Plant Doctor Explains WOOSTER, Ohio Ohio State University scientist Mike Ellis believes that everything in the world of plant diseases relates in some way to Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Ellis, a plant pathologist with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State Uni versity Extension, relates his work to IPM using the term Inte grated Disease Management (IDM). IPM doesn’t just include in sects it also includes diseases that can only be controlled by in tegrating different methods. IDM programs develop and explain the biology and pathology behind plant diseases, then share this in formation with growers, which is one of IPM’s goals. “Integrated Disease Manage ment is a critical portion of the overall pest management pro gram,” Ellis said. “I consider my self a plant doctor. I got my mas Wi the BUSINESS of FARMING Lower operating expenses, reduce commodity spoilage, and incur fewer weather-related maintenance costs with a Cover-All® building. 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When you see a disease, you’re seeing the symptoms of the disease, (which result from) the interaction be tween the pathogen and the host.” The pathogen can infect the host days or even weeks be fore symptoms are visible. A plant pathologist for 27 years, Ellis develops IDM pro grams that integrate as many control practices as possible for the diseases of small fruits and tree fruits apples, grapes, peaches, raspberries and straw berries. His work addresses the needs of both commercial fruit growers and backyard fruit grow ers and gardeners. The key is not just to spray with the fiingicide, but also to in 1.800.268.3768 • www.coverall.net Integrated Pest Management Ties tegrate programs that cover all bases of pest and disease man agement. IDM programs include not only cultural practices, like pruning and mulching, but also disease resistance and biological control. “The thing that drives my thinking there, is not so much the food safety issues, because I be lieve fungicides we use are safe —. if they’re used the way they’re registered,” Ellis said. “These products cost Ohio growers thou sands, millions of dollars. And it comes right out of their own pockets.” For example, it costs a straw berry grower $l,OOO to purchase a four-gallon case of the fungi cide Quadris. To put this figure in perspective, Quadris costs ap proximately $4O an acre to apply. Other fungicides, like Switch, get still more expensive: $6O an acre per application. “The growers aren’t using them unless they have a real perceived need for Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 16, 2003, Ag Progress Section-E49 them,” said Ellis. “Nobody throws their money away. Would you?” And that’s part of the beauty of IPM. By applying Ellis’ re search, farmers won’t have to empty their pockets on fungi cides. Ellis received his bachelor’s de gree in education and his mas ter’s degree in botany from East ern Illinois University. He Wet Fields Root Of Soybean-Disease Problems WOOSTER, Ohio Constant rains and cool weather have given soybean fields the short end of the growing stick, and now, along with stunted plants, growers can expect to see diseased, dying plots. Most of Ohio has had a constant rain since May and growers are now seeing stunted, yellow soybean plants with small or non-existent rhizoidal nodules, said Anne Dorrance, an Ohio State University plant pathologist. The result: poorly developed root systems and rotten roots caused by Phytophthora root rot, Sclerotinia stem rot and soybean cyst nematode. received his doctorate in plant pathology from the University of Illinois. Before joining OARDC, Ellis worked as a plant patholo gist for the University of Puerto Rico. “It’s great,” said Ellis of his ca reer. “It’s one of the most re- warding things when a grower comes up to you and thanks you for something you have devel oped that actually works.” “Every heavy rain puts us that much further behind,” said Dorrance, who also is a researcher with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Devel opment Center in Wooster. “Some of the fields that were planted in May have plants that are only ankle high and they just can’t get their roots established.” According to the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service, only a little over 50 percent of soybean fields are in good condition. Constant flooding injury has kept plants from establishing new root systems and diseases are starting to latch on. While the rain and cpol eve nings have helped to ward off Phytophthofa, Dorrance recently found symptomatic plants in a research plot in northwest Ohio. Within the week, growers are going to start seeing dead spots in the field, she said. “The next thing that will be coming down the pipe is Sclerotinia stem rot,” Dorrance said. Fields that have a history with stem rot are at much higher risk for the infection. Other condi tions for these fields include a closed canopy be fore flowering and high moisture and cool nights during flowering, both of which have existed this year. This year’s flooding problem should indicate to growers that along with choosing resistant va rieties and implementing crop rotation, they have to have drainage in their fields. Miller Named To Regional Agriculture Advocacy Committee HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Rep. Sheila Miller (R-129) has been appointed to the North east States Association for Agricultural Steward ship (NSAAS) Executive Committee. The or ganization is an affiliate of the Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference. “Assisting Pennsylvania’s number one indus try has been a top priority of mine during my tenure in the state House,” said Miller, who op erates her own 150-acre beef cattle farm in Berks County and serves as vice chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Commit tee. “I look forward to the opportunity this ap pointment will provide to further enhance the industry throughout the northeast U.S. Miller said the agriculture industry is facing some serious challenges, such as low commodity prices and high land and input prices. While technology is transforming the way farms are operated, there is much that needs to be done to make sure agriculture continues to survive the obstacles placed on it by Mother Nature and economic policies, said Miller. “We need to work together to ensure farmers have the tools they need to meet these challenges so agriculture can continue to thrive in the fu ture,” she said. NSAAS includes representatives from states from Maine to Delaware, as well as Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. It was established in 1999 to address the region’s agricultural and rural concerns. The organization recently played a key role in ensuring that regional equity and conservation programs were addressed in the federal Farm Bill in 2002. Miller, who also chairs the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, plans to attend the organization’s annual meeting in October in Pittsburg.
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