Season five of the popular War Against Weeds podcast is well underway. In response to recent questions from farmers, the two newest episodes take a closer look at the emphasis the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is putting on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with respect to pesticide use. This 2-part series on the ESA offers good information and discussions on the potential changes and impacts the new ESA emphasis will have on pesticide users. In Part 1, the Indiana pesticide administrator, Dave Scott, discusses how the ESA’s new emphasis will affect state regulators and farmers. Part 2 is led by recently retired EPA weed scientist and biologist Bill Chism. He discusses some of the history of the ESA and what impacts the new emphasis may present.
Another new episode for 2023 features information on different weed identification mobile apps that can be useful for agricultural agents and others.
This podcast began in January 2021 and is a collaborative outreach effort from Sarah Lancaster, K-State Extension Weed Science Specialist, Mandy Bish, Extension Weed Scientist at the University of Missouri, and Joe Ikely, Extension Weed Scientist at North Dakota State.
There are currently about 90 full-length episodes available. Season five officially started in January 2023. Topics covered so far in 2023 include herbicide-resistant ryegrass, new challenges with kochia control, metribuzin use in soybeans, cover crops for weed control, weed mapping and imaging, and more!
Episodes are approximately 30 minutes long and free to access. They are posted at https://waragainstweeds.libsyn.com/in addition to being available on Spotify, iTunes, and Google Podcasts.
If you have any suggestions for future episodes, please let us know!
Several K-State Research and Extension publications related to insect management in Kansas were recently updated and are available to the public.
These publications were prepared to help producers manage insect populations with the best available methods proven practical under Kansas conditions. They are updated every year and intended for use during the current calendar year. The user should know that pesticide label directions and restrictions are subject to change, and some may have changed since the date of publication.
Full versions of each fact sheet are available online, i.e. you can type into your internet search box—alfalfa insect management, ksu and it should come up.
Alfalfa Insect Pest Management, Corn Insect Pest Management, Cotton Insect Pest Management, Sorghum Insect Pest Management, Soybean Insect Pest Management, Sunflower Insect Pest Management, and Wheat Insect Pest Management.
The economics of control should be considered in any pest management decision. Because costs vary greatly over time and are influenced by factors beyond the scope of this publication, product cost is not a consideration for including or omitting specific insecticide products in these recommendations. Growers should compare product price, safety, and availability when making treatment decisions. Growers also need to consider the impacts of insecticides on non-target organisms like pollinators and natural enemies. Rotating insecticide groups can help combat insecticide resistance issues by leveraging different modes of action. The user bears ultimate responsibility for correct pesticide use. For proper use, always read label directions carefully before applying pesticides. Remember, using a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with the label is illegal.
More information on pests covered in these publications is available at:
www.entomology.k-state.edu/extension/insect-information/crop-pests/
Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Cottonwood Extension District. Email him atscampbel@ksu.edu or call the Hays office, 785-628-9430.
