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May 2012 Articles

Spiritual Corner
Notes from Germany
Just Rambling, May 2012
Forage Management Strategies
Agriculture and the EPA Source
Recognizing Stress in Horses
Beef Cattle Management Calendar
Red Ink causes Feedlot Placements to Decline
New sports drink hits market with Covington, LSU AgCenter roots
Wheat harvest looks good, research skewed by unusual weather
Soybean acreage goes up as farmers look for better prices
April 24 Detection of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Changed Cow Slaughter Mix
Louisiana cotton acreage goes down, mirroring nationwide trend
• Turkey gnats pose problems for birds
Agricultural land rents increase with commodity prices
Ground Beef Prices
Corn Acreage is Big News in USDA Planting Report
Withdrawal of the Overreaching Child Labor Labor Proposal
AFBF Analysis Sees Soybeans as New Market Driver
New Bill Would Preserve Clean Water Act
AFBF Backs Senate and House Bills Reforming Estate Tax
Notes from Germany
Seeking Balance
Emergency Chocolate Pie

(25 articles found)

Archives by Months

Turkey gnats pose problems for birds

Turkey gnats pose problems for birds Source: LSU AgCenter
From now until early May, a tiny black fly known as the turkey gnat can cause problems for birds, especially caged or cooped poultry.
The swarming of these gnats can disturb poultry and cause them to injure themselves or pile up on each other, which can lead to suffocation and death, according to LSU AgCenter poultry specialist Theresia Lavergne.
These gnats attack during the daytime but are not a problem in barns or enclosures, Lavergne said.
Her advice is to keep poultry and other birds in an enclosure during the daytime, such as a barn or shed. “If an enclosure is not available, put screening over their coops to keep out the gnats,” Lavergne said.
The turkey gnat develops in bayous and flooded areas, according to Lane Foil, LSU AgCenter entomologist.
“Starting around April 21, 2010, reports began to come in that gnats were attacking poultry, quail and other caged birds,” Foil said. “On approximately the same date in 2011, the black flies began to appear. This year, reports began approximately two weeks earlier.”
These gnats can cause death of poultry and other captive birds because of the toxins in their saliva, but they are more a nuisance to humans and pets, Lavergne said.
“In the spring, the adults are around for about a month and then they go away,” Foil said. “However, the females will deposit eggs that will develop next spring.”
Poultry producers may want to purchase an insecticide containing permethrin, which can be sprayed on the birds and their surroundings, Lavergne said.
Using fans to protect birds during the day is recommended in some states, Foil said.
People can protect themselves by treating hats, bandanas and other clothing with permethrin as an effective way to lower annoyance, Foil said. “There are several products available that can be found in sporting goods stores and online.”
Foil said once clothing is treated and allowed to dry for a couple of hours, they can provide effective protection for weeks even with multiple washings. Insect repellents containing DEET also can provide temporary relief.
For pet protection, products containing permethrin are available for most animals, other than cats, and are often effective depending upon application and formulation, Foil said.

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