Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Ohio Department of Agriculture discovers Hemlock pest

Will begin to quarantine hemlock materials

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

What do you think of when you hear the word pest?

For hockey fans, pest can be used to describe a player on the opposing team who stops at nothing to get under the skin of his opponents whether it be through words, scoring an important goal or throwing a cheap punch after the referee blows their whistle.

People who have siblings may even refer to them as pests. The bravest of them all might even call their significant other that name (but probably not aloud).

In Jackson County, Ohio, a different kind of pest has been discovered – the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). The confirmation of the insect in Jackson County makes it the seventh in the state, joining Washington and Meigs counties in 2012, Hocking County in 2013, and Lawrence, Monroe, and Vinton counties last year.

The tiny insect which is native to Asia feeds on the sap from hemlock and spruce (Christmas) trees. As a result, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is quarantining any hemlock materials.

The most common uses for hemlock trees are boxes and pallets, crates, framing, plywood and for other construction reasons.

The easiest way to identify if a tree is infected with the HWA is the emergence of small wax excretions that look like tiny snow or cotton balls. If there is an infestation, the tree could see twig and limb dieback damage within two years and be completely dead in about five years.

To treat individual trees, non-toxic horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps are used. As they dry, they smother the insect and trees should be sprayed annually.


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

Comments


Your email address will not be published