Integrated Pest Management | University of Maryland Extension

Updated: July 21, 2021

Summary of the Comparative Efficacy of Common Active Ingredients in Organic Insecticides Against Difficult to Control Insect Pests

There exists a lack of control efficacy information to enable decision-making about which organic insecticide product works best for a given insect pest. Here we summarize results of 153 field trials on the control efficacy of common active ingredients in organic insecticides against groups of the most difficult to control insect pests. The performance of organic products Entrust (spinosad), Azera (pyrethrin and azadirachtin), PyGanic (pyrethrin) and Neemix (azadirachtin) varied widely among pest groups, as well as among pest species within a group, providing an overall reduction in pest infestations by 73.9%, 61.7%, 48.6% and 46.1%, respectively.

Updated: July 7, 2021

Agronomy News-April 2021

Agronomy News is a statewide newsletter for farmers, consultants, researchers, and educators interested in grain and row crop forage production systems. The topic for this edition is Cost-Share Grants Expanded, Evaluating Wheat Stands, Fusarium Head Blight Management, Early-Season Wheat Disease Scouting, April IPM Insect Scouting Tips, Cover Crop Termination for 2021, Maryland Circuit Court Judge Reverses Final Maryland AFO Permit, Maryland Ag Land Preservation, Pesticide Disposal Program, Pesticide Recertification Workbook, US Corn & Soybean Planting Acreage Report, Cooperators Needed For On-Farm Nitrogen Trials, What To Do With Thinning Alfalfa Stands, Weather Outlook, and Regional Crop Reports.

Updated: July 7, 2021

Early-Season Scouting For Wheat Diseases

Spring is a busy time on the farm that demands a lot of different tasks; one of the tasks that can be overlooked is scouting your small grains now for the presence of diseases, especially this year considering many areas of the state are off to a wet start. For a few select diseases, scouting now could pay off later in the season.

Figure 1. Powdery mildew growth on lower leaves/stems of a wheat plant (red arrow). Image: Mary Burrows, Montana State University, Bugwood.org

Updated: July 6, 2021

Agronomy News-July 2021

Agronomy News is a statewide newsletter for farmers, consultants, researchers, and educators interested in grain and row crop forage production systems. The topic for this edition is Double Crop Beans, Not So Fast, Herbicide Field Day, July IPM Insect Scouting Tips, Hemp Twilight Tour, Corn Disease Update, 4R Field Day, Poison Hemlock Identification and Management, Tar Spot: New Disease of Corn, Soybean Board Field Day, 2021-2022 Cover Crop Sign-Up, LEAD Maryland Fellowship Applications, Maryland Commodity Classic, MDA Pesticide Exams, MDA Pesticide Disposal Program, Weather Outlook, and Regional Crop Reports.

Updated: July 2, 2021

Grape Fruit Set and Shatter (Coulure)

Grape flowers and fruit set is a very complicated process, which can be influenced by cultivar, environment, vine status and history, biotic and abiotic factors. Optimum conditions for fruit set include high light intensity, warm temperature, and adequate soil moisture and nutrients at bloom. Good fruit set is important for proper cluster formation, development, and ultimate desired maturation and harvest of fruit. The following is some basics on fruit set and some potential causes of poor fruit set.

Updated: June 15, 2021

Pesticide Safety Educ. Private Applicator Recert Workbook

A team of Extension agents from University of Maryland, University of Delaware, Penn State have produced a workbook for applicators that do not have access to virtual training materials. This workbook is intended to give Maryland Private Pesticide Applicators the re certification training (4 credits) needed to renew the applicator’s license. Topics covered in this workbook are MDA-approved and are equivalent to two hours of in-person training needed every three years to renew your private applicator’s license. This workbook is also approved for three (3) Delaware credits and two (2) Pennsylvania core credits. In order to receive credit you must complete the entire workbook. At the end of the workbook you will answer a 30-question quiz and return it for grading. To order your free workbook, please complete this form: https://go.umd.edu/pesticideworkbook or call the Harford County Extension Office at (410) 638-3255.

Updated: April 30, 2021

Avoiding Injury to Grapes From Off Target Herbicide Exposure

Over the past few years there have been quite few cases in Maryland of injury to grapevines from herbicides that were sprayed to control weeds before planting crops on adjacent or nearby fields. Damage has ranged from some minimal leaf distortion through severe damage, crop loss, and vine death.

Updated: April 22, 2021

Greenhouse Pesticides & Bactericides for Vegetables

Updated: March 30, 2021

Appropriate and Allowable PPE for Pesticide Applicators in the Covid19 Era

Pesticide applicators may have trouble obtaining the label-listed (and thus required) PPE while safety supplies are in short supply due to new and expanded needs as individuals seek to minimize their potential exposure to sources of the Covid19 virus. In many cases, pesticide labels call for the same PPE that is currently needed to protect front-line workers such as first responders and medical professionals. It is important to understand that label-listed PPE for working with pesticides has been required because of demonstrated or scientifically-based necessity to protect the applicator’s health. It is acceptable to choose PPE that is more, but not less, protective. When possible, the best alternative is to choose a product that simply does not require the hard-to-obtain PPE.

Updated: March 23, 2021

What is a Maryland Pesticide Applicator's License and how do I get one?

Anyone who purchases or uses Restricted Use Pesticides must be a Certified Pesticide Applicator. A farmer who uses Restricted Use Pesticides on their own farm would need a Certified Private Pesticide Applicator License, while a professional contractor who uses pesticides on other people's farms would need a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator License.