[Ag-eq] magazine on BARD

[nfoster at extremezone.com]

Here is a magazine on BARD that I thought some of you might enjoy.

Modern Farmer (Summer 2015)
Articles and profiles exploring horticulture and agriculture topics of interest.
Reading time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.
Read by Michael Scherer.

I know Jody has read this since she is the one who told me about it.  There was
a really good article on raising ducks.  There were several other interesting
stories.

I just wanted to share.

Nella
Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:

> I googled squash borer, and found lots of helpful info.
>
>
>
> In Minnesota, they lay eggs in late June-early July.  In the north, they
> have only one generation; in the south, 2.  Late spring, wherever they are,
> is when to be on the lookout.  They are moths.  They fly in the day, and
> make a loud buzz.
>
> They attack summer squash, zucchini, and pumpkin.
>
> They are attracted to yellow, and can be trapped, some, by putting out
> yellow containers full of water.
>
> The caterpillars pupate an inch or 2 below the soil until next spring, so
> cultivate well and rotate the crops.
>
> Wiping the stem vigorously every few days in late spring until July 4 may
> deter them.  Wrapping the stem with row-cover cloth before planting may
> help.  Add more wrapping as the plant grows.  Or spray the plant with BT.
> Or inject nematodes into the vine, if you find a hole.  Now I'll paste what
> the U of Minnesota had to say:
>
>
>
> Cultural
>
> *  Plant vine crops that are usually not attacked by squash vine borers,
> such as butternut squash, cucumbers, melons, and watermelons.
>
> *  A second planting of summer squash made in early July will mature after
> adult borers have finished laying eggs.
>
> *  Promptly pull and destroy any plants killed by squash vine borers.
>
> Physical
>
> You can physically exclude adult borers by placing floating row covers over
> your vine crops when they start to vine (or for non-vining varieties,
> starting late June or early July) or when you first detect squash vine borer
> adults. Keep the barriers in place for about two weeks after the first adult
> borer has been seen. Be sure the row covers are securely anchored to prevent
> adults from moving underneath it.
>
> Don't use row covers if cucurbits were planted in the same area the previous
> year. This is because squash vine borers overwinter in the soil near their
> host plants. When the adults emerge the following summer, they may end being
> trapped under the row cover instead of being kept out. Practice rotation to
> minimize this issue by planting cucurbits in different areas of your garden
> (if possible) or alternate seasons when you grow cucurbits.
>
> Caution: Generally do not use floating row covers anytime crops are
> flowering. This prevents bees from pollinating your vegetables which will
> have a negative impact on plants. An exception to this would be if you
> pollinate your crops by hand while the floating row cover is erected.
>
>
>
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