Tallahassee, Fla.– Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention program for non-industrial, private forest landowners. They will be open through June 18. Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service made the announcement on Monday for the program. It is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, which is the known range …
How to Deal with Sawflies in Your Garden
How to deal with Sawflies in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Sawflies are pests that are related to wasps. They deposit eggs into plants that eventually hatch into larvae and eat away at your garden. The larvae measure 1/2 inch long and are greenish-black, long, slim, and look like a hairless caterpillar. Gradually, the sawfly …
Beating and Treating Common Grape Pests and Diseases
How to beat and treat some common grape pests and diseases. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are quite a few pests who like to munch on grapes just as much as we humans do. Some of the common pests you might find, include: Japanese Beetles, Black Vine Weevils, Grape Cane Girdlers, Grape Mealybugs, and Grassy Winged …
Battle Continues Against Palmer Amaranth
What is the most challenging pest facing Georgia farmers? According to a University of Georgia (UGA) Extension survey, it’s not an insect or disease. It’s a weed, and that weed is named Palmer amaranth. UGA Extension weed scientist Stanley Culpepper issued the survey to gauge the severity of Palmer amaranth compared to other annual pests. The results were staggering. Of …
How to Help in the Fight Against Destructive Pest
How to help in the fight against destructive pests that threaten the nation’s food supply, forests, and natural resources. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA is on a mission to stop invasive and hungry pests that can threaten and devastate agriculture, livelihoods, and food security. Some things you can do to help include: Familiarizing yourself with the …
Growing Matters Launches 2021 BeSure! Stewardship Campaign
An agriculture industry collaboration, led by Growing Matters, wants everyone to be BeSure! when using neonicotinoid products on farms and urban landscapes. They are kicking off the third annual stewardship awareness campaign to promote best management practices. The BeSure! Campaign is reminding farmers, crop protection applicators, agricultural supply retailers, and others to ensure label directions and responsible stewardship measures are followed for neonicotinoid products, …
Warning About Invasive and Destructive Pests
The warning about invasive and destructive pests and why the Ag Department is asking for your help this month. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared April “Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month. And, it needs everyone’s help fighting against invasive pests that pose a threat to the nation’s …
Spotting, Stopping, and Prevent Some Destructive Pests
How to spot, stop, and prevent some destructive pests in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Armyworms are pesky pests that eat grass, vegetables, and ornamentals, destroying entire plants quickly. Armyworms aren’t worms. They’re the caterpillars of several moth species. The markings are hard to distinguish and tell apart from other larvae species. There are several …
Alabama 2021 Integrated Pest Management Guides are Available
Whether you are an amateur gardener or seasoned agriculturalist, there’s no denying that pests can sneak in and ruin a crop. Whether they appear in the form of insects, weeds, or plant diseases, all can be detrimental. Current and former Alabama Cooperative Extension System entomologists, weed scientists, plant pathologists, and pesticide education specialists have compiled an updated list of 2021 integrated …
Put the Brakes on Some Pesky Little Diggers in the Garden
How to put the brakes on some pesky little diggers in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Whenever you see rounded, raised ridges of soil running across your lawn with little volcanoes of soil, you know you have a mole around. These small mammals can cause quite a bit of damage in a short amount of time …