April 24, 2009
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Preventative tobacco float bed management
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE
Raising an active family
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
4-H builds self-confidence in young people
Preventative tobacco float bed management
Sources: Bob Pearce, extension tobacco specialist
Recent widespread reports of cutworm damage in float beds are a good reminder for tobacco growers to keep a close watch on tobacco float beds and greenhouses to catch and treat small problems before they become big ones.
A few worms can do a lot of damage in a day or two on small plants. Problems can occur on plants beginning at the 2-leaf stage. On small plants, up to dime-size portions of the plant may be missing. Upon closer examination, you often find just the stub of the stem remaining and possibly a few partially consumed plants. Sometimes you may find the culprit under the partially eaten plants, but often they burrow into the soil during the day. To control cutworms, your best bet is to use products that contain acephate at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 3 gallons of water. Spray to cover the plants and the tray surfaces. You may reduce cutworm problems if you control vegetation around the perimeter of the beds and spray acephate around the perimeter of the beds to limit the worms’ entry.
During extended periods of cloudy weather and high relative humidity, growers need to watch for stem rot disease in the float system. The float system provides favorable conditions for the development of these types of diseases. Several types of fungi, and occasionally some bacteria, can cause these rots. Spraying the wrong product can result in unsatisfactory disease control and loss of additional plants. So it pays to take a tray to the local extension office and have the problem identified.
Some general recommendations for reducing rot problems in tobacco greenhouses include:
· Maintaining the fertilizer level in the recommended range of 75 to 125 parts per million nitrogren.
· Manage humidity levels by flushing the air inside the greenhouse several times a day and even during the nighttime hours.
· Maintaining the water levels such that the top of the trays are above the level of boards; this encourages improved air flow at the tray surface.
· Using good clipping practices to improve air flow and light penetration.
· Clipping only when foliage is dry and using a sharp and slow blade to remove the clipped material without grinding. Any material that falls back to the tray has the potential to spread disease to surrounding plants.
· Burying or disposing of clipped material at least 100 yards from the float bed.
You should examine your float beds at least once a day so you can catch any problems early and take appropriate measures to protect young tobacco plants.
For more information on tobacco production and management issues, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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Raising an active family
Sources: Carole Gnatuk, senior extension specialist for child development
Debbie Murray, associate director for Health Education through Extension Leadership
Most parents know children are like sponges, constantly absorbing our words and actions. By practicing healthy habits with your children, you can set them on the right course for a healthy life. One way to do this is to encourage family physical activity.
It’s not hard to be active. Simple activities, such as playing in the backyard or walking, can get family members moving and enjoying time together. Set aside a daily time to play with your children. An hour is ideal, but any amount of time you can devote would be beneficial to you and your children. Be sure to pick an activity that all or most family members enjoy doing. Change activities daily so everyone can do something they like. Creating your own ideas or games is part of the fun and will help create life-long memories.
Here are some simple ways to incorporate physical activities into family time:
· Mark off a hopscotch court on the driveway or sidewalk. Teach your children how to play and then do it together.
· Visit a farmers market. Walk and talk about the foods. Buy something to prepare at home with the children.
· Keep low-cost toys around the house that you can pick up at a moment’s notice. Flying discs, jump ropes and balls of various sizes give many choices of games to play.
· Make a kite out of items you have and go fly it. Figure out together how to make it work better if necessary.
· Plan a “wash day,” where you wash wagons, bikes, outdoor toys – and even the family dog.
· Turn up the music and dance.
· Work in a garden. Teach children how to start and take care of flowers or vegetables.
· Set limits on the amount and quality of television and video games you permit family members to watch.
· Teach your children activities you enjoyed as a child.
These are only a few ideas out of thousands of possibilities that can make your family closer and more active. Many physical activities provide an opportunity for family members to discuss their days and get to know each other better.
For more information on physical activity ideas and other healthy lifestyle choices, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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4-H builds self-confidence in young people
Source: Kenneth Jones, extension faculty
Whether it’s landing a dream job, delivering a presentation or implementing community change, self-confidence is an extremely helpful personality trait for youth desiring success. Developing self-confidence from an early age helps young people exhibit more positive behaviors and can lead to positive career and life choices. For years, 4-H has aided thousands of young people in developing self-confidence through positive youth development programming.
From speeches to gardening, 4-H offers hundreds of programs, projects and club activities that strive to build self-confidence in youth by building on their strengths and assets. With so many opportunities, young people can find an activity or program that is most suitable for their age, while also revealing newfound interests and strengths for them to explore. For instance, as 4-H’ers engage in project work, they develop a sense of accomplishment in a job well done, and they learn to overcome challenges using problem-solving skills.
4-H offers many exciting leadership opportunities that help build self-confidence. Young people often get their first taste of leadership through 4-H clubs that boost confidence by allowing them to serve as officers. During their 4-H career, young people may have opportunities to step into leadership roles on community projects, serve as a youth representative on community advisory boards, or petition local government officials about youth-related issues.
4-H also helps build self-confidence by pairing young people with caring adults in a positive environment. In 4-H, hundreds of extension personnel, adult volunteers and peer mentors are committed to providing young people with the attention and guidance required to help them achieve their goals. These relationships help young people further build self-worth, which in turn allows them to become more secure in themselves and their abilities.
For more information on getting involved in 4-H programs in your area, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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