In this newsletter: Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) in Stone Fruit Time to Collect Leaf Samples Summer Tour Announcement Spotted Wing Drosophila in Cherries Unfortunately, SWD has been found in a cherry orchard in Maine. As a reminder, stone fruits are susceptible to damage by this insect pest. Plum, peach and cherry fruits become soft as […]
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CORN EARWORM AND CORN BORER ACTIVE IN EARLY CORN Fall Armyworm, Western Bean Cutworm Numbers Variable SITUATION Many early planted fields are coming into silk this week, although there is still plenty of pre-tassel and whorl stage corn from later seedings. The warm weather and adequate water have encouraged rapid growth, and plantings mostly look […]
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David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist, Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology, Christina Howard, Maine New Farmer Project Manager Spotted wing drosophila fruit flies and larvae have been reported in ripe strawberry fruit in southern and central Maine this week. This is a very early appearance of spotted […]
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CORN BORER AND EARWORM THREATEN SILKING CORN! Spotted Wing Drosophila Active in Strawberry Fields SITUATION Early planted corn is in the tassel to early silk stage in southern Maine. Most fields have had adequate water, although a few farms have been irrigating. We again caught all three of the major sweet corn pests in pheromone […]
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In this newsletter: Observations Announcements Orchard Observations Peaches are at the pit hardening phase. Hopefully, fruit thinning is nearly complete by now. This supposedly helps with brown rot control later on. Breaking up fruit that are clustered or in close contact will also help with spray coverage, disease and pest control. My initial thoughts on […]
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CORN EARWORM AND FALL ARMYWORM! Early Arrival of Corn Pests Impacts Management of Early Corn SITUATION Early planted corn is in the late whorl to pre-tassel stage in the southern Maine. A few fields started under clear plastic or rowcovers is now silking. This week our pheromone traps have caught all three of the major […]
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In this newsletter: Return Bloom Sprays Summer Tour Announcement Return Bloom Sprays Some orchard blocks may have a higher than normal crop load which can inhibit the formation of flower buds. Fruit trees form next year’s flower buds in the summer beforehand. With a heavy crop, the fruits exude a hormone from their seeds that […]
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2024 SWEET CORN PEST SEASON BEGINS! No Insect Pests Yet in Maine; Corn Borer, Earworm Reported in Massachusetts The 2024 University of Maine Cooperative Extension Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for sweet corn is getting underway. We have set up pheromone traps at volunteer farms to monitor the adult (moth) stages of European corn borer, […]
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HARVEST SEASON UNDERWAY IN SOUTHERN MAINE Anthracnose Fruit Rot Infecting Early Fruit Situation: Southern strawberry fields will be opening this week or early next week. The crop size and quality looks very good in most fields. The predicted warm weather next week will hasten ripening, so if you haven’t started advertising yet, don’t wait. Most […]
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EARLY BERRIES NEAR HARVEST IN SOUTHERN MAINE Insect Pest Counts Lower This Week; Gray Mold Threat Remains with Recent Rains Situation: Strawberry fruit development has progressed rapidly with warm weather over the past week. A few ripe berries were being harvested in a field in Wells that were grown under rowcovers. Insect and mite activity […]
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