Don’t put away the spray you use to keep away chiggers!
A friend recently walked around a yard and went to see a tree in a pasture without first spraying. He apparently stepped on a chigger nest (yes, they have nests) and the following day counted more than 100 bites on his body.
He treated them by scratching, applying rubbing alcohol and taking three hot showers with baking soda on a wash cloth.
Questions answered at county extension centers:
Q: What are red wattle hogs?
A: It is a breed of hogs that have wattle skin tags hanging from each jaw.
Q: Are the many mushrooms in my lawn safe to eat?
A: No, unless an expert says otherwise. It is better to buy them at the store.
Q: Should I spray earworms in my soybean fields?
A: Spray if you have a lot of them. Plants are still growing and the worms are all that stands between you and a good crop.
Q: Should I spray a fungicide on wheat I saved to plant this year?
A: Yes.
Q: Why do my calves and yearling cattle have polio?
A: It could be caused by high sulfur in the feed such as that found in ethanol byproducts or corn gluten feed and a mineral supplement with a lot of sulfur.
Q: Should I make a steer out of a calf that does not have the hair color I desire?
A: Pay more attention to the calf’s genetics than to hair color.
Q: Is the shrub oleander poisonous?
A: Yes. It is attractive but is poisonous to humans.
Q: Why are there some yellow leaves on the top of soybean plants?
A: It is cercosper, a blight that is a fungus. Symptoms look like potassium deficiency. It is too late to react this year. Rotate crops to prevent the fungus.
Q: Will mineral supplements help cattle recover from fescue stress problems?
A: No, unless you have poor fescue.
Q: Will cattle grazing lush pastures this fall need a high magnesium mineral to protect them from grass tetany?
A: No.
Telephone numbers of area county extension centers:
• Barton (417) 682-3579
• Cherokee (620) 429-3849
• Crawford (620) 724-8233
• Jasper (417) 358-2158
• Lawrence (417) 466-3102
• McDonald (417) 223-4775
• Newton (417) 455-9500
• Ottawa (918) 542-1688
• Vernon (417) 448-2560
Address correspondence to Mike Surbrugg, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802 or e-mail msurbrugg@joplinglobe.com.
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September 19, 2008
Mike Surbrugg: Battle with chiggers still under way
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- Southwest Center begins experiments with grape varieties A grape war of sorts has started between the University of Missouri and Missouri State University.
- Farm briefs Because more cattle herds are breeding for fall-born calves, three bull breeding soundness examinations will be held in October.
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Mike Surbrugg: Battle with chiggers still under way
A friend recently walked around a yard and went to see a tree in a pasture without first spraying. He apparently stepped on a chigger nest (yes, they have nests) and the following day counted more than 100 bites on his body.
- AP: Urban farms grow as cities seek safe, cheap food Community gardening organizers and experts nationwide say growers are bringing agriculture into cities and suburbs in new ways as people worry about the environment, rising food costs and food safety.
- Black walnut buying season opens Oct. 1 When Brian Hammons talks, the black walnut industry listens. Hammons is the third generation of his family to head Hammons Products Co., which has always been based at Stockton.
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Mike Surbrugg: Expert on lookout for Soybean Rust
Concerns from growers mounted in the aftermath of hurricanes that can carry rust spores from the south to this area. It can be stopped with a timely fungicide treatment.
- Farm: In Brief: 05/11/08
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Mike Surbrugg: Area centers field variety of questions
Happy Mother’s Day for this and every day of the year.
Questions answered at county extension centers: -
Students, schools earn FFA honors
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Brad McWilliams, of the Carl Junction FFA Chapter, was named State Star Farmer at the 80th annual FFA Convention held April 17-18 at Columbia. He is the son of Elmer and Brenda McWilliams. His FFA advisers are Kelli Nolting and Travis Wait.
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