Insects

Insects to watch out for:

We are seeing high levels of twelve spotted
 cucumber beetles;  and Bertha army worms.

Cabbage loopers are low, variegated cut
worms are low, and corn earworms
populations are rising.

Grapes

Fall 2013:  Botrytis Bunch Rot of Grapes: To spray or not to Spray?

Jay Pscheidt, Ph.D., Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, OSU

Walt Mahaffee, Ph.D., Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS

Patty Skinkis, Ph.D., Viticulture Extension Specialist, OSU

The 2013 growing season has progressed smoothly, but these last few weeks of ripening may prove challenging with the appearance of Botrytis bunch rot in some vineyards. The rainfall since véraison has encouraged the development of this problem, and more wet weather is predicted in the coming weeks. The question arises as to the value of bunch rot sprays at this time of the year.

Fungicides will not get rid of Botrytis once it has started in a cluster. That gray fuzzy stuff you see in the cluster now will continue to be there. Also, healthy appearing clusters may have microscopic infections within the cluster on berries, caps, and other trash that you cannot see.  These infections will continue to grow even if you apply a fungicide spray. At this point, fungicides can only act to protect healthy tissue from new fungal infections. The key is making applications before rainfall.

There were wet conditions during bloom in some parts of the state, and these conditions were suitable to Botrytis, as it can colonize many of the flower parts that remain in the cluster.  The recent rains and those predicted in the forecast will activate the Botrytis in these tissues if the cluster remains wet.  To help reduce disease development, canopy management (leaf removal or hedging) can help to increase airflow and allow clusters to dry.

This is an uneasy time for many with clusters ripening and harvest just around the corner, but you may be wondering whether to spray or to just use canopy management. Sprays applied before this rain may be helpful if rainfall keeps clusters wet for an extended period of time.

The bottom line–do not spray, just wait for now! If you have been practicing leaf removal and making appropriately timed fungicide applications at bloom, bunch close, and véraison, then your grapes should be looking fine. If not, spraying now would not help control active Botrytis infections and may encourage fungicide resistance development. The forecasted heat this week should arrest bunch rot development that is currently underway.

For more information, see the 2013 Pest Management Guide for Wine Grapes in Oregon for temperature and berry wetness models for Botrytis infection (page 25).

Strange

Many people are seeing that some plants are
reblooming, seeing newer fruit and berries. 
The main reason is that we have gone thru
several warm, then cold, then warm cycles.
Thus warm is summer, then cold, is winter
and then warm again means a new year or
 new growth.

Advise

On our most recent trip to Tajikistan, all of the
volunteers had a unique weigh lost experience
while in country.  Last year one of the interpreters
had a weigh loss experience for four days. 

On the way home  my wife started dry heaving
on a 14 hour flight.  In Dulles we took a side strip
to the local hospital where we spent two and 1/2
days being rehydrated and antibiotics.  The medical
personnel kept asking us what medicines we were
taking.  They said anyone who travels needs to take
along the medicine sheet that they get when they go
to the doctors office, so bring the sheet every time
 you travel.

Weather

Weather - I've noticed that maple leaves have
been dropping quite significant;y the last month.

It may be due to less than normal water.  It may
also be a sign that fall is closer than we think it is.

Apples and pears.  Seem to be droppjng prematurely,
 the abscission layer on the apple stem was dark or mature.

Many FBclients and my own pears and apple
have started to drop early.
1 - This looks like it is environmental, part of the
 too hot and too dry periods.
2 - the abscission layer where the stem attaches
 to the branch.
3 - Commercial orchards in Oregon and Washington
don't seem to be having this problem.
4 My first guess was the weather but now after looking
at the commercial orchards, I am thinking more uniform
watering may have slowed the drop.  I know my
watering is very infrequent.

Weather - Be Aware

Atmospheric conditions are lining up just right to set off quite a show for much of the PNW between tonight and Friday afternoon. While every location has the risk, areas north of Albany into SW WA have a high probability for heavy rainfall (localized street flooding), thunder, lightning and potential for hail & gusty winds. The most severe storms are likely to form east of the Cascades, so patrons there should heed Nat'l Wx Service announcements (flash flooding/damaging winds). As the slow moving low spins northward, things will settle down from the south first.
From Chicago, -Rufus
http://www.ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm