Integrated Pest Management (Ipm) for Connecticut
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Plant Science Day The Annual Samuel W. Johnson Lecture • Short Talks • Demonstrations • Field Experiments • Passport for Kids Pesticide Credits • Century Farm Award • Barn Exhibits Lockwood Farm, Hamden Wednesday, August 3, 2005 XYXYXYXYXYXY History of Lockwood Farm, Hamden Lockwood Farm is a research farm of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Historically, the farm was purchased in 1910 with monies provided by the Lockwood Trust Fund, a private endowment. The original farm was 19.6 acres with a barn and a house. Since then, several adjacent tracts of land were purchased, enlarging the acres to 75.0. The farm is located in the extreme southern portion of the Central Lowland Physiographic Province. This lowland region is underlain by red stratified sandstone and shale of Triassic age from which resistant lava flows project as sharp ridges. One prominent ridge, observed from the farm, is Sleeping Giant Mountain that lies to the north. The mountain is composed of basalt, a dense igneous rock commonly used as a building material and ballast for railroad tracks. The topography of the farm is gently rolling to hilly and was sculpted by the Wisconsin glacier that overrode the area some 10,000 years ago and came to rest in the vicinity of Long Island. A prominent feature of the farm is a large basaltic boulder that was plucked from Sleeping Giant by the advancing glacier and came to rest on the crest of a hillock to the south of the upper barns. From this hillock, Sleeping Giant State Park comes into full view and is a favorite spot for photographers and artists. The soils of the farm developed on glacial drift composed primarily of the underlying reddish brown sedimentary rocks. The soils, characterized by reddish-brown profiles, are the well-drained Cheshire fine sandy loam (67%), the moderately well- drained Watchaug loam (10%) and the shallow-to-bedrock Sunderland fine sandy loam (16%). Along the western edge of the farm, adjacent to the Farmington Canal Greenway, lies a level terrace of stratified glacial drift. There, the well-drained Branford loam and the moderately well-drained Ellington loam (7%) dominate. Elevations on the farm range from 140 to 220 feet above mean sea level. The farm lies in the Coastal Plain Climatological District. The local climate is influenced by its proximity to Long Island Sound that lies 9 miles to the south. The average frost-free season is 190 days compared to 180 days at the inland Valley Laboratory in Windsor. In 1936, a fully instrumented weather station was established on the farm. The weather data are reported to and published by the U.S. Weather Service in their cooperative observer program. The mean annual temperature for the farm is 49.0 F. A record high temperature, 104 F, was observed on July 4, 1949. A record low temperature, -24 F was recorded on February 16, 1943. The mean annual precipitation for the farm is 52.6 inches. The greatest total precipitation, 71.2 inches, was recorded in 1983. The least precipitation, 30.4 inches, was recorded in 1965. The mean annual snowfall for the farm is 32.3 inches. The greatest total snowfall, 78.5 inches, was recorded during the winter of 1995-1996. The least total snowfall, 11.3 inches, was recorded in 1972-1973. The farm provides a field laboratory for many scientists at the Experiment Station who learn how to control the pathogens and insects that attack trees, fruit, and vegetables. In some experiments, scientists learn how crops grow and develop strategies for efficient crop production. All field research can be observed at Plant Science Day, held on the first Wednesday in August. XYXYXYXYXYXY XYXYXYXYXYXY CENTURY FARM AWARD The Century Farm Award goes to a farm that has been in family operation for more than 100 years. The recipient is selected by the Connecticut Agriculture and Natural Resources Association. CENTURY FARM CITATION Tulmeadow Farm West Simsbury, Connecticut Members of the Tuller family have been farming the land in West Simsbury continuously since 1768. Tulmeadow Farm, at 255 Farms Village Road, is currently operated by cousins Oliver “Buzz” Tuller, Jr. and Don Tuller. The 265-acre farm, comprised of fields and woodland, provides rural character to the village of West Simsbury. Like many New England farms, diversification and changing with the times have been critical to the survival of the Tulmeadow Farm the last 237 years. Dairy production was a major focus until recently. Other past activities included poultry (meat and eggs), broadleaf tobacco, apples, charcoal and cider brandy production, and sand and gravel sales. Today, sweet corn, tomatoes, greenhouse crops, and other farm-raised produce are marketed at the farm store. In addition, other local fruits, vegetables, food products, plants, and Christmas trees are sold. Premium ice cream is produced and sold at the farm, bringing approximately 90,000 visitors to the farm annually. Hay and beef production are developing product lines. The Tullers recently sold the development rights on part of the farm to the Simsbury Land Trust. This will enable Tulmeadow Farm to continue for future generations. The Tullers are active in agricultural organizations, including the Farm Service Agency Board and the Connecticut Farm Bureau, and belong to the Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association. As Governor, I am happy to join with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and Natural Resources Association in presenting this Century Farm Award to the Tullers, who are most deserving of this honor. XYXYXYXYXYXY XYXYXYXYXYXY THE SAMUEL W. JOHNSON MEMORIAL LECTURE The Station Board of Control established the lectureship to further discussion of issues of concern to Connecticut residents and the Station. Professor Johnson was director of the Station from 1877 to 1900 and was a leader in the establishment of American agricultural experiment stations. ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS Staff in the question-and-answer tent are prepared to give information on identification of insects, plant disorders, soils and their management, and other problems of growers and gardeners. PASSPORT FOR CHILDREN This is a special event for children to enjoy and explore Plant Science Day. There are six different stations located throughout the Farm that they can visit and receive a special stamp for their passport. Once the passport is filled, they can go to the registration desk and receive a prize. PASSPORT FOR BROWNIES Brownies are invited to complete four activities and receive the Plants Try-It! Once they have visited and received a completed stamp on their passport from the four different stations, they will receive the Plant Try-It! at the Girl Scout tent. PESTICIDE CREDITS Pesticide credits will be offered for the first time for attending Plant Science Day. If you are interested in obtaining pesticide credits, you must sign-in at the registration desk at the start of the day, between 9:30-10:00p.m., and sign-out to pick up pesticide credit forms between 3:00-4:00p.m. Pesticide Credits Offered: Private Applicators (PA): 3½ hours; Arborist (ARB): 3 hours; Forest Pest Control (2): 2½ hours; Ornamental and Turf (3A): 3¼ hours. The Connecticut Experiment Station has a web page at: http://www.caes.state.ct.us After the lecture, visitors may remain in the tent for lunch. Coffee and cold drinks are free. XYXYXYXYXYXY XYXYXYXYXYXY th THE 95 ANNUAL PLANT SCIENCE DAY 10:00am—Greeting MAIN TENT, 11:30 A.M. Louis A. Magnarelli—PRESIDING CENTURY FARM AWARD REMARKS Otto Schaefer President, Experiment Station Associates THE SAMUEL W. JOHNSON MEMORIAL LECTURE Adam Robert Moore “Connecticut and the Forefront of Forestry” Executive Director and Secretary-Forester of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association SHORT TALKS & DEMONSTRATIONS 10:00 a.m. DEMONSTRATION TENT Gregory J. Bugbee, Soil Scientist, Department of Soil & Water Lawn Fertilizer and the Environment (15-minute demonstration, repeated twice during the day, 10:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.) More lawn fertilizer is applied to Connecticut land than all other fertilizers combined. Misapplication or overuse can cause harmful effects on the environment. This talk will focus on the risks associated with lawn fertilizer and how proper usage provides quality turf without harm to the environment. Techniques, including fertilizing based on soil tests, choosing the right fertilizer, utilizing buffer zones, timing applications to correspond with plant uptake, fertilizing techniques that minimize application to paved areas, and reducing lawn size will be discussed. 10:15 a.m. MAIN TENT William R. Nail, Horticulturalist, Department of Forestry and Horticulture Wine Grape Culture in Connecticut Many factors need to be considered before planting a vineyard in Connecticut. Site selection is critical to help avoid spring and fall frosts and maximize sunlight. Most soils require preparation prior to planting. Varieties must be selected that are adaptable to our soils, our cold winters, and warm, humid summers. The choice of pruning and training systems should be matched to the varieties being grown. 10:40 a.m. MAIN TENT Claire E. Rutledge, Entomologist, Department of Entomology Biology and Management Strategies for Wood-Boring Insects The life cycle and ecology of two major wood-boring beetle families, the long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae) and the jewel beetles (Buprestidae), will be discussed. Native beetles to Connecticut will be used as examples. This presentation will include a discussion of management tactics and a demonstration of some techniques used to research these insects. Two exotic species, the Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer, which have recently invaded the United States and may soon be found in Connecticut, will also be introduced and discussed. 11:00 a.m. DEMONSTRATION TENT Brian D. Eitzer, Chemist, Department of Analytical Chemistry Chromatography and Spectroscopy: Tools of the Analytical Chemist (15-minute demonstration, repeated twice during the day, 11:00 a.m.