Estill County Farm Scoop June 2022
June 2022 Edition
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Estill County Farm Scoop - June 2022
Hello!
My name is Emma Lee and I am the new Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent for Estill County. I grew up in Somerset and was a member/officer in FFA throughout high school, which started my love for agriculture. I went to Eastern Kentucky University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fruit, Vegetable, Nursery and Greenhouse Production and an Associate’s Degree in Technical Agriculture concentrating on Landscape.
It has been a dream of mine to be an Extension agent and I am looking forward to serving this community! If you have any questions, you can contact me by calling the Estill County Extension office at 606-723-4557, or by emailing me at emma.lee@uky.edu.
Watch for fall armyworms in June
A truly historic outbreak of fall armyworm took place in 2021. According to collaborators at Auburn University, it was the worst year for this pest since the late 1970s. While entomologists don’t expect another outbreak this year, it is good to keep your eyes peeled for signs of the fall armyworm.
Fall armyworms typically cause issues in corn and alfalfa, so be on the lookout for damage to these plants. They feed on grasses, so lawn browning is another common sign. Fall armyworms are a migratory species arrive in Kentucky in June, so be on the lookout for them.
The caterpillar stage is considered the damaging stage of development for this pest. If you find a caterpillar and suspect it may be a fall armyworm, look for a yellow “Y” on the head and four dots in a square on the rear to be certain.
You have several ways to manage fall armyworm. Pyrethroids are an effective type of pesticide against foliage-feeding pests. Some examples of these pesticides include Bifenthrin (Talstar), Lambda-cyhalothrin (Scimitar), Permethrin (Astro) and Cyfluthrin (Tempo).
It is best to use the spray formulation and make sure you don’t mow or irrigate the sprayed area for 24 hours.
Non-pyrethroid products can also be effective against turf caterpillars. These are low hazards to humans and the environment. Some common examples of these are Acelepryn, Provaunt and Conserve SC.
For more information on managing insect pests and correct pesticide use, contact the Estill County office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
Installing a butterfly garden
Source: Faye Kuosman, UK extension horticulture agent
Honeybees, which are native to Europe and introduced to the United States, are important pollinators for home gardens. But numerous pollinator species including native bees, butterflies and moths, beetles, birds and bats benefit our gardens. Sadly, many of the pollinators have suffered from habitat loss, chemical misuse, diseases and parasites.
Gardeners play a critical role in the nurturing and conservation of both native and introduced pollinators. Gardens and landscapes provide pollinators with food, water, shelter and habitat to complete their life cycles. Urban areas typically feature large areas of pavement and buildings and offer little in the way of food and shelter for pollinators. Garden plantings can help bridge that gap.
Just like with any new flower bed, you want to pick a site for your butterfly garden with good drainage, full sun, and an area with good weed control. If you are starting a new butterfly garden, get a soil test, eliminate the weeds and add organic matter.
Honeybees and other pollinators need protein from flower pollen and carbohydrates from flower nectar. Plan to provide a variety of different types of flowers, and aim to have three different flower species in bloom throughout the growing season. Showy, colorful flowers and massed groups of flowers, particularly in small gardens provide efficient feeding stations for the pollinators. Flowering trees and shrubs also provide excellent food sources. Native plants share a long history with their pollinators, including a wide variety of natives will make your garden a favorite destination for pollinators.
You want to have a variety of plants, preferably native ones and non-native that will bloom throughout the growing season. Some of these are purple cone flower, black-eyed susan, asters, golden rod, yarrow, tall blazing star, milkweed, coreopsis and many more. The Kentucky Native Plant Society has an updated listing of nurseries in Kentucky that sell native plants.
Be sure to have puddling spots for butterflies to get a drink of water. Pollinators also need shelter from the wind, scorching sun and heavy rain. Fences can serve as a windbreak, which may make the garden more attractive to pollinators.
Contact Estill County office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service for information on starting a butterfly garden.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
