Cooperative Extension Service Breckinridge County 1377 S. Hwy 261 Hardinsburg, KY 40143 (270) 756-2182 Fax: (270) 756-9016 https://breckinridge.ca.uky.edu

Breckinridge County AG Newsletter

Agent’s Corner It has been super crazy around here, so I want to apologize for the delay in getting up-

dated information to you.

Now that we are back, I hope the summer/fall hasn’t been too hot and miserable for

you, your crops and livestock. The unusual rainfall has had many farmers dismayed

with the harvest results. Field crops like rain, but too much rain has been the issue this

summer.

Please start looking into your financial information to determine what needs to be

done to finish out the year with a decent tax situation. I was talking with farmers last

week about the severe drop in commodity prices, including cattle and the toll it is go-

ing to take on the farm and farm household. The ones who said that cattle would not

be back down around one dollar again might need to pick up a market report.

My dad always said “you better have something to show for those high price years”,

which meant, pay down debt, upgrade equipment or just add improvements to the

farm. I know I get on my soap box, but in times of high prices, the sales people come

out in droves, where are they now? Paying for operating notes I admit, will be tough

this year; those year-end beat the tax purchases will be very slim.

Rickey Miller, former KSU Small Farm Assistant used to say, “it is time to gather all your

chickens close to you and watch them close”. We will be working on our meeting

schedule this next month or two; so that is basically what we will focus on again.

Working closely with the resources that you have, make them work for you and plan to

continue to farm another year.

Sincerely,

Carol M. Hinton Extension Agent For Agricultural/Natural Resources EducationBreckinridge County

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Page

Agent’s Corner 1

Measure the Candidate 2

NCRS News! 3

16th KY Grazing Conference 3

Bacterial Leaf Scorch

on Landscape Trees 4

Landscape & Orchard Sanita-

tion 5

Fruit, Orchard & Vineyard

Sanitation 6

Farm Equipment on Roads 7

Bee Meeting 7

IPIPE 8

USDA News! 9

Adult Health Bulletin 10-11

Turf Care Calendar 12

Hover Flies 13

KY Beef Conference 14

Cattle Handling Care & BQA 15

Holiday Ceramic Plate Work-

shop 15

4-H Youth Livestock Club Mtg 15

Time Changes 15

Recycling Program 16

Special Reminders & upcom-

ing events 16

Like us on Facebook

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16th Kentucky Grazing Conference

October 19, 2016 The Center for Rural Development Somerset, KY 8 a. m. –3:30 p.m. (EDT)

For more information contact:

Registration begins at 8 a.m. (edt) Registration fee includes proceedings, meal and refreshments.

Contact the Extension Office for fee information.

CCA Credits Applied For

Sponsored by: Kentucky Forage & Grassland Council & University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food &

Environment

If you are interested in this conference, stop by the Extension Office for a full agenda and speakers.

This is a CAIP approved meeting.

Susan Leopold

859-257-1953

Susan.leopold@uky.edu

Krista Lea

859-257-0597

Krista.lea1@uky.edu

Ray Smith

raysmith1@uky.edu

or visit the UK Forage Extension Website at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage

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NCRS NEWS!

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Bacterial Leaf Scorch Can Torch Landscape Trees By Kimberly Leonberger, Extension Associate, and Nicole Ward Gauthier, Extension Plant Pathologist

Kentucky’s landscapes are populated by many trees that are susceptible to bacterial leaf scorch. This dis-

ease may not kill trees instantly, but over time, it can have devastating effects. Pruning and reducing

stress can prolong the life of infected trees; however, there are currently no methods to prevent or cure

bacterial leaf scorch.

Bacterial Leaf Scorch Facts

Infected trees exhibit premature leaf browning (Figure 1), marginal necrosis, and defoliation. In sub-

sequent years additional branches will present the same symptoms until the entire tree becomes

prematurely brown (Figure 2).

Symptom development typically occurs in mid- to late summer

Symptoms of bacterial leaf scorch can resemble abiotic/stress, so confirmation by a diagnostic lab is

advised.

Trees such as sycamore, maple, and oaks are susceptible. Pin oak and red oak are the most commonly

reported hosts in KY.

Caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa

Spread by leafhopper and treehopper insects.

Management Options

There is no cure for bacterial leaf scorch, and trees will eventually die once infected. The following sug-

gestions may help preserve the appearance and life of diseased trees:

Prune newly infected trees to preserve appearance.

Water trees in the heat of summer to reduce stress.

Tree-injections can be costly and do not cure the disease; however, they may prolong the life of the

tree.

Replace infected trees with species that have shown resistance to the disease. Suggestions include:

European beech

Kentucky coffeetree

Shagbark hickory

Common sassafras

Tuliptree

Additional Information

Bacterial Leaf Scorch (PPFS-OR-W-12)

Figure 1: Premature leaf browning of a

pin oak tree branch infected with bacterial

leaf scorch. (Photo: John Hartman, UK)

Figure 2: Pin oak tree that has turned en-

tirely brown prematurely from many years

of bacterial leaf scorch infection. (Photo:

John Hartman, UK)

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Landscape and Orchard Sanitation: Clean Up for Clean Plants Source: KY Pest News

By Kimberly Leonberger, Extension Associate, and Nicole Ward Gauthier, Extension Plant Pathologist

Autumn has arrived in Kentucky and, as leaves change color and fall from trees, it is time to focus on landscape sanita-

tion. Good sanitation practices can help reduce disease-causing pathogens. These organisms can survive for months or

years on dead plant material or in soil, causing infections in subsequent years. Elimination of disease-causing organisms

reduces the need for chemical controls and can improve the effectiveness of disease management practices. Following

these sanitation practices both in autumn and throughout the growing season can reduce disease pressure in home and

commercial landscapes and fruit plantings

Sanitation Practices for Landscapes

Remove diseased plant tissues from infected plants

Prune cankers (Figure 1) and galls from branches by making cuts well below visible symptoms (Figure 2). Clean

tools between each cut with a sanitizer, such as rubbing alcohol or household bleach.

Rake and remove fallen buds, flowers, twigs, leaves, and needles (Figure 3)

Discard all above- and below-ground portions of heavily infected perennial and annual plants. Severely infected trees

and shrubs should be cut down and stumps removed/destroyed.

All discarded plant material should be burned, buried, or removed with yard waste. Do not compost diseased plant

material. Exercise caution when storing limbs and trunks as fire wood or using for mulch.

Soil from containers should be discarded and not reused.

Remove weeds, including roots, which may serve as alternate hosts for pathogens.

When treating infected plants with fungicides, remove infected tissues prior to application.

Additional Information available

at Extension Offices or on line

Landscape Sanitation (PPFS-GEN-04)

Fruit, Orchard, and Vineyard Sanitation (PPFS-GEN-05)

Plant Pathology Extension Publications

Figure 1: Cankers can provide an overwintering site for plant pathogens. (Photo: Nicole Ward Gauthier, UK)

Figure 2: When removing cankers, make cuts well below visible symptoms or at the base of branches. (Photo: Jo-seph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

Figure 3: Fallen leaves, and other plant parts should be gath-ered and discarded. (Photo: Nicole Ward Gauthier, UK)

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Fruit, Orchard, and Vineyard Sanitation: Cleaning Up Today May Keep

Disease Away

Following these sanitation practices both in autumn and throughout the growing season can reduce disease pressure in

home and commercial fruit plantings.

Sanitation Practices fruit, orchard and vineyard

Remove diseased plant tissues from infected plants

Prune cankers (Figure 1) by making cuts well below visible symptoms. Clean tools between each cut with a san-

itizer, such as rubbing alcohol or household bleach.

Rake and remove fallen buds, flowers, fruit, twigs, and leaves (Figure 2).

Collect all fruit from trees, bushes, and vines. Discard diseased fruit since it can serve as a source of inoculum in

subsequent growing seasons (Figure 3).

Above and below ground portions of severely infected trees, bushes, and vines should be completely removed and

destroyed.

All discarded plant material should be burned, buried, or removed with yard waste. Do not compost diseased plant

material.

Remove weeds, including roots, which may serve as alternate hosts for pathogens.

When treating infected plants with fungicides, remove infected tissues prior to application.

Additional Information Available at Extension Offices

or on line Fruit, Orchard, and Vineyard Sanitation (PPFS-GEN-05)

Figure 1. Cankers can provide an over-wintering site for plant pathogens. (Photo: Nicole Ward Gauthier, UK)

Figure 2. Debris is a major source of infective propa-gules. Gather and discard fallen buds, flowers, fruit, twigs, and leaves. (Photo: Kim Leonberger, UK)

Figure 3. Diseased fruit, whether on the ground or attached to the tree, can serve as a source of inoculum during the current and future growing seasons. (Photo: Nicole Ward Gauthier, UK)

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Harvest season is upon us way too quickly. A tour of the county let me know that the last few weeks of dry

weather has taken a toll on all crops. With the onset of harvest come the slow moving vehicles into traffic. I’ll

try not to preach to the choir, since many of you reading this newsletter may be new to the area and the slow

traffic may catch you by surprise. Here are a few tips for all parties involved.

1. Please be aware that the slow moving vehicles are on the road, and make plans to leave for your desti-

nation a slight bit earlier.

2. School buses are on the road as well, follow the law and do not pass.

3. Those driving tractors or trucks with wagons make sure someone is flagging your slow and wide load

from the front and rear. I feel that someone from the rear is much more important for those slow mov-

ing loads.

4. Never motion a vehicle past your slow moving vehicle, or do not pull off edge of road to let them pass.

I have witnessed accidents when this occurred and those driving the slow moving vehicle will be held

liable.

5. If you as a driver have to move off of the road to allow a wide load to pass, then look around for a safe

driveway or level spot off the side of the road.

6. Before attempting to pass a farm implement, be sure the driver is not about to turn left. Most collisions

involving farm equipment and motor vehicles occur when the farm equipment operator slows down to

turn left and the motorist attempts to pass. Look for field entrances where the operator could be turn-

ing. If you must pass, do not get in between the flagger and the slow moving vehicle that will just cre-

ate confusion for everyone.

If this is confusing, just remember; take all precautions to avoid an accident.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR

FARM EQUIPMENT ON ROADS THIS FALL

Informational Bee Meeting

There will be an informational meeting on Monday, October 24, 2016 in the

Extension Farmers’ Market and Educational Facility at 6 p.m. (ct).

Topic: TBA

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9

USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to Farmers in Response to 2015 Market

Downturn

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that beginning today, many of

the 1.7 million farms that enrolled in either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs

will receive safety-net payments due to market downturns during the 2015 crop year.

“This fall, USDA will be making more than $7 billion in payments under the ARC-County and PLC programs to assist

participating producers, which will account for over 10 percent of USDA’s projected 2016 net farm income. These pay-

ments will help provide reassurance to America’s farm families, who are standing strong against low commodity prices

compounded by unfavorable growing conditions in many parts of the country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“At USDA, we are standing strong behind them, tapping in to every resource that we have to help. So far in 2016, this has

included creating a one-time cost share program for cotton ginning, purchasing about $800 million in excess commodities

to be redirected to food banks and those in need, making $11 million in payments to America’s dairy farmers through the

Dairy Margin Protection Program, and reprogramming Farm Service Agency funds to expand credit options for farmers

and ranchers in need of extra capital. As always, we continue to watch market conditions and will explore opportunities for

further assistance in the coming months. For producers challenged by weather, disease and falling prices, we will continue

to ensure the availability of a strong safety net to keep them farming or ranching.”

Unlike the old direct payment program, which issued payments during both weak and strong market conditions, the 2014

Farm Bill authorized the ARC-PLC safety net to trigger and provide financial assistance only when decreases in revenues

or crop prices, respectively, occur. The ARC and PLC programs primarily allow producers to continue to produce for the

market by making payments on a percentage of historical base production, limiting the impact on production decisions.

Nationwide, producers enrolled 96 percent of soybean base acres, 91 percent of corn base acres and 66 percent of wheat

base acres in the ARC-County coverage option. Producers enrolled 99 percent of long grain rice and peanut base acres and

94 percent of medium grain rice base acres in the PLC option. Overall, 76 percent of participating farm base acres are en-

rolled in ARC-County, 23 percent in PLC and one percent in ARC-Individual. For other program information including

frequently asked questions, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

Payments are made to producers who enrolled base acres of barley, corn, grain sorghum, lentils, oats, peanuts, dry peas,

soybeans, wheat and canola. In the upcoming months, payments will be announced after marketing year average prices are

published by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service for the remaining covered commodities. These include long

and medium grain rice (except for temperate Japonica rice), which will be announced in November, remaining oilseeds and

chickpeas, which will be announced in December, and temperate Japonica rice, which will be announced in early February

2017. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity.

The Budget Control Act of 2011, passed by Congress, requires USDA to reduce 2015 ARC and PLC payments by 6.8 per-

cent. For more information, producers are encouraged to visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. To find a lo-

cal FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

USDA works to strengthen and support American agriculture, an industry that supports one in 11 American jobs, provides

American consumers with more than 80 percent of the food we consume, ensures that Americans spend less of their

paychecks at the grocery store than most people in other countries, and supports markets for homegrown renewable energy

and materials. Since 2009, USDA has provided $5.6 billion in disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; expanded risk man-

agement tools with products like Whole Farm Revenue Protection; and helped farm businesses grow with $36 billion in

farm credit. The Department has engaged its resources to support a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by im-

proving access to land and capital; building new markets and market opportunities; and extending new conservation oppor-

tunities.

USDA has developed new markets for rural-made products, including more than 2,500 biobased products through USDA's

BioPreferred program; and invested $64 billion in infrastructure and community facilities to help improve the quality of

life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.

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Hover Flies: Beneficial but Occasionally Annoying

KY Pest News By Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

Some of the common names of the small bee-like flies shown in Figure 1 include corn fly, hover fly, heli-

copter fly, flower fly, and sweat bee. Each name fits some aspect of the insect’s appearance, behavior, or

hangout. These convincing bee mimics are persistent, darting, hovering, and landing on leaves, flowers, and

people. Females lay eggs on leaves infested with aphids and feed in nectar for energy. As true flies, they can

neither sting nor bite. However, they look threatening and defy attempts to be shooed away.

Hover fly larvae are important aphid predators. They crawl over the foliage of infested plants grabbing and

consuming aphids with their paired mouth hooks. A hover fly larva may consume 20 to 30 aphids a day;

over 200 during its lifetime. The teardrop-shaped pupae are attached to the leaf surface. These beneficial

insects may be heavily parasitized by small wasps.

Figure 1. Harmless hover flies frequently land on people. (Photo: Curtis Judy, UK)

Figure 2. Hover fly larvae have no visible head or legs. They are voracious aphid predators. (Photo by Lee Townsend, UK)

Figure 3. Hover fly pupa will turn brown. (Photo by Lee Townsend)

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All Times are Eastern

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Don’t forget to turn the clocks back.

TIME CHANGES Nov. 6th!

Cattle Handling Care & (BQA) Beef Quality Assurance Meeting

When: Monday, November 7, 2016

Times: 6 p.m. (ct)

Where: Breckinr idge County Extension Farmers’ Market & Educational Facility

If you are interested in the CAIP Large Animal Cost Share program you must have a current certification

number. Certification is good for three (3) years, so many of you that were trained in 2014 or earlier are

ready to be recertified. There is a small fee.

Holiday Ceramic Plate Workshop Saturday, Oct. 22nd

2:00 pm Ct

Breckinridge County

Extension Office Basement

For fee information and to register, call the

Extension Office

Workshop fee

covers one plate, painting supplies

and firing expenses.

Choice of plate and registration fee due

to the Extension office by

Wednesday, October 12th,

so supplies can be purchased.

4-H Youth Livestock Club Meeting

The next club meeting will be Monday, October 24, 2016 at 6 p.m. (ct) in the Extension Community Building.

This will be a CAIP approved meeting.

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Stop by one of the following recycling centers near you:

Breckinridge County High School

Cloverport Fire Department

Auggie Doggie’s, Garfield

St. Romuald Gym, Hardinsburg

McQuady Firehouse

Breckinridge County Extension Office

Rough River Corp of Engineers Office

McDaniels Community Center

Frederick Fraize High School, Cloverport

Hardinsburg Elementary School

Union Star

All recycling sites are

accessible 24 hours a

day, seven days a week.

The Cooperative Extension Service prohibits discrimination in its programs and employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, disabil-

ity, or national origin.

To file a complaint of discrimination, contact Tim West, UK College of Agriculture, 859-257-3879; Terry Allen or Patty Bender, UK Office of

Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity, 859-257-8927; or the USDA, Director Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Bldg., 14th & Inde-

pendence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 (202-720-5964).

Upcoming Area Events:

If you are interested in any of these events, call the Extension Office at 270-756-2182 for more information.

October 24, 2016—Informational Bee Meeting, Extension Farmers’ Market & Educational Facility

November 1-17, 2016—North American International Livestock Exposition —Kentucky Exposition Center,

Louisville, KY

January 19-20, 2017—KY Cattlemen’s Association Convention—Lexington Convention Center

Special Reminders: Office and Holiday Closings

The Breckinridge County Extension Office will be CLOSED on the dates below:

Election Day Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25, 2016 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Office will reopen at regular hours on Monday, November 28, 2016.

The Breckinridge County Extension Office will be closed on:

Wednesday, December 14, 2016 for Professional Development Day.

Monday, December 26, 2016 thru Monday, January 2, 2017.

The office will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at regular hours.