Vegetable Press

Vol. 01 No. 4
April 27, 2001

Creative Farmers in Unique Position to Profit

By Dr. Lester Spell, Commissioner
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce

[Editor's Note: Reprinted with permission from the Clarion-Ledger, Feb. 25, 2001. The following was written with Mississippi in mind, but many of the ideas may have a place on farms in other states.]

In a year in which Mississippi agriculture is reported to have experienced a $300 million reduction in proceeds, farmers are looking to some non-conventional sources of revenue for income.

While tourism may seem pretty unconventional for a farmer, it need not be. Few of our 43,000 farmers will find in tourism real replacement income, but there is no reason why the visitation industry could not be a logical supplement in specific instances.

Tourism means different things to different people. Tourism can be a weekend escape for a young couple at a bed and breakfast, a parent and child escaping to a fishing lake or hunting cabin, or a classroom of school children riding on a tractor-pulled flatbed trailer. Tourism can be a family trip in late fall to a Christmas tree farm or a nursery specializing in poinsettias, a home canner's visit to a pick-your-own blueberry farm, or get-back-to-your-roots real-life experience on a working farm until one's blisters are hardened. It can even be a trip to the woods to cut your own firewood.

While I have not seen any in Mississippi, some farmers in other areas of the country have even created mazes in crop fields for children to walk through. These ideas and many others can provide that extra boost in income that can make the difference in profitability for the family farm.

I speak from personal experience. Prior to my becoming state commissioner of agriculture and commerce, my wife and I operated a blueberry and pumpkin operation that offered tours in the fall to thousands of school children in the Jackson area.

Several farmers in the state are doing the same now, to their advantage &emdash; and that of the children. The only disadvantage to many of these types of operations is that they prove to be seasonal.

Some farmers in the state are proving successful in conducting "cowboy camps." Unlike seasonal operations, this type of activity can be conducted all year, allowing for a continuous flow of income. The participants, usually young, are learning skills from the past most often associated with the "Wild West", but skills which have certainly proved historically beneficial. Some of these activities include roping, horseback riding, horse-drawn carriage rides, and livestock care.

Additional activities not necessarily related to the Wild West could include learning experiences, petting zoos, and biological relationships among different farm ecological elements, hay rides, and cookouts. Packaging these with area golf opportunities, shopping, and even beach and water sports could only enhance their specific attractiveness.

Certain farming operations with the right facilities could even make themselves available for school or family reunions and anniversaries.

When we think of farming, we don't often consider timber an agricultural activity. In Mississippi, however, or forest resources should be included in our inventory of opportunity. Not only can they lend themselves to the traditional experiences of hunting and fishing, but they also offer opportunities for nature study, biking, and hiking. Outdoor recreation in Mississippi has been recently estimated to be a $1.8 billion industry in the state.

A recent article in Progressive Farmer magazine highlighted a successful north Mississippi quail hunting operation that doubled as a site for dog field trials. That particular operation also reportedly participated in cost-sharing activities with some federal programs. Admittedly, farm tourism is still a small segment of the overall tourism industry, which in the minds of many is dominated by the gaming industry. However, farm tourism (sometimes called agritourism) when marketed properly can become a more viable and influential segment of our overall tourism dollars.

The Extension Service at Mississippi State University has put considerable effort in reviewing "agritourism," and has developed videos to help in understanding what the active tourist is looking for. The Extension Service points out that the individual serving tourists' needs should consider himself an ambassador with only one chance to make a good impression. Not only must anticipation be created and met, but enthusiasm must also be shown. Not only must there be an attraction, but surrounding elements must exist to serve the needs of the visitor. Hands-on activities always help, but, if the tourist is to stay more than an hour, then great experiences which include our cuisine, our abilities at storytelling, and suitable overnight accommodations, might also be offered.

Not only are some parts of our state blessed with historic rural churches and surviving antebellum homes in plantation environments, but we are also the proclaimed "Home of the Blues". Only our imagination and resourcefulness limit our opportunities. Targeting audiences need not be limited to Mississippians or even Americans.

Our music and why it evolved from our people and our soils are of intrigue to a devoted following across the world and lend themselves well to tour bus or river boat operations. Day-trip operations tied with gaming establishments are also an opportune market.

Properly listing the activity and services in traditional trade publications and trade services goes a long way toward making the activity known. Inviting these organizations to visit and get a feel for themselves can be a part of an overall strategy that needs to be developed before launching headlong into the effort.

The Mississippi Development Authority has a highly capable staff in its Tourism Development office that can provide assistance from a how-to perspective.

Agricultural tourism is an opportunity that we are not fully exploiting. In an era when more and more city people are looking for experiences considered of a quieter nature or from a quieter period of our history, the timing would seem perfect for some of us in agriculture to capitalize on our scenic and vibrant rural environment.

Not only would we be serving the needs of tourists, but we would be better positioning ourselves to stabilize the overall up and down cycles associated with agriculture.

 

Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Watermelon

Dr. David M. Ingram
Extension Plant Pathologist
Central MS Research & Extension Center
Raymond, Mississippi

July 4rth is months away. Yet watermelon producers in south Mississippi are setting transplants in the field; and the planting will progress rapidly northward throughout the state. Most of the watermelon acreage in Mississippi is located south of I-20. In 2000, a little over 5,000 acres of watermelon were planted statewide.

Many destructive diseases affect watermelon production in Mississippi and the southeastern United States. Fusarium Wilt, Gummy Stem Blight, and Anthracnose are three fungal diseases that can cause significant economic losses if not recognized and control measures implemented. Several virus diseases also plague watermelon production.

A potentially devastating bacterial disease of watermelon was observed in Mississippi in recent years. Bacterial Fruit Blotch can cause 100% losses in marketable fruit if the bacterium is present in fields and environmental conditions favor disease development. Growers need to be aware of the symptoms of this disease in order to prevent its spread.

Bacterial Fruit Blotch is caused by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli. It is closely related to a bacterium that causes seedling blight only. However, this bacterium causes seedling blight, leaf lesions, and fruit symptoms. It is important to recognize the symptoms on seedlings grown for transplants because the disease can be introduced into the field during the transplanting process. The bacterium is seed borne, thus, when the seeds germinate and the cotyledons emerge from the soil, initial symptoms can be observed early. First symptoms appear as dark water-soaked spots on the undersides of the cotyledons and young leaves. Many times, these lesions will be surrounded by a chlorotic halo. If lesions develop on the stems (hypocotyl) of the young seedlings, plants may collapse and die.

Foliar symptoms throughout the growing season are not very distinctive and may go unnoticed. Leaf lesions are generally reddish-brown and occur along the midrib of the leaf. These leaf lesions do not cause defoliation in the field, but serve as sources for spreading the bacteria.

The most devastating phase of this disease occurs on fruit. Symptoms initially begin as small greasy spots on fruit. These spots rapidly enlarge and take on a water-soaked appearance. In some cases, the greasy spots can cover the entire upper surface of the fruit. As the disease progresses, the initial infection site may become necrotic, resulting in cracking of the rind. Sometimes a white, bacterial ooze can be observed coming from the cracked area. Fruit rot generally follows.

Since the disease is carried on seed, it is important to purchase seed that have been tested for the presence of the bacterium. A negative test does not guarantee the seed lot to be bacteria-free, but does provide some assurance. Observe seedlings closely for symptoms on cotyledons and young leaves. Preventing spread through transplants is one way of avoiding introduction of the bacterium to the field. The disease is favored by high temperature and humidity, and is spread by splashing rain and wind. Two to three week old fruit seem to be the most susceptible. Mature fruit are covered with a thick wax layer that prevents entry of the bacterium. Fruit that is wounded during the harvest and storage processes can become infected with the bacteria.

Control is accomplished by planting disease-free seed. Seed companies test for the presence of the bacterium, but can not guarantee the seed to be bacteria-free. Work is ongoing to find reliable testing procedures. Observe seedlings in the greenhouse closely for symptom development and destroy any infected plants. Watermelon cultivars with dark green rind color appear to be less susceptible than light rind colors. Observations indicate that the triploids (seedless) may be less susceptible than diploids (seeded). However, the observed resistance is not enough to prevent spread of the disease when environmental conditions favor disease development.

The incidence of bacterial fruit blotch can be reduced by applications of copper fungicides. Two to three biweekly applications with good foliar coverage is essential for best control. Applications should be made at first flower and continue through fruit maturation.

An informational brochure has been compiled by several cooperating states and can be obtained from Extension Plant Pathology. For more information contact me at 601-857-2284 or by e-mail: davidi@ext.msstate.edu .

 

Surface Black Cutworm Control

Dr. J. Pat Harris,
Extension Entomologist

Surface black cutworms are generally found attacking our sweet corn and other vegetable crops. Infestations are more common in low-lying, damp fields with higher organic matter. Larvae exhibit three different feeding habits depending on the stage of growth. Young larvae (first and second instars) feed on the leaf surface giving it a scuffed appearance. The late second and early third instars eat holes in the leaves. Larvae then move from the leaf area into the soil and begin feeding by cutting plants at the soil surface. Sometimes black cutworm damage is spotty in fields, and replanting these areas may be more economical than applying chemical controls.

For cutworm control on sweet corn, use soil surface applications of Lorsban 4 EC, or Sevin XLR, 80 WP, or 50 WP. For control on cabbage, english peas, irish potatoes, and spinach, use applications of Sevin insecticide.

Cutworm activity occurs mostly in late afternoon. Therefore, time your application to coincide with their activity. Timing insecticide applications are important in your total insect program.

 

Aphid Control

Dr. J. Pat Harris,
Extension Entomologist

Aphids (plant lice) are small, soft-bodied insects that vary in color from pink, yellow, orange, to black. They suck plant juices causing leaves to curl and turn yellow. They may also inject poisonous saliva or disease-causing organisms during feeding. They may cause a failure of bloom set in some vegetable crops. They attack most vegetables, but tend to prefer southernpeas, okra, mustard, turnip greens, cabbage, and tomatoes. They tend to be worse on late-planted crops.

These insects secrete "honeydew" that harbors sooty mold fungus, which can further spoil vegetables. Control aphids by using spray applications of Malathion, diazinon, thiodan, cygon, pyrenone, or pyrellin. Refer to individual product labels for crop registration, rates, usages, and precautions.

 

Imidacloprid Formulations for Use on Vegetables

Dr. J. Pat. Harris
Extension Entomologist

Bayer Corporation has two Imidacloprid products formulated for insect control on field vegetables. Information on these products (Admire 2F and Provado 1.6 F) were first discussed in my article in the April 12, 1997 Vegetable Press Newsletter. These products have the same active ingredient but are sold under two different trade names.

Provado 1.6 F is 17.4% imidacloprid and is labeled as a foliar spray on a number of field vegetables, including tomatoes. See label.

Admire 2 Flowable is 21.4% imidacloprid and is labeled as a soil application on a number of field vegetables including tomatoes. There is interest in using Admire as a soil application to seedling tomatoes in greenhouses for whitefly control. According to Mr. Richard Rudolph, Bayer Manager, Southeast, in Atlanta, GA, tests indicated seedling tomatoes treated in the greenhouse with Admire and kept in the greenhouse for production will more than likely turn yellow in a week or so after treatment and will remain stunted. If transplants are set out in the field a day or so after treatment, no harmful effects should occur. Imidacloprid will leach out from around the transplant when set out in the field; however, it has nowhere to leach out when plants are kept in pots in greenhouse tomatoes, thus exposing them to imidacloprid injury.

I have checked with Mr. Harry Fulton, BPI, Mississippi, and he has checked with the regulatory people in Florida and Louisiana and none have approved Admire or Provado for use on greenhouse grown tomatoes.

 

Fulfill - New Vegetable Insecticide

Dr. J. Pat Harris
Extension Entomologist

Novartis has a registration on their new insecticide Fulfill (pymetrozine). It is labeled for control of certain aphids in cucurbit vegetables, fruiting vegetables, and potatoes (and other tuberous and corm vegetables). It will also provide suppression of whiteflies including silverleaf, sweetpotato, and banded winged. It is recommended at 2.75 oz. per acre as a foliar application in water for sufficient coverage.

Fulfill's mode of action is primarily by ingestion, but has some contact activity. Affected aphids stop feeding shortly after exposure but may remain on the plant foliage until they die, which is usually within 4 to 10 days. Fulfill has residual activity in the plant and will control aphids that move onto the plant after spraying. Allow 14 days (PHI) between the last application and harvest.

This product is suitable for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs as it has a low toxicity to beneficial insects (including honeybees and bumblebees) and mites. It can be used in IPM programs using beneficial insects and during periods of pollination. However, do not apply directly to bees actively foraging in the field. See label for complete usages and precautions.

 

Calendar of Coming Events

October 12 & 13 - Fall Flower & Garden Fest; Truck Crops Experiment Station, Crystal Springs, MS.


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
Email: RickS@ext.msstate.edu

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