Agriculture and Natural Resources s8

June 6, 2012

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Preventing rose diseases

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

Helping teens deal with diabetes

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Robotics: building for the future

Prevent rose diseases

Source: Nicole Ward

Spectacular blooms and diverse types and varieties make roses a favorite of many

Kentucky gardeners. However, warm, humid growing conditions create an ideal environment for serious problems each year with black spot and powdery mildew.

Gardeners can nip these fungal diseases in the bud by planting resistant or tolerant varieties and creating an unfavorable environment for disease development. It may be necessary to use fungicides throughout the summer, especially on susceptible varieties.

The (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service has materials on resistant and tolerant varieties. Nursery catalogues also publish this information.

To reduce foliar diseases, try to avoid conditions where rose leaves remain wet for an extended period of time. Do not wet foliage when watering plants and allow sufficient time for leaves to dry before nighttime. Prune out shading vegetation from overhanging trees and provide space between rose bushes to improve ventilation and sunlight penetration. Sanitation also is important for managing rose diseases. If you have not already removed and destroyed old leaves, winter-damaged canes and debris, do it as soon as possible. These items are a source of disease-causing organisms.

Many fungicides are labeled to control rose diseases. Always check the label to be sure the product controls black spot and powdery mildew and read and follow application instructions.

To maintain disease suppression, repeat fungicide applications at 10- to 14-day intervals throughout the growing season.

Black spot produces dark, circular spots with fringed borders on the top or bottom side of leaves. Infected leaves often turn yellow and drop, reducing flower numbers and quality.

White, powdery fungal growth is a sign of powdery mildew. It is easy to locate on such plant surfaces as leaves, stems and flower buds. Infected leaves may be small and deformed.

Two other important, but less common, foliar diseases of roses are downy mildew and rust.

Downy mildew produces lesions that are an off-color, later turning purplish brown. It leads to defoliation. Rust-colored spots on leaves and stems indicate the disease, rust. Severely infected leaves may shrivel and turn brown.

Another summertime disease is rose rosette, which affects roses throughout Kentucky. It is not a fungal disease.

This disease is spread by a microscopic mite. The primary host is multi-flora rose, a thorny plant native to the Orient and introduced into the United States as a conservation plant and

“living fence.” The disease also affects cultivated roses.

Early symptoms are increased growth of shoots, which appear more succulent than normal and develop excessive thorns, and distorted, dwarfed leaves. The affected shoots are not winter hardy and produce few blooms. Rose plants eventually die. Early disease detection is essential to keep rose rosette from spreading. Remove and destroy any infected roses to keep the disease from healthy plants nearby. Carefully remove diseased plants to avoid scattering disease-carrying mites to other plants. Since multi-flora roses might be a disease reservoir, remove and destroy any located within one-eighth of a mile from the rose bed.

For more information on growing roses, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative

Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Helping teens deal with diabetes

Source: Ingrid Adams, UK assistant extension professor for nutrition and weight management

Dealing with Type 2 diabetes can be difficult at any age, but it can be especially troubling for teenagers, who must also deal with the pressures of youth including self-image and self- worth. As a parent, you can do simple things to make managing this disease easier for your teen and your entire family.

Obesity is one of the leading causes of Type 2 diabetes. Helping overweight teenagers with diabetes reach and maintain a healthy weight may help them feel physically and mentally better and may improve their glucose, or blood sugar, levels. While the secret to weight loss is to eat healthier food choices in the correct portion sizes and increase physical activity, this can be easier said than done. Getting your whole family involved in healthy eating and exercise may make reaching and maintaining a healthy weight more enjoyable and easier for all family members.

It’s important for everyone to know that individuals with diabetes do not need special foods, just healthy ones. Eating healthy is a good idea whether you’re diabetic or not. Healthy food choices include fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, low-fat meats, milk and cheese.

Limiting the availability of high sugar, high-fat foods in your home can help everyone make healthier choices.

If you and your family have not been active before, it’s important to consult a doctor before beginning any exercise regimen. You may need to start slowly and gradually build up to 60 minutes per day. While playing sports are a good way to get physical activity, it’s not the only way. Going for a walk, dancing and jumping rope are all forms of physical activity.

Additionally, you should make sure your teen is taking medicine as prescribed by their doctor and monitoring their blood glucose levels. When the school year starts, you and your teen should make sure their school nurse and teachers are aware of your child’s diabetes care plan to ensure they’re eating their meals, eating healthy foods, getting physical activity and taking their medicine during the school day.

Being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes is a life-changing event and can be difficult for anyone to deal with, regardless of age. If you notice behavior changes in your teen, it’s important to talk with them about it and let them know they’re not alone. You can help your child connect with other teens with diabetes through diabetes support groups or summer camps.

Here they may make friendships and support each other. If you feel your teen needs to speak to a professional, it’s important that you help them connect with a health care worker, social worker, certified diabetes educator or psychologist.

For more information on dealing with diabetes, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative

Extension Service. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Robotics: building for the future

Sources: Jann Burks, 4-H youth development specialist

Torey Earle, 4-H agent for Science, Engineering and Technology

Many of us realize a proficiency in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are the building blocks for numerous, well-paying careers. In 4-H robotics, young people develop and refine these skills as they learn how to design and build their own robots.

4-H robotic projects can range from junk drawer robots, which teach young people basic robotic construction using everyday items, to robots so large they are powered by motorcycle batteries. The most common form used by Kentucky 4-H’ers is the Lego Mindstorm NXT robotics kit, which are powered by AA batteries.

Kentucky 4-H has two grants to administer robotics programs across the state. Young people can get involved with robotics in a variety of ways including 4-H clubs and camps. Each

December, 4-H robotics clubs have the opportunity to participate in a regional robotics competition held in several locations across the state. Winners of these regional events have the opportunity to advance to the state and national robotics competitions. County 4-H robotics teams should begin preparing for regional competition now.

A unique robotics event for girls entering the eighth through 11th grades will occur July 30-

Aug. 3 on the University of Kentucky campus. The Kentucky Girls’ STEM Collaborative is hosting a weeklong Aqua Bots Day Camp. The camp will give girls the opportunity to design and build underwater robots. The camp is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and costs $200 per camper. Those wanting more information about this camp should contact Sue Scheff, coordinator for UK’s Appalachian and Minority Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics Majors, at [email protected] or 859-257-2614.

For more information on 4-H programs in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.