Late Blight in Tomatoes and Fall Army Worms
Farmers: Late blight in tomatoes and army worms are upon us. These are the top issues
that are concerning farmers across Southwest Arkansas.
Nashville, Ark. – The summer seems like it just started and at the same time is almost over! 4-H has kept me quite busy the past few weeks. We are going to start up a livestock judging team, and I am working on a new approach to the typical livestock show clinic. We have a small group of junior and senior age students who attended the U of A Livestock Judging camp in Fayetteville. Our beginner brought home 3rd place overall beginner, and one of our intermediates brought home 2nd place overall intermediate at the competition on the final day of camp! We had our first meeting and plan to meet once a month to learn terms and practice observing and judging livestock. Our first practice will be on Thursday July 21 at 4:30 pm. If you/your child is not currently a 4-H member, but is interested in learning to judge livestock, please come to the practice! See if it is for you/them and we can get you/them registered in 4-H. My new approach to the livestock show clinic is the “Hands-On Workshop Series.” Instead of having a one-day event where we divide into groups and cover every species at the same time, I am spreading out the events and letting various 4-Hers and parents lead the event. This gives the student some leadership opportunities and gives time for parents to come together and discuss various details they have learned in past years of showing. I want to extend a “thank you” to the parents and 4-Hers who volunteered to help with these events as well as the tremendous support I have had from all of my parents of 4-Hers and the 4-Hers. You all have made me feel right at home in my transition moving here and getting settled in to my new career.
Farmers: Late blight in tomatoes and army worms are upon us. These are the top issues that are concerning farmers across SWAR. Late blight is also known as “Bottom Up” disease, and it does affect the plant from the base and moves upward. The heavy spring rains brought in this disease at a higher rate than normal. Late blight also affects potato, pepper and eggplant. The best way to prevent the disease from spreading is to remove it and either burn or wrap it in a plastic bag and dispose of it. The reason for that is to keep the spores from spreading onto plants in surrounding areas. It will spread very quickly if not properly disposed of. The disease typically causes rapid death of the plant; however, if caught early enough, a fungicide spray may be able to stop the spread. If you suspect late blight in any of your plants, please contact me at the Extension Office.
Fall Army Worms: Damage can be seen as early as July and can appear as soon as overnight. Typically, producers will not notice fall army worm damage until the 6th instar (the last molt of the caterpillar stage, where they are the largest in size). Because army worms are so destructive and compete with livestock for forage, producers should diligently scout susceptible fields beginning in July. Some descriptions about how to recognize them: the egg, creamy white and dome shaped with a flattened base, eggs are laid in masses of 50 or more on lower leaf blades. The larva (caterpillar, fall army worm), when newly hatched, the fall army worm larva is light green to cream colored with a dark head and measures approximately 1/16 inch long. As it feeds, it grows in length tremendously, becomes darker and with light colored lines down the sides of its body. It also has an inverted Y on the top of its head and the on the next to last abdominal section, it has 4 small dark dots. For controlling fall army worms, insecticide treatment is typically warranted when infestations are greater than 3 or more worms per square foot are recognized. Available insecticides vary, but our NRCS office in Nashville does carry Grizzly Insecticide, it is similar to Warrior or Karate and is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Please contact the Extension Office if you have any concerns about army worms or spraying for them. Reading materials are available for all of the above information. Information in this article came from Extension Resources.
By Kaycee Davis
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Kaycee Davis
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
421 N. Main Nashville AR 71852
(870) 845-7517
kmdavis@uada.edu
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