VegNet Vol. 14,
No. 11.
On the WEB at: http://vegnet.osu.edu
In This Issue
1. Annual grass control in sweet corn
2. Crop Reports.
3. Fresh Produce Food Safety Comments to FDA
Annual
Grass Control in Sweet Corn by Doug Doohan
Following up on Brad Bergefurd’s very thorough report
on conditions in southern Ohio (see below), and the problem farmers are
experiencing with grass control in corn, here are a few suggestions for POST
control. Before using these treatments, read the label, paying particular
attention to cautions regarding crop injury and possible waiver of liability in
the event of crop injury.
Crop Reports by Ron
Becker and Brad Bergefurd
Southern Ohio Veg Net Report From May 24, 2007
Irrigation systems, both drip and overhead are being run almost
around the clock with the continued drought like conditions and lack of any
real measurable rainfall since around mid April. Growers from the Bainbridge
area reported 32 degrees on Saturday morning with frost in low lying areas.
Warm temperatures approaching the nineties are providing the warmth needed for
crops to really begin to put on growth, however
tomatoes in high tunnels where shading materials have not yet been applied are
showing severe signs of heat stress and sunscald on fruit shoulders. Growers
should consider applying their shade materials, i.e
shade cloth, whitewash, liquid shade compounds ASAP to
prevent further heat related stress and crop injury. This heat stress can also
lead to yellow shoulder disorder on tomato fruit. For more information on
yellow shoulder disorder and possible causes of other tomato color disorders
visit http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/tomato/prese2004.pdf
Strawberry harvest, both plasticulture and
matted/ribbon row production methods is underway with very good taste and
quality being reported due to the lack of moisture and dry conditions. Harvest
yields are improving with later varieties and matted row production methods
where plants were not yet blooming or as emerged during the Easter freeze.
Harvest of mature green and a few vine ripe tomatoes in high tunnels, field
radishes, green onions, spinach, lettuce (head and leaf), asparagus and early
cabbage continues. Reported prices for these vine ripe tunnel grown tomatoes
are around $80 per 55 lb. bushel.
Non irrigated sweet corn and green bean plantings are showing signs of split
emergence due to the dry topsoil conditions. This will make harvest difficult
and could cause cross pollination problems in severe spilt emerged sweet corn
plantings, making all the more important to irrigate under these conditions
where irrigation is available.
It is critical that growers begin operating their irrigation systems to reduce
plant stress and get newly planted crops germinated and evenly emerged. Having
visited many farms this week in Pike,
Flea beetles were noticed in sweet corn fields this week however these fields
had not reached action threshold levels http://ohioline.osu.edu/b672/pdf/Corn.pdf.
and no spray applications were warranted at this point
however growers should continue to scout fields especially where Stewart's Wilt
susceptible varieties are planted. Bean leaf beetles have skeltonized some green bean and half runner bean fields,
for control options visit http://ohioline.osu.edu/b672/pdf/Beans.pdf
Due to the lack of rainfall many pre emerge herbicides applied the past 4 to 6
weeks have not received the necessary rainfall in order to be activated.
Several sweet corn fields this week had severe emergence of grass species, nutsedge, thistle and cocklebur. Consult the Vegetable
production guide for post emergence herbicide options where necessary and
"don't park the cultivator".
Planting of all vegetable crops continues. Growers began to spray and roll rye
crops for the first plantings of pumpkins will be seeded over the Memorial Day weekend, however growers are concerned
that no till planters may have trouble with proper seed depth placement by not
being able to penetrate the hard soil surface due to the dry topsoil
conditions. The rye crop also has pulled a lot of topsoil moisture the past few
weeks. Due to the poor growing conditions last fall some rye fields did not get
as tall as usual therefore rolling has been difficult in some situations, the
rye seems to want to spring back up. This may also be partly due to the dry
growing conditions being experienced where the rye stems are not kinking and
cracking as they should. Rolling in the mornings when more moisture is in the
rye plant seems to be helping a little. All pickle plantings are emerged with
very light cucumber beetle pressure being observed on non treated fields, however patches of nutsedge
are a concern.
Timber rot on tomato has been found in a high tunnel. At
this point only one plant was showing infection. Green beans have heavy infestions of bean leaf beetles and are being
treated. Sweet corn fields are starting to show active flea beetles as
the seed treatment is starting to wear off. Thrips
have started to show up in onions, but far from threshold levels. The
main pest in cole crops continues to be flea
beetle. Many of the tomato and pepper plantings are just being put in
this week. Vine crops are also being planted both as transplants and
straight seedings. Potatoes have had few pests
so far this year, but we found our first potato beetle Thursday evening.
Fresh Produce Food Safety Comments to FDA
by John Wargowsky
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is accepting comments
regarding, data, and other scientific information about current agricultural
and manufacturing practices used to produce, harvest, pack, cool, process, and
transport fresh produce; risk factors for contamination of fresh produce
associated with these practices; and possible measures by FDA to enhance the
safety of fresh produce. There is pressure for FDA to develop federal
regulations. Ohio Farm Bureau is concerned that these regulations could 1) be
geared toward large western produce growers, 2) negatively affect
Ohio Farm Bureau is asking fresh fruit and vegetable producers to submit
comments by