Armyworms

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Submitted by:  Eve H. Honeycutt Extension Livestock Agent

Lenoir and Greene Counties

Another pest to be on the lookout for is the Armyworm.  They are most active during late summer and early fall.  They can devour a field of forage overnight (or during the day). 

Keep your eyes out for:

• Fall armyworms laying on the ground surface on the hayfield -- they like to "rest" here.
• Stripping of leaves and eventually stems
• Increase in birds in the field may be an indication of armyworms

Here is a picture of a fall armyworm:

Worms can range a little in color (young versus adults)--some may look more brown.

They especially like bermudagrass but they are not picky when the pickings are slim -- they will eat fescue, soybeans, and small grains too, as well as other plants. They may be repeat offenders -- you may see them now and again before the end of the season. There are a number of labeled products but here is a list for your convenience on bermudagrass/rye/pasture/hay (some are restricted use). Read and follow labels carefully and follow precautions and restrictions:

• Diflubenzuron (Dimilin 2L)
• Methomyl (Lannate)
• Chlorantraniliprole (Rynaxypyr R) (Prevathon)
• Spinosad (Tracer, Entrust)
• Zeta-permethrin (Mustang Max)
• Carbaryl (Sevin)

Control them when you see them and tell your neighbor.  Chances are they are eyeing his fields for the next meal.

Bermudagrass Leaf Spot

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Submitted by:  Eve H. Honeycutt Extension Livestock Agent

Lenoir and Greene Counties

Bermudagrass leaf spot is caused by a fungus from the genus Helminthosporium and the disease has been informally called Helminthosporium leaf spot, Helminthosporium leaf blotch, or Leaf Blight.

Leaf spot is a fungal disease that is brought on by constant wet conditions, especially when the forage is tall and cannot dry thoroughly between rain storms.  We saw a lot of leaf spot last year because of the same weather pattern in late summer.  On the grass itself, leaf spots are more numerous near the collar of the leaf blade. Leaf lesions are irregularly shaped and brownish green to black in color. Infected plants may occur in irregular patches. Extensive damage occurs when the pathogen attacks crowns, stolons and rhizomes. Severely affected hayfields may become brown and thin.
The good news is that leaf spot will not hurt your animals, though it does make the grass less tasty.  The bad news is there is very little you can do about it.  There are no fungicides approved for forage crops.  The best thing you can do is manage your stand of bermudagrass as best as you can.  Leaf spot will reduce yields and will continue to spread as long as the conditions remain moist.  One of the best preventative measures is to make sure your soil has adequate potassium levels (as shown on your soil sample analysis).  Potassium allows the soil and the plant to be healthy enough to fight fungal diseases like leaf spot.  Potassium is supplied in the form of potash, and the soil typically needs 75% as much potash as nitrogen EACH season to maintain adequate fertility and disease resistance. 

Keep an eye on your fields through this rainy weather and watch for irregular discoloration or thin yields.  If you do get leaf spot in a field, the frost this winter should kill it and it should come back next year.  Be sure to monitor your soil sample and follow the recommendations for all the nutrients, not just nitrogen. 

Think Pink- For a Healthy Lagoon

By Eve H. Honeycutt

Extension Livestock Agent, Lenoir and Greene Counties

Even though we are in the dead of winter, it is never too late to think about maintaining a healthy lagoon.  It will be spring before you know it and many of you will be ready to use some of those stored nutrients.   While you are planning for the spring, plan for your lagoon too.

First a few words about the life cycle of a lagoon.  As solids build up in your lagoon, anaerobic bacteria also builds up.  These bacteria do not need oxygen to survive, so please don’t ever let anyone talk you into aerating your lagoon.  As these aerobic bacteria multiply, they “breathe” and release carbon dioxide, which we see as tiny bubbles on the surface of the lagoon.   Soon after the bubbling begins, the purple sulfur bacteria come to life.  These purple sulfur bacteria are named that because of the characteristic purple color they release as part of their digestion and the sulfur gases that give the lagoon it’s unique smell.  Once these guys are on the scene, you can bet your lagoon is working hard to digest the solids at the bottom.   This bacterial activity is 3-4 times greater in the summer, which is why most lagoons don’t turn pink until the weather warms up.

The key now is to maintain the anaerobic party going on and keep your lagoon from building up solids too quickly.  However the tricky part is keeping all of them “happy”.  Your bacteria can become “unhappy” and die off for many reasons.  Washing down the house with a disinfectant, overloading the lagoon with liquids or solids, heavy rain, and extreme temperatures can all affect the pH balance in your lagoon.  Collecting accurate and reliable waste samples is a great way to monitor your lagoon- especially the pH.  A good pH for a lagoon is about 7.5.  If the pH is too low, you can bring it up by adding lime at a rate of 1 pound per cubic foot of liquid.

If you find yourself with a lagoon that is collecting a lot of solids, black in color, or low bubble activity, you should take some action to improve it.  Lack of good management on your part can result in an expensive lagoon cleanout sooner than you may be ready for.  One good management tool is an agitator.  Using an agitator regularly, especially in the summer, can suspend the solids in the lagoon and allow for increased bacterial activity.  I have seen this method work very well for lagoons on more than one occasion.  If you are going to use an agitator, remember to sample the water AFTER you agitate since you will be releasing more nitrogen and phosphorus with the movement.  You also want to let the solids settle down a bit before  you pump so you don’t wear out your equipment. 

A little management and planning can go a long way.  Contact your local Extension office if you have any other questions.  Lagoons are a vital part of a hog operation, and they demand your attention.  Think Pink!

Irrigation Guidelines for Hurricanes, Tropical Storms, and Flood Watches

All farms covered under a permit in North Carolina need to be aware of the regulations you are expected to abide by as a tropical weather system approaches.  Your permit states in Section II.22:

"Land application of waste shall cease within four (4) hours of the time that the National Weather Service issues a Hurricane Warning, Tropical Storm Warning, or a Flood Watch associated with a tropical system including a hurricane, tropical storm, or tropical depression for the county in which the permitted facility is located.  Watches and warnings are posted on the National Weather Service's website located at: www.weather.gov"

You can also call the National Weather Service office that serves our area.  For Lenoir and Greene Counties, it is the office in Newport/Morehead City.  The phone number is 252-223-5737.  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Updated Publication for Calibration of Stationary and Traveling Systems

By: Emily Herring- Livestock Agent –Pender County, Publication courtesy of NCSU, AG-553-09 and Amanda Hatcher, Duplin County Livestock Agent

North Carolina State University has released an updated version of “Calibration and Uniformity Assessment for Animal Wastewater Application Equipment” to give updated information on hard hose travelers and solid set systems.  Irrigation systems wear and develop buildup, therefore affects their performance, both from an irrigation standpoint and from an economic standpoint.  Calibrations are required once every two years for swine facilities in North Carolina with a state general permit and required once a year for swine facilities with an NPDES permit.

Here’s a summary of things to keep in mind before starting a calibration:

·      A manufacturer’s chart for your system’s sprinkler and nozzle combination is needed for your irrigation design or wetted acreage determination.

·      Perform calibrations during periods of no to very light wind (less than 5 mph).

·      Check wetted diameter and flow pressure under periods of normal pressure.

Equipment needed to complete a calibration:

1.     Pressure gauge, either a mounted gauge or a handheld with pitot tube. (Which will cost roughly $38.00 offline.)

2.     Flow meter with in-line adapters IF field-measured nozzle pressure and manufacture’s charts will not be used to obtain flow rate.

3.     Measuring tape, 200-300 feet or wheel. (A measuring tape will cost roughly $25 offline.)

4.     Flags for checking wetted diameter. (Roughly $5 for a set of flags.)

5.     Caliper for measuring nozzle size. (Roughly costs $10.)

6.     Calibration forms for recording measurements.  These can be found at your local Extension Office.

For hard-hose travelers and stationary systems (solid sets), the following steps are needed:

1.     Measure the nozzle size of traveler guns.

2.     Measure pressure at the nozzle or sprinkler.

3.     Measure the wetted diameter of the nozzle or sprinkler.

4.     Measure the flow rate.

5.     Compare the measured pressure, wetted diameter, and flow rate against the manufacturer’s chart, irrigation design documents, and/or the wetted acreage determination.

Although the rain gauge method that was once needed every three years is not required now to determine uniformity, sprinkler spacing (or lane spacing for travelers) must be within design specifications and pressure must be within the ranges provided by manufacturer (Liu, 2009; 9^th SB 1217 Guidance Document, North Carolina 1217 Interagency Group, 2009).  To check for uniformity:

1.     Compare field-measured wetted diameter and pressure to manufacturer’s charts.

2.     Calculate the sprinkle or lane spacing as a percentage of field-measured wetted diameter to determine if spacing falls in the recommended range.

Field data sheets at the end of the publication help calibrations to go more smoothly.  If you would like to receive a copy of this publication contact or if you have any questions about calibrations, contact your County Extension Agent.  For a total estimated onetime cost of the equipment needed to do a calibration at the most roughly being $78 it would be a good way to save money on the farm versus paying a company to do it. 

Irrigation Calibration Update- for Animal Waste Operators

Eve H. Honeycutt, Extension Livestock Agent, Lenoir and Greene Counties

Recently, NCSU Specialists in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering announced that using rain gauges to perform an irrigation calibration is no longer necessary for swine farms in NC.

Calibration of the irrigation system is still a requirement under the State general permit, and it must be performed every other year. Previously, NCSU and NC Soil and Water guidelines stated that using the rain gauges to test for uniformity was recommended every 3 years. New guidelines have been established that recommend rain gauges no longer be considered an acceptable method of calibration.

Acceptable methods of irrigation calibration include using a flow meter, and performing a field calibration. Using the flow meter is easy and only requires that the flow meter be properly connected, then the user reads the flow rate that shows up on the meter. Proper documentation must be kept as a record of the flow meter use. There is a flow meter for rent in the Greene County Extension office for $25. Anyone can rent the meter by calling 252-747-5831.

Performing a field calibration is also easy and does not require any specialized equipment. Three measurements need to be recorded- the wetted diameter, the nozzle/ring size, and the pressure at the gun. To measure wetted diameter, turn the system on and measure the diameter of the spray area. For ring/nozzle size, you may find the size stamped on the end of the nozzle. If you can't find it, you should measure it accurately with a pair of calipers. Finally, make sure you have a working pressure gauge at the gun and record the pressure with the system in operation. Once you have these three measurements, you should look at the manufacturer's performance chart for your equipment. It can be found online, or with the help of your Extension agent. The chart, along with your measurements, will help you determine the flow rate for your equipment. All of this data should also be documented for your records.

Having your irrigation system calibrated ensures that you are applying your nutrients at the proper rate. It is also a requirement of your permit, so don't forget this important procedure as you prepare for the fall season.