting vegetables on Georgia Soils
Project Director: Joshua Mayfield, Public Service Assistant, University of Georgia
Funding: $10,000
Costs and benefits will be determined by comparing values obtained from generated calibration curves versus current fertilization practices that farmers use. Decisions can then be made by farmers, consultants and county agents to determine optimum amount and timing of nutrient additions for a given crop. The project will establish new soil, plant tissue and yield response curves for nitrogen and potassium recommendations in vegetable crops including, but not limited to, bell pepper, sweet corn, and tomato.
Determination of best use practices for Coragen, Synapse and HGW-86
for control of diamondback moth and other caterpillar pests on cole crops.
Project Director: Alton N. Sparks, Jr., Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Funding: $3,200
A series of studies will be conducted to evaluate efficacy and residual control of Coragen, Synapse and HGW-86. Objectives of these tests will include:
1) Delineate the effects of application methodology and timing on the systematic activity of Coragen and HGW-86 applied as a sold drench or through drip irrigation
2) Delineate the effects of recommended surfactants of the efficacy and residual control of Coragen, Synapse and HGW-86.
This project will identify the efficacy profile and best use practices for this new chemistry of insecticides. Of particular interest will be the delineation of residual activity of these products. This should greatly aid in integration of this chemistry into production programs allowing for maximum economic benefit of product use and for development of improved resistance management recommendations for this chemistry.
Multi-Discipline Research To Be Conducted at The Tifton Vegetable Park (TVP)
during Spring and Fall of 2009
Project Director: Dr. Stanley Culpepper, Associate Professor, University of Georgia and
other vegetable team faculty in Tifton.
Funding: $8,500
The park provides scientists from all disciplines the opportunity to conduct applied research trials generating information that will immediately have a positive impact on Georgia vegetable production. Many trials, occupying up to 12 acres in both the spring and fall, will be conducted at the park. Several specific areas of emphasis include the following:
1) Generate data to support GFVGA’s critical use exemptions (CUE’S) and to reduce buffer restrictions distances currently proposed by the EPA.
2) Pest efficacy and crop tolerance of numerous insecticides, herbicides, and fungicide treatments.
3) Evaluations of various types of plastic mulch on incidence of tomato spotted wilt.
4) Cultivar comparison trials.
5) Fertilizer rate and method of application trials.
Timely data will be generated assisting growers in all production aspects including fertilization, cultivar selection, disease control, weed control, and insect control.
Monitoring the population dynamics of viruliferous whiteflies in Georgia’s tomato ecosystems and evaluation of available genotypes for resistance against Tomato yellow leafcurl virus.
Project Director: David G. Riley, Professor, University of Georgia
Funding: $10,000
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a relatively new pathogen to Georgia’s tomato ecosystems. The research project will aid in increasing knowledge in the intricacies of whitefly-virus interactions. Particularly on the immigration of viruliferous whiteflies in to tomato fields, information on time and place of capture of viruliferous whiteflies will significantly facilitate the management of TYLCV. The project also aims to uncover how infield transmission of TYLCV occurs, this information will also be used to identify new and modify existing management options. The project will monitor the population dynamics of viruliferous whiteflies during the summer and fall growing seasons in Tift and Colquitt counties using traps to collect adults and serological and molecular techniques to identify geminiviruses. In addition, the project will evaluate TYLC resistant tomato cultivars in the fall season.
Evaluation of foliar insecticides for management of caterpillar pests of sweet corn
Project Director: Alton N. Sparks, Jr., Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Funding: $3,500
The research will provide continued monitoring of pyrethroid resistance in the corn earworm the evaluation of alternative insecticides for caterpillar management in sweet corn. If resistance is detected, the data may be used to support a section 18 request for identified alternative insecticides. These data should also support IR-4 registration requests if needed. The objective will be to determine the efficacy of selected insecticides applied during silking for control of corn earworm in sweet corn. In addition, to evaluate the efficacy of insecticide rotations, applied during silking, for control of corn earworm and fall armyworm in sweet corn.
Methods for Controlling Soilborne Pests of Tomato Utilizing Non-Fumigant Pesticides
Project Director: David B. Langston, Jr., Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Funding: $18,200
Since the Montreal Protocol that called for the phaseout of methyl bromide by 2005, growers have been searching for alternative measures to control weeds, diseases, and nematodes in vegetables grown on plastic mulch. Alternative fumigants have been used successfully when combined in a system, but buffer restrictions and rising costs limit their use. Using non-fumigant fungicides and nematicides eliminates buffer restrictions and potentially reduces input costs. The objective of this project will be to compare standard fumigants to non-fumigant pesticides for suppressing root-knot nematodes and soilborne pathogens of tomatoes.
For more information, please contact Charles Hall, Executive Director, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Grower Association (GFVGA), P.O. Box 2945, LaGrange, GA, 30240, phone 877-994-3842; e-mail chall@asginfo.net ; or contact Marsha Crowley, GA Department of Agriculture, 19 MLK Drive, Suite 328 , Atlanta, GA 30334. Phone 404-656-3678, email mcrowley@agr.state.ga.us. .
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GFVGA is managed by Association Services Group, a professional management firm with offices in Atlanta and LaGrange, GA, and is one of only 47 AMC’s in the United States accredited by the Association Management Company Institute.