Field Crops, Forage and Turfgrass Production
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Wheat leaf rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina (formerly known as Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici), is often a destructive foliar disease of wheat in the state of Georgia. Rust fungi in wheat are highly specialized pathogens with narrow host ranges. This circular provides information on symptoms and control of leaf rust for wheat growers in Georgia.
James W. Buck, Jeremy Kichler, Alfredo Martinez, and John D. Youmans
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Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), also called scab, is a devastating disease that is emerging in Georgia wheat fields. This publication contains important information on the biology of the causal agent, and conditions that favor the disease, detailed descriptions of the diseases symptoms, and the latest information on cultural, genetic, and chemical methods of control. The intended audience is producers, professionals, consultants, county faculty and the general public.
W. (Rome) Jerome Ethredge, James W. Buck, Alfredo Martinez, Brian Vermeer, and John D. Youmans
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Rhizoctonia large patch is the most common and severe warm season grass disease in Georgia and the United States as a whole. This publication contains important information on the biology of the causal agent; detailed descriptions of disease symptoms aided by high quality-detailed pictures; relevant, up-to-date information on conditions favoring the disease; and the cultural, genetic, and chemical methods of control. The content is intended for turfgrass
professionals, consultants, county faculty, homeowners and general public.Elizabeth L. Little, Alfredo Martinez, and Timothy Daly
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La mancha larga causada por Rhizoctonia es una de las enfermedades mas comunes y severas de cespedes de clima calido en georgia y en los Estados Unidos. La publicacion contiene informacion importante en la biologia del gente causal, descripcion detallada de los sintomas de la enfermedad (con fotografias de alta definicion), informacion relevante y reciente en las condiciones que favorecen la enfermedad, asi como los metodos de control cultural, genetico y quimico. Esta publicacion es dirigida a profesionales, consultores, agentes de extension y publico en general.
Alfredo Martinez
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Cotton byproducts offer a variety of feed ingredients that can lower the cost of beef cattle production. Cottonseed meal and whole cottonseed can be used in rations for any class of cattle. Gin trash and cottonseed hulls are low-energy feedstuffs that are used as a roughage source in high energy diets or as a partial energy replacement in mature cow diets. Cotton stalk residue can maintain a dry pregnant cow and will provide enough grazing for approximately 1 month if left standing or for three weeks if mowed prior to grazing. A reduction in fertility should not be a concern when recommended feeding rates are followed.
Lawton Stewart and Johnny Rossi
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The southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber, is a serious insect pest of turfgrass, especially St. Augustinegrass, in Georgia. Bermudagrass, centipedegrass, and zoysiagrass are also attacked by southern chinch bug. They feed on grass using their piercing and sucking mouthparts. Affected turfgrass can form yellow to brown patches that are sometimes mistaken as indicators of disease or drought stress. Populations of southern chinch bug can build up at the edges of these patches at over 100 individuals per square foot, which can kill the affected grass. The development of southern chinch bug in the grass can easily go unnoticed because of their small size and dark-gray color, which blends in with thatch. This publication summarizes the biology, lifecycle and management options available for southern chinch bug in Georgia.
William G. Hudson, Shimat V. Joseph, and Fawad Khan
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Sod webworms are a serious pest of turfgrass in Georgia. There is limited information available to the green industry and the public about the general biology, ecology, and management of this pest. This publication includes photos of sod webworms, their life cycle, and management options so that landscape industry professionals and homeowners can learn about the pest sufficiently to manage it.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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Some of the most widely adopted precision agriculture technologies include guidance systems that utilize a Global Positioning System (GPS). Although these technologies are most commonly utilized in row-crop agricultural systems, they also have many potential benefits in forage-based production systems. With so many different options to choose from, it can be a daunting task to determine which technologies are the best fit for a specific farming application and budget. When coupled with a differential GPS system (which are available in various levels of correction accuracy), the accuracy of these guidance systems can be greatly improved. The main goal of this bulletin is to cover the currently available GPS guidance options for forage production systems.
Wesley Porter, Jennifer J. Tucker, Simerjeet Virk, and Lisa Baxter
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Properly maintaining, calibrating, and adjusting a seed drill before planting is an important part of ensuring the successful establishment of forage or cover crops. Seed may be placed at a depth that is too deep or too shallow if the equipment is not properly prepared and set. Too much or too little seed may be planted if the equipment is not properly calibrated. These planting mistakes may result in a poor stand, greater weed competition, lower yields, and/or reductions in forage quality. Conversely, planting more seed than required can unnecessarily increase establishment costs and can sometimes result in reduced yields. After investing in the seed and committing the time to plant a field, taking a few extra steps to ensure that investment bears fruit is well worth maintaining, calibrating, and adjusting the drill.
Julia W. Gaskin, Dennis Hancock, and Lisa Baxter
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