Division of Agriculture to hold pest scouting school May 30
By Abbi Ross
U of A System Division of Agriculture
@AgNews479
May 24, 2019
Fast Facts:
- The school will be held at the Craighead County Cooperative Extension Office
- The school will focus on insects and diseases in different crops
- Cotton is a high value crop that is particularly susceptible to yield loss from insects
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JONESBORO, Ark. — The frequent, heavy rains that have defined this spring will make an upcoming insect and disease pest scouting school a can’t-miss event for Arkansas growers dealing with late crops that are more prone to pests.
Experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service will lead the single-day program, scheduled for May 30. The school will be held at the Craighead County Cooperative Extension Office in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Glenn Studebaker, extension entomologist/integrated pest management coordinator for the Division of Agriculture, said 2019 represents a particularly vulnerable year for Arkansas crops.
“Crops planted later in the season tend to have more problems with insects and diseases and will need to be scouted for pests this year,” Studebaker said.
Some crops are already seeing issues with cutworms and armyworms, he said.
The scouting school opens at 8 a.m. The school is intended for crop scouts and consultants, but is open to anyone. There is no cost to attend.
The event will take place in a classroom at the extension office and will conclude in the early afternoon, Studebaker said.
Speakers for the event include extension entomologists and plant pathologists who work regularly with row crops. Specialists will cover identification and treatment methods for pests, as well as important diseases in row crops. The school will focus on insects and diseases in cotton, corn, soybean, rice and grain sorghum.
“Pest pressure varies from year to year, as well as which species are important,” Studebaker said.
There are several pests that are always a threat in certain crops, including the cotton bollworm, thrips, tarnished plant bug, rice water weevils and more, he said, adding that cotton is a high value crop that is always particularly susceptible to yield loss from insects, bollworms and tarnished plant bugs.
Contact Glenn Studebaker at gstudebaker@uada.edu or (870) 526-2199 Ext. 114 with any questions.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on four system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the Craighead county extension office at (870) 933-4568 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu