Cummings and Goings in Agriculture
Row Crop Harvest Delayed, But Not Hurt By Rain
By Steve Cummings
Last week’s rains held up row crop harvest for a few days. Fortunately, we did not get the big amounts of rainfall that fell in eastern Mississippi. Harvest was not hurt, just delayed. Also, pastures, lawns, and fall gardens were helped by the rainfall.
Dr. Lelia Kelly, MSU Horticulture Specialist, will conduct a program on “Establishing Backyard Habitats” on Wednesday, October 22m at 10 am at the Yalobusha County Multipurpose Building. Dr. Kelly’s programs are always very informative as well as entertaining. This program, sponsored by the Yalobusha County Homemakers, is free and open to the public.
There will be an open horse show at the Yalobusha County Multipurpose Building on October 25th at 1:30 pm. While this show is an excellent opportunity for everyone qualified for the State Open Show in November, it is also an excellent opportunity for anyone wanting to start horse showing. In addition to some of the regular classes, there will be several fun classes including a Halloween costume class. For a class schedule, call the Yalobusha County Extension office at 675-2730.
The October 15 deadline that we set for cheese orders has passed. However, the Yalobusha County Extension Service will continue to take orders until they run out at Mississippi State. So, please call our office as soon as possible at 675-2730 if you still plan to order some cheese before Christmas. We will keep sending them in until we hear that they are sold out.
Horticulture Tips:
Time for Fall Applications of Fire Ant Baits
Baits are probably the most convenient and easiest method of applying insecticides for fire ants and can be very effective but to be successful they need to be applied at least once in the spring and again in the fall with an additional mid-summer treatment preferred. Tips that will improve your success with baits include:
• Broadcast them over the entire yard not just by the mounds you see.
• Don’t over apply. The rate for most baits are only one to two pounds per acre.
• Avoid irrigating for at least two days after applying baits.
• Avoid applying baits just before rainfall.
• Use fresh bait. Ants will leave old bait that has gone rancid.
• Baits are slow-acting so you must be patient.
• Use fire ant baits preventively. Don’t wait till you see large mounds.
• Eliminate mounds the baits miss with mound treatment insecticides.
There are several excellent publications on fire ant control that can be downloaded from the extension web at www.msucares.com or found at your local extension office.
