Spring Weather Brings Out the Termites

As much as I always look forward to warmer weather, it does not come without some repercussions.  And by repercussions I mean insects.  Spring typically is when large numbers of winged termites, known as "swarmers," emerge inside homes. In nature, termites swarm to disperse and start new colonies. Triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall, the winged termites emerge from the colony and fly into the air.  

Discovering winged termites indoors almost always indicates an infestation warranting treatment. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year. They primarily feed on wood, but also damage paper, books, insulation, and even swimming pool liners and filtration systems. Termites can injure living trees and shrubs, but more often are a secondary invader of woody plants already in decline. While buildings may become infested at any time, termites are of particular importance when buying or selling a home since a termite inspection/infestation report is normally a condition of sale. Besides the monetary impact, thousands of winged termites emerging inside one's home are an emotionally trying experience — not to mention the thought of termites silently feasting on one's largest investment.

According to Mike Potter, UK Extension Entomologist, people often confuse winged termites with ants, which often swarm at the same time of year. Termites can be differentiated by their straight antennae, uniform waist and wings of equal size. (Ants have elbowed antennae, constricted waists and forewings that are longer than the hind wings.)

The swarmers are attracted to light and are often seen around windows and doors. Termite swarmers emerging from tree stumps, woodpiles, and other locations out in the yard are not necessarily cause for concern, and do not necessarily mean that the house is infested. On the other hand, if winged termites are seen emerging from the base of a foundation wall or adjoining porches and patios, there's a good chance the house is infested also and treatment may be warranted.

Other signs of infestation are earthen (mud) tubes extending over foundation walls, support piers, sill plates, floor joists, etc. The mud tubes are typically about the diameter of a pencil, but sometimes can be thicker.

Termites construct these tubes for shelter as they travel between their underground colonies and the structure. To help determine if an infestation is active, the tubes may be broken open and checked for the presence of small, creamy-white worker termites.

If a tube happens to be vacant, it does not necessarily mean that the infestation is inactive; termites often abandon sections of tube while foraging elsewhere in the structure.

Termite-damaged wood is usually hollowed out along the grain, with bits of dried mud or soil lining the feeding galleries. Wood damaged by moisture or other types of insects (e.g., carpenter ants) will not have this appearance. Occasionally termites bore tiny holes through plaster or drywall, accompanied by bits of soil around the margin. Rippled or sunken traces behind wall coverings can also be indicative of termites tunneling underneath.

Oftentimes there will be no visible indication that the home is infested. Termites are cryptic creatures and infestations can go undetected for years, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, insulation, and other obstructions. Termite feeding and damage can even progress undetected in wood that is exposed because the outer surface is usually left intact.

If you feel like your home may be infested with termites, take your time when selecting a company. Termites damage wood slowly; the amount of damage caused by taking an additional day, week, or month to make an informed decision generally is insignificant. Avoid firms that try to pressure you into signing a contract immediately with "specials" or scare tactics. The overall quality of the job depends less on the sales person than on the individual who does the work. A safe and effective treatment requires an experienced technician, not someone who was hired a few weeks ago.  Also, make sure that the company is licensed by the Department of Agriculture. Membership in the state pest control association and/or National Pest Management Association suggest the company is an established firm with access to technical and training information needed to do the job correctly. As with any service company, references are invaluable. Consider calling at least 2-3 companies. Requesting inspections and estimates from more than one will help verify the existence of a termite problem and allow you to compare services.

For more information on termite control, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Upcoming Ag Events
April 11th Ag Festival Committee Meeting, 5pm
April 13th Cover Crops Field Day at Mark Howard’s Farm, 9am
April 28th CPH Sale
April 30th Plant Swap & Sale, Myer Creek Park

Spring Lawn Care

Even though we were all wearing our winter coats to go outside this past Sunday, Spring is officially here!  I know many of us were excited to gas up the mower and shake off the dust for the first time this season last week before the cold spell hit.  Now that mowing season has finally kicked off, it is time to start thinking more about spring lawn care.  Having a well-manicured lawn will improve the aesthetics and value of your property, and it really isn’t as hard as it sounds.

Weed control plays a huge part in having a healthy lawn.  The best defense against weeds in home lawns is a healthy, dense lawn.  In thick lawns, weed seeds may not germinate because light may never reach the soil surface. A thick lawn is com¬petitive with weeds, keeping them from growing and reproducing. Developing a healthy and dense lawn comes from using cultural practices such as proper grass species and cultivar selection, proper mowing heights and fertilization, and other good management practices. The need for herbicides to control weeds in home lawns can be greatly reduced if the lawn is well maintained.

There are instances, however, when weeds escape and more aggressive con¬trol tactics are necessary. Even in well-maintained lawns, weeds can become a problem. Some weeds adapt to lawn management practices, and diseased or drought-stressed lawns can result in thin turf and create openings for weed germination. Control tactics can in¬clude herbicide applications or physical removal of the weeds. In small areas, or if the weed infestation is not severe, physical removal is the control method of choice. However, an herbicide application can provide the lawn a better chance of successfully competing with weeds.  For all weeds, herbicide treatment when the weeds are young will result in the easiest and best opportunity for control using the least amount of herbicide.

Herbicides available for use in home lawn weed control can be classified by when they are applied—either before or after weeds appear—and whether they are selective or nonselective. A pre-emergent herbicide is applied before weeds appear and controls them as the seed germinate. A common misconcep¬tion is that pre-emergent herbicides kill weeds before they germinate. Actually, pre-emergent herbicides form a residual barrier in the upper soil layer and must be applied prior to weed seed germination to be effective. When seeds germinate and young weed seedlings begin to grow near the soil surface, the seedling comes in contact with the herbicide barrier. The herbicide is then taken into the plant, and the weed dies. Lawn grasses with established root systems are unaffected by the herbicide barrier.

Selective post-emergent herbicides are applied after weeds germinate and plants are visible.  The most commonly used post-emergent, selective herbicide is 2,4-D.  These herbicides are most ef-fective when applied to young, actively growing weeds. Most pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides selectively control the undesired species without damaging the turf. Nonselective her-bicides, usually applied post-emergent, often will injure or kill all plants within the treated area, both desirable and un¬desirable ones that come in contact with the herbicide. Nonselective herbicides are typically reserved for spot treatments or total renovation of an area.


Spot treating weeds is typically per¬formed with a handheld sprayer. This method of weed control can be very ef¬fective and uses less herbicide. However, because non-selective herbicides will kill your desired lawn species as well as the weeds, the application must be carefully controlled to keep these spots as small as possible.

Some herbicides are packaged with a fertilizer as a “weed and feed” product. These products should be avoided in the spring for cool-season lawns, which are composed of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. In Kentucky it is recommended that fertil¬izer should not be applied to these lawns in the spring. Spring and summer fertil¬izer applications lead to increased lawn disease and weed infestations. The best time of year to fertilize cool-season lawns is in the fall, not with “weed and feed” in the spring and summer.

Remember that the best defense against weeds is a healthy lawn. Using good management practices may make herbicides unnecessary, but if you expe¬rience weed problems, you may choose to apply an herbicide to give your lawn a fighting chance to successfully compete with the weeds. You must identify the kind of weed you want to control so that you can choose the herbicide that will be effective in your environment and always be sure to carefully read the herbicide labels before each use.

For more information on Spring Lawn Care, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Time to Think About Spring Weather Safety

After the crazy highs and lows we have had in our weather this winter, I’m sure we are all anticipating spring and more steady temperatures.  Still, changeable weather is one of the harbingers of the season, and often it comes in the form of high winds and blustery conditions. Even though tornadoes can occur in any season, they are most common in spring, along with downbursts and windstorms.

According to UKAg Meteorologist Tom Priddy, tornadoes form thousands of feet above the earth’s surface usually during warm, humid, unsettled weather and typically in conjunction with a severe thunderstorm. Along with rain, dust and debris are sucked into the center of the air column and form the distinct funnel shape that identifies a tornado. Wind speeds, ranging from 40 to more than 300 mph, can be extremely destructive. A tornado can level a building or a farm, lift a railroad car off its tracks and strip asphalt from pavement.

Derecho windstorms and downbursts also come from thunderstorms. Derechos are rapidly moving, large-scale and long-lived wind events associated with bands of thunderstorms or showers. Winds ranging from 57 to more than 100 miles per hour can topple 18-wheelers and blow down trees. Downbursts are much smaller and are formed by high winds that funnel down to the surface from the upper levels of thunderstorms. Both can cause serious damage and can be life threatening, so even when just a thunderstorm watch or warning has been issued you should always be prepared.

Make a tornado emergency plan for home, work and the farm.  Keep a weather radio in good working condition with extra batteries and make sure you, your family and your farm employees know what precautions to take in your home, on the farm, in a vehicle, open country or other situations that may arise.

In your home, shop or any sturdy building, take shelter in the lowest level away from any windows, preferably under a sturdy object to protect yourself from falling debris.

In your car, you should attempt to drive to shelter. If this is not possible, exit the vehicle and take cover by laying down in a ditch or low-lying area with your hands over your head. If a low-lying area is not nearby or you cannot exit your vehicle, strap on your seat belt, cover your head and keep your body below window level.

In a mobile home, even if it is tied down, always evacuate and take cover in a low-lying area and cover your head.

UK Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Roy Burris suggests that special considerations for livestock producers include moving livestock to high ground in case of heavy rain and potential flash flooding. If moving livestock is not possible, open gates so they can escape high water. You should take precautions against lightning strikes by preventing animals from herding under isolated trees and moving them away from other large conductors that may attract lightning.

There will be a Disaster Preparedness Program at the Extension Office on Thursday, March 25th at 5:30pm.  For more information on this program or about severe weather preparedness, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Scouting Wheat Should Not be put on the Back Burner

With spring and consistent warmer temperatures just around the corner, winter wheat is beginning to come out of dormancy. Once winter wheat begins to start actively growing again, producers need to put an emphasis on scouting for pest and diseases.  Scouting is essential for an integrated approach to management and it helps producers make the best possible decisions about fungicide use.  Research suggest that fungicides are not needed in about two out of every five years so scouting is a must to help avoid making unnecessary fungicide applications.

One disease in particular that producers need to be scouting for is Fusarium Head Blight, also known as head scab, which is historically a devastating disease of wheat.  It caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum and causes bleached heads, salmon-orange colored spores on the glumes and shriveled grains. If contracted, wheat field can see severe yield losses and quality losses, which could include reduced test weight, damaged kernels and vomitoxin (DON).

Fusarium Head Blight typically occurs during flowering through kernel development.  Favorable conditions for head scab are when we have prolonged periods of high humidity, moderate temperatures of 75 to 85F and prolonged wet periods (all of which are not uncommon here).  In Kentucky, the Fusarium Head Blight fungus overwinters primarily in corn stubble when environmental conditions are favorable.

Mother Nature can provide the best management for Fusarium Head Blight by limiting the prolonged periods of high humidity, moderate temperatures of 75 to 85F and prolonged wet periods.  However, when she does not cooperate and we then suffer from disease pressures, chances great increase that head scab will appear.

Extension research suggest that Caramba and Prosaro are the most effective at reducing Fusarium Head Blight and vomitoxin (when compared to Proline, Folicur and non-treated) when applied at boot stage.  Strobilurin fungicides, such as Quadris and Headline, are not very effective for head scab and may actually cause DON to increase (compared to a non-treated control).

Other practices that can help reduce the risk of head scab are planting a variety with a high tolerance for FHB (which can be found in the UK Extension Variety Trial Publication), plant after soybeans and do not apply strobilurin fungicides.

Also, a great resource for determining whether or not we are at risk for Fusarium Head Blight in our area is the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center.  This can be found at www.wheatscab.psu.edu.

For more information on Fusarium Head Blight and other wheat related diseases, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.


Upcoming Programs

March 12th Small Farm & Garden Conference at Henderson Co. Extension Office
March 14th 5pm, Ag Festival Committee Meeting
March 15th 7am, Annual Fiscal Court Breakfast
March 24th 6pm, Disaster Preparedness Program
March 25th Working with the Media to Promote Agriculture Program
March 29th 4pm, Plant Swap & Sale Committee Meeting
5pm, County Extension Council Meeting
6pm, District Board Meeting
April 13th Cover Crops Field Day, Mark Howard’s Farm

Being an AGvocate

Agriculture is not without misunderstandings or misconceptions. Farmers who want to become more effective at telling their stories and agriculture’s larger story to the public can attend the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension’s How to be an AGvocate training, coordinated by County Agriculture Extension Agents Whitney Carman and Cary Hicks.

The training is from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. CDT March 25th at the Grayson County Extension Office, which is located at 123 Commerce Drive in Leitchfield.  Topics that will be discussed included: working with news outlets, utilizing social media, using your voice to advocate on a daily basis, sending the right message and more.  Jeff Nalley, from the Cromwell Radio Ag Network will be speaking, along with KY Farm Bureau Social Media Specialist Carilynn Coombs.  Program participants will also hear from KY Soybean Board Communications Director Rae Wagoner and McLean County News Editor Austin Ramsey.

To register or for more details, contact Whitney Carman at the Grayson County Cooperative Extension Office (270)259-3493 or Cary Hicks at the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office (270)273-3690.  Please register by March 23rd so that plans can be made accordingly for lunch.  Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.