Vegetable Press

Vol. 99 No. 11
November 18, 1999

Frank Killebrew Memorial

Dr. Rick Snyder, Vegetable Specialist

Several weeks ago, Dr. Frank Killebrew suggested to me that I make the next issue of Vegetable Press the "10th Year Anniversary issue" to denote that it has now been in continuous publication for 10 years. What I didn't know at the time I agreed to this, is that Frank would very suddenly die of aneurism a couple of days after that conversation. Therefore, I would like to dedicate this 10th anniversary issue to Dr. Frank Killebrew, who was a professional colleague and a close friend.

Frank Killebrew was a regular contributor to the Vegetable Press. In fact, in the 10 years since this newsletter began, Frank never missed an issue. He was also a speaker at the Greenhouse Tomato Short Course each year in Jackson, and a participant in the Fall Flower & Garden Fest each October in Crystal Springs. Many vegetable growers have Frank to thank for his dedication to solving their urgent disease problems, in their fields and in their greenhouses. His diagnostic skills and willingness to help at any time will be missed by all who know him.

I learned many things from Frank about disease diagnostics and controls. When I was new at MSU, we regularly traveled together to look at vegetable fields and greenhouse tomatoes that had problems. I felt that we had a good team approach to working with growers. I'll miss Frank, as I'm sure you will, too.

Following is a biography of Dr. Frank Killebrew written by Dr. Clarence Collison, Head of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at MSU.

Dr. Joseph Frank Killebrew passed away unexpectedly with an aneurysm on October 4, 1999 at the Oktibbeha County Hospital in Starkville, Mississippi. Frank was born in Goodman, MS on August 15, 1944. He is survived by his wife Janice, daughter Amy, and brother Max of Jackson, MS.

Frank graduated from Mississippi State University in 1966 with a B.S. in Forestry, a M.S. in Plant Pathology in 1968 and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 1987.

Frank joined the Division of Plant Industry at Mississippi State in 1972 and directed the certification and quarantine program until 1975. He then left DPI and worked with Uniroyal Chemical Company in Memphis, Tennessee as a research and development representative. In 1976, Dr. Killebrew returned to DPI where he directed the

federal/state phytosanitary export certification program for plant materials consigned to foreign countries.

In 1979, Frank joined the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service as Area Extension Plant Pathologist in Pontotoc, MS. He was a member of the Integrated Pest Management Team responsible for implementation of IPM programs for soybean, cotton, wheat, and other agronomic crops in Northeast MS. In 1987, he was promoted to Assistant Extension Plant Pathologist and was given responsibility for development and implementation of plant disease and nematode educational programs on commercial vegetables, fruit and nut crops, urban plant pathology, and peanuts. In 1988, he was promoted to Associate Extension Plant Pathologist and given the additional responsibility of cotton, commercial ornamentals, and turf. In 1994, he was promoted to Extension Specialist.

Frank served on numerous graduate student advisory committees, and since 1997 taught Clinical Plant Pathology. Numerous guest lectures were made in several of the college and departmental course offerings. Dr. Killebrew was a regular contributor to several commodity newsletters, and authored numerous extension publications and news articles. In 1994, he initiated Plant Disease Infobytes and had a lead role in developing the departmental extension computer curriculum and long distance disease diagnostics with digital imaging in the state. Because of these efforts, Frank received the MSU Extension Service Achievement in Technology Advancement Award in 1997 and MSU-ES Innovative Program Award in 1998.

Dr. Killebrew is best remembered for the service that he provided for extension personnel, growers, and homeowner clientele. Radio and TV programs, Vidicom presentations, research demonstrations, inservice training, educational and scientific presentations and his disease diagnostics trouble-shooting visits were among his regular programming efforts. He put his life into the education of Mississippians through events such as Master Gardener training, Pest Management Workshops, Fall Garden Days and the Greenhouse Tomato Short Courses.

As Specialist, Frank represented MSU on many local, regional, and national committees. He was a member of the American Phytopathological Society, Mississippi Association of Plant Pathologists and Nematologists, Mississippi County Agricultural Agents Association, Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Mississippi Peach Growers Association, Mississippi Pecan Growers Association, and the Mississippi Sweetpotato Council. He served as President of the Mississippi Association of Plant Pathologists and Nematologists in 1987. In 1987, Frank was presented with the First Mississippi Award as Outstanding Mississippi Cooperative Extension Worker of the Year.

New Scholarship Founded

We are announcing the establishment of the J. Frank Killebrew Memorial Graduate Student Fellowship. Checks should be made out to the MSU Foundation, Inc. and designated for the J. Frank Killebrew Memorial Fellowship. Please send your contributions to the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Box 9775, Mississippi State, MS 39762.

Stink Bug Control

Dr. J. Pat Harris, Extension Entomologist

Conditions have been ideal for high stink bug populations this year. Green and brown stink bugs are generally our major problem. Damage is caused by nymphs (immatures) and adults sucking sap from the pods, buds, blossoms, fruits, and seeds. Removing liquid contents of the developing seeds causes them to become flattened and shriveled; fruits are deformed and dimpled.

Egg hatch occurs in 5 to 7 days. After 5 nymphal instars (growth stages), the adult stage is reached about 6 weeks later, depending on species and weather conditions. Adults usually live 40 to 60 days during the summer. A new generation occurs every 5 to 6 weeks during the summer.

Control stink bugs when they first appear. Nymphs are less mobile and easier to control. All stages may be controlled with *methyl parathion, *Penncap M, Sevin XLR or 80 WP, or Endosulfan 3 EC, depending on the crop to be treated. If necessary, tank-mix sevin and Endosulfan insecticides at label rates for added control. Check labels for rates, usages, precautions, and crop registration.

*Restricted pesticide.

Squash Bug Control

Dr. J. Pat Harris, Extension Entomologist

Squash bugs attack all cucurbits or vine crops and have a preference for squashes and pumpkins. They suck sap from leaves, stems, and fruits causing leaves and vines fed upon to wilt rapidly, become blackened, and die.

Adults are brownish-black, flat-backed, and about 5/8 inch long. Egg clusters are usually found on the undersides of leaves in the angle formed by the veins. When freshly laid, eggs are yellowish-brown and turn dark brown as they approach hatching. They are usually laid in groups of a dozen or more. Eggs hatch into small nymphs which are strikingly colored green and crimson. All five nymphal instars and adults feed gregariously on plants.

When cucurbits first begin to produce runners, squash bugs move into the fields. Because squash bugs are so difficult to control, insecticide should be applied on schedule. Insecticide should be applied at 5 to 6 day intervals until control is obtained. Thorough coverage is necessary.

Control them with *Asana XL; Sevin 50 WP, 80 WP, or XLR 4; or Endosulfan 3 EC. Refer to labels for crop registration, usages and precautions.

*Restricted pesticide.

Leaf-footed Bug Control

Dr. J. Pat Harris, Extension Entomologist

Leaf-footed bugs, when full grown, are larger than stink bugs and more oblong in shape. They vary in color from brown to black, and have a white to light-yellow stripe across their mid-back. They damage plants in a way similar to stink bugs with piercing-sucking mouth parts.

Control leaf-footed bugs when they first appear. Nymphs are less mobile and easier to control. All stages may be controlled with *methyl parathion, *Penncap M, Sevin XLR or 80 WP, or Endosulfan 3 EC, depending on the crop to be treated. If necessary, tank-mix sevin and Endosulfan insecticides at label rates for added control. Check labels for rates, usages, precautions, and crop registration.

*Restricted pesticide.

Control of Cowpea Curculio

Dr. J. Pat Harris, Extension Entomologist

Southernpeas are often attacked by a small black beetle called cowpea curculio. Adult beetles feed on young pods, and females deposit eggs in small holes eaten through the pods. Eggs hatch into young, white, legless grubs that feed within the developing pods. Generally, there are two generations per season, with each generation from egg to adult requiring about thirty days.

First year peas in some areas may not have a problem with this insect. In areas where peas have been grown and/or have a history of curculio problems, insecticide application should begin when first pods are _ inch long or less and continue for four applications at five day intervals. Spray using Endosulfan 3 EC at 2/3 to 1 _ quarts per acre. Allow three days between application and harvest. Spray for coverage. *Penncap M may also be used. Refer to labels for further information.

*Restricted use pesticide.

Sweetpotato Weevil Control

Dr. J. Pat Harris, Extension Entomologist

Check your crop for sweetpotato weevils. Adults lay their eggs in stems and the grubs work down to the roots. Once in the roots, the life cycle continues and roots may become riddled. The adult is a shiny, slender, snout beetle about 1/4 inch long. The head, wing covers, and abdomen are blue-black. The segment behind the head (prothorax) and the legs are bright red.

We have a 24C (Special Local Need Label) for Imidan 70 WP and Imidan 70 WSB labels for use in Mississippi this year. Apply 1 1/3 lbs./acre as needed, with up to five applications. Water pH should be 5.5 to 6.0 for best results. Thiodan will give suppression but not control of this pest. Apply as a foliar spray in 2.5 gallons of water per acre. Several applications may be necessary.

After sweetpotatoes are

harvested, use Imidan 5 dust at 2-4 ounces per bushel when storing. Cover all surfaces using only one application. Be sure to wash sweetpotatoes before using. Legally, sweetpotatoes infested with weevils should not be moved from the farm until first cleared with the Division of Plant Industry. There is a quarantine on this pest.

Economics of Organic Production and Marketing

Cheryl Brown, Assistant Professor, Southeast Missouri State University

{reprinted from the web site Ag Opportunities at http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/agopp/economics.htm with permission of the author.}

The Sustainable Agriculture Extension Program at the University of Missouri and Lincoln University, along with the Missouri Alternatives Center, sponsored four regional organic workshops in early December last year. At the Southeast Missouri Regional Organic Workshop held in Cape Girardeau, Cheryl Brown, professor of Agricultural Economics at Southeast Missouri State University gave the following presentation. It is summarized in outline form.

The Organic Foods Industry 

  • "Growing faster than expected despite lack of national standards" (Datamonitor) 
  • Grew more than 26% from 1996 to 1997 to $4.5 billion
  • * Financial analysts predict it will continue to average 20% per year growth for at least the next 5 to 7 years (vs. 3-5% for the food industry overall)

Much of the growth is in processed organic foods (From 1996-1997): 

  • Organic candy and snack sales up 300%
  • Organic ice cream sales up 292%
  • Organic milk and cream sales up 73%

60% of organic food sales come from specialty retailers (Whole Foods and Wild Oats)

Natural food stores are growing at 14% per year over the last 5 years compared to 3.3% for supermarkets.

Supermarket sales of organic foods grew by more that 40% yearly (1990 to 1995), accounting for 28% of the sales of organic foods in 1995.

Organic Farms

  • There were over 5,000 certified organic farms in 1995.
  • It is estimated that at least 6,000 additional farms meet organic certification requirements but are not certified.
  • Over 1% of total vegetable acreage increased between 1993 and 1996.

Organic acreage increased between 1993 and 1996

  •  By 10% to 25% in Idaho & Texas
  • By 80% in California & Florida
  • By 300% in Wisconsin

Organic production in Iowa 

  • 1993: 10,000 acres 
  • 1997: 62,000 acres

Majority of the land was in corn, soybeans, small grains, & forage. The total value of these organic crops = $22 million/year.

Alone, the value of organic soybeans and soybean products is $15.5 million/year.

Organic Consumers

The Evolving Organic Marketplace (1997) claimed

  • 18% of US consumers are "strongly interested in buying organic"
  • 28% are "generally interested"
  • 16% are "ambivalent"

The US Organic Food Market (1996) claimed that

  • 30% of consumers had changed their eating habits as a result of reports of pesticides and food chemical dangers
  • 32% had sought out organic produce

USDA report on organics (1997)

  • Many organic consumers are interested in environmental protection. Consumers ranked concern about impacts of pesticides on the environment, groundwater, wildlife, or agricultural workers higher than other concerns.
    •

    Why are consumers not buying organic produce? from Fresh Trends (1996) 

    • 35% "Not available"
    • 28% "Too expensive"
    • 19% "Didn't see a need for it"
    • 8% "What's organic?"
    • 6% "Poor quality"

    "The major problem facing organic farmers in the next 25 years will be adequate supply, not demand." -- Fred Kirschenmann (1995)

    Price premiums for organic foods

    • No good public information source for organic food prices
    • Price premiums vary considerably by commodity and time of year
    • NJ study &endash; organic price premium is 20% to 30% above price for conventional
    • Canada &endash; organic price premiums on grains & beans range from 30% to 50%
    • USDA study &endash; wholesale organic price premium for vegetables ranged from 5% to 183%
    • For organic carrots, price premium ranged from 52% in August to 157% in December
    Calendar of Coming Events

    Dr. Rick Snyder, Vegetable Specialist

    December 13-15 - Southeast Fruit & Vegetable Expo, at Holiday Inn Four Seasons, Greensboro, NC. For information, contact Bonnie Holloman at 919-772-2204, or fax 919-779-1685, or email to bhollom@bellsouth.net .

    Dr. Richard G. Snyder, Vegetable Specialist
    Truck Crops Research & Extension Center
    Mississippi State University
    P.O. Box 231
    Crystal Springs, MS 39059

    PHONE: (601) 892-3731
    Fax: (601) 892-2056
    Internet: RickS@ext.msstate.edu

    New Web Page for Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center: http://www.msstate.edu/dept/cmrec/

    NOTE: email addresses and web pages have changed!
    Greenhouse Tomato FAQ:     http://ext.msstate.edu/anr/plantsoil/vegfruit/tomato/ghtomato/faq.html/

    Vegetable Resource Page: http://www2.msstate.edu/~ricks/

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