By Maggie Lawrence, Alabama Cooperative Extension System
The Cotton Scouting School is set for June 5 for anyone interested in the insects and diseases that are affecting Alabama crops. The course will be held at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the program starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends by 3:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
The course focuses on the growth, development and management aspects of agriculture. It is geared toward helping participants understand the various insects and diseases that affect crops, such as cotton and peanuts, and to teach them techniques about how to reduce these threats.
William Birdsong, an agronomic crops specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, says in regards to cotton, insects that are posing a threat to the crop include thrips, cotton bollworms and stink bugs. A disease that will be discussed is target spot, which has recently been found in many varieties.
A second crop that will be discussed is peanuts. Diseases that affect them include rot mold, early leafspot and late leafspot. Threshold numbers and when you should and shouldn’t spray peanuts to remain cost effective will also be discussed.
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