Extension News: June 2010 Archives

Disease confirmed in Maine, Massachusetts

Late blight, the fungal disease that devastated commercial and backyard-garden crops of tomatoes and potatoes throughout most of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states last summer has been confirmed on tomatoes in both Maine and Massachusetts on July 19.

Monitor crops closely for signs of late blight

Extension Plant Health Specialist Cheryl Smith urges home gardeners to monitor crops diligently for signs of the disease.

She also suggests that home gardeners apply protective fungicides with the active ingredients of either chlorothalonil or copper. Biological controls, usually not as effective, include products with the trade names Serenade, Sonata, Regalia, and Oxidate. Oxidate, listed for organic production, may kill spores on contact, but it has no residual and thus is not very effective as a protectant.

Free lab diagnosis of suspected late-blight samples

"If you suspect late blight, remove some infected plant tissue (leaves, stems) and send it to the UNH Plant Diagnostic Clinic for diagnosis," says Smith. "There's no charge for late-blight diagnoses. Download the submittal formto send along with your sample, and write late blight confirmation at the top."

If the lab should confirm late blight, "Pull and destroy infected plants as soon as possible," says Smith. "Don't compost them! Any infected plants left in the garden or on the compost have the potential to infect other gardens and commercial farms."

Learn more

UNH Cooperative Extension late blight page Contains basic information, slide show of leaf infections, and more.

Photo of late blight infection by Eric Sideman

This Sunday, June 27, more than 200 teenagers (and 30 adult chaperones) from across New Hampshire will converge on the University of New Hampshire campus for four days of educational workshops, tours, and a taste of college living.

This year marks the 32nd annual 4-H Teen Conference, with a theme of "Let the Future Begin."

"A council of 14 teens chosen by their peers meets with adult mentors from August through June to plan the conference," says Deb Cheever, Merrimack County's 4-H Youth Development educator. "They plan the entire event, researching workshop possibilities and trip opportunities, tapping campus-based resources and community resource people, handle the follow-ups and confirmations, and serve as go-to people when problems arise during the conference itself."

2010 Conference offerings
This year's on-campus sessions include a visit to UNH's working sawmill, as well as workshops focusing on topics such as therapeutic dog grooming, UNH marine research, sports medicine, geocaching, fencing, jewelry-making, comedy improvisation and many more.

The conference also features trips to the UNH organic dairy in Lee, Boston's Freedom Trail and the New England Aquarium, the Dover Police Stables, and a day at the Browne Center ropes course.

Quite a menu!

"It's not really surprising the conference fills up so fast, even after 32 years" says Cheever. "In my experience, once they've been to one teen conference, they keep coming back."

Alert! Hear Malcolm Smith discuss N.H.'s new bullying law Thursday, July 1, on NHPR's The Exchange

UNH Cooperative Extension's family life and family policy specialist, Dr. Malcolm Smith, was among a small group of researchers, community leaders, educators, and program directors invited to Washington, D.C., June 21 to hear President Obama's speech on Responsible Fatherhood.

"I had Attorney General Eric Holder sitting right in front of me and most of the cabinet nearby," said Smith, "But what was most meaningful were the President's heartfelt words about fatherhood. He understands the research about the importance of fathers in young people's lives."

During the address, Obama talked about the challenges he faced growing up in a fatherless home, and about the challenges of raising two daughters while governing the nation.

"Over the course of my life, I have been an attorney, I've been a professor, I've been a state senator, I've been a U.S. senator -- and I currently am serving as President of the United States," said Obama. "But I can say without hesitation that the most challenging, most fulfilling, most important job I will have during my time on this Earth is to be Sasha and Malia's dad."

Research on family life

Smith received the invitation because of his research on family life at UNH. He also was appointed to lead a New England effort on engaged and responsible fatherhood, following an event earlier this year in Manchester, attended by Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan.

The first phase of the Obama Administration's Responsible Fatherhood program was to host six community dialogues across the nation including the one in Manchester earlier in the year. The second phase, announced by Obama yesterday, will be a request by the administration to fund fatherhood programs, parent education, and programs for incarcerated fathers.

UNH Cooperative Extension provides education programs for parents across the state

Educators in each of New Hampshire's 10 counties offer a variety of workshops for parents, relatives who serve as parents, and professionals who work with families in many different settings.

Recent researchconducted by Smith and Dr. Kristin Smith from the Carsey Institute at UNH, revealed that New Hampshire fathers are more involved in their children's lives. Smith hopes to build on that fact by launching a statewide educational campaign for fathers later in the year.

The text of President Obama's speech on fatherhood

UNH Cooperative Extension Families and Parenting pages

Photo courtesy Malcolm Smith

Exciting variety of ag-based activities during August 10-13 field trip

Agriculture is the most essential activity supporting human life and well-being, but many young people never get a chance to explore the great diversity of career choices available in food production and food-related industries.

A four-day 4-H field trip to Western New York in August will give them a chance. Participating teens will visit fruit, vegetable, dairy, and grain producers; talk to farmers; visit the Empire Days agricultural expo; meet teen producers; learn about college-degree programs focused on agricultural work, and much more. They'll also be live-blogging their experiences throughout the trip.

Why New York?
Michael Young, Rockingham County 4-H educator who organized the trip, laughs. "It's not as if we couldn't find New Hampshire farms to visit. But we consulted kids in planning this trip, and it turns out that leaving your home state for a few days feels like more of an adventure. We'll follow up with visits to local farms and visits from area farmers."

The trip is open to all youth ages 13 and older in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. The $150 cost covers transportation, food, and lodging,

Learn more, register online

Trip itinerary

Cause: Last year's weather; problem shouldn't have lasting effects

Wherever white pine grows in New Hampshire, people are seeing yellow and brown needles dropping. Homeowners and forest landowners are calling foresters in record numbers wondering what's wrong with the white pines and if they will survive. White-pine needles are supposed to turn yellow and brown and fall off, but in the fall, not in June.

Kyle Lombard, forest health specialist with the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands says, "We are seeing a couple different disease fungi causing white pine needlecast (needle drop). We started seeing a little needlecast here and there in the last few years, but this year it's epic."

The yellow and brown needles we see this year are the result of last year's weather.

Above-average precipitation in May and June of 2009 promoted fungal infections on interior needles as they were developing new shoots. The wet weather in the spring of 2008 also likely contributed to the build up of needlecast diseases.

The damage may look serious, but the trees aren't dying. Trees will look better soon, once all the injured needles fall and the new needles expand. Sullivan County Cooperative Extension forester resources educator Chuck Hersey says, "Already the trees are looking better. The wind and heavy rain this past weekend brought a lot of the yellow needles down."

Lombard agrees. "Unless we have many years of damage, there shouldn't be lasting effects on tree health," he says, but he cautions, "The tops may look thin through the rest of the year especially since last year's heavy pine-cone crop left many top branches with sparse foliage even before this needlecast outbreak."

"This year's new needles are green and generally healthy," says Cheryl Smith, plant health specialist with UNH Cooperative Extension. She echoes the positive outlook for the white pine, but says people may see more dead lower branches than usual or further weakening of trees already unhealthy from other stresses.

Will this spring's weather cause needles to drop next spring?

It depends. "This spring's weather has been generally dry as the needles developed. If the drier weather continues through June, there should be less needlecast in June, 2011,"says Lombard.

According to Smith, "The recent rainy weather may allow for some new infections, but the lack of prolonged wet weather should favor the growth of a healthy crop of new needles."

State Forester Brad Simpkins says people don't need to call with more reports of white-pine browning.

But he does encourage people to report other tree problems. "We're always on the lookout, and reports from tree owners and landowners help us detect potentially dangerous insect and disease problems."

Call the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands forest health office at 464-3016 to report other tree health problems or the UNH Cooperative Extension Info Line at 1-877-EXT-GROW for information about keeping your trees healthy.

by Karen Bennett, UNH Cooperative Extension Forestry Specialist

Photo credit: Cheryl Smith