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May 2017 Articles

Just Rambling May 2017
Spiritual Corner
Preparations for Foaling
President Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost Rural America
White House Takes Important First Step to Reining in the Antiquities Act
Administration Proposes Comprehensive Tax Reform Plan, Includes Repeal of Death
Field day features wildlife management informati
LSU AgCenter irrigation projects discussed at water symposium writer
SunPatiens named Louisiana Super Plant
• Scale insect is causing widespread wetland damage
Effects of Injectable Castration Regimen on Beef Bull Calves
AFBF’s President Duvall Joins in Historic White House Ag Roundtable
AFBF’s President Duvall Joins in Historic White House Ag Roundtable
Farm Bureau Welcomes New Ag Secretary
New Bill Would Help Get More Vets Practicing in Shortage Areas
Update on Strain Meeting
LSU takes top honors at national poultry judging contest
Agriculture official urges innovation to address food security, waste
Harvesting summer vegetables
CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR AMERICA’S FARMERS AND RANCHERS WASH
LSU AgCenter to downsize cattle herd at Hill Farm Research Station

(21 articles found)

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Scale insect is causing widespread wetland damage

Scale insect is causing widespread wetland damage Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-788-7531 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu
(04/19/17) VENICE, La – An LSU AgCenter entomologist is studying a small insect that has damaged vegetation key to the survival of Louisiana coastal marsh. Rodrigo Diaz said the insect, called the Phragmites scale, has damaged a considerable amount of roseau cane in Plaquemines Parish from Venice to the mouth of the Mississippi River. “In some areas, there was open water in March,” he said. The roots of roseau cane hold marsh soil in place, and it helps with coastal land loss. “By far, it’s one of the best plants for preventing erosion,” Diaz said. Some of the affected roseau has started regrowth, but the scales have already established colonies on the new growth, he said. The female scales cling to the stem, Diaz said. Mature females are oval, pale yellow to brown in color, and measure slightly less than a half inch long. The insects originate from China or Japan, but how they got to Louisiana is uncertain. Diaz said it has only been in the last few weeks that the scale was identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He said it’s not the first time the insect has been found in the U.S. Diaz said he has learned that some duck hunters in southwest Louisiana want to bring some of the cane infested with the scales to their marsh where roseau cane creates problems for hunting. “They should not be doing that because of potential threat to non-target consequences.” Diaz said it’s not known what other grasses could be attacked by this scale. If relocated with cane, the insect could move to sugarcane, rice and grain sorghum, also grown in southwest Louisiana. Also, the scale potentially feed on native grasses essential for the marsh to thrive. Diaz said that Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl have shared his concerns about bringing scale-infested cane to other parts of the state. He said he will talk about the problem with entomologists Blake Wilson and Jim Cronin in a webinar on April 27 with other governmental agencies. “The objectives of the webinar will be to describe the problem, present current knowledge on the biology and ecology of the scale, and propose short and long term management options.” Diaz said it’s unlikely that the insect alone can be blamed for the die-off of cane. He said high levels of salinity in the water and subsidence of the coastal area could have also contributed to the problem. “It probably contributed to making this problem worse.” Diaz and collaborators will establish a monitoring program and study ways of controlling the insect. Chemical control has been suggested, but most insecticides would harm aquatic life in the marsh, he said. In China, control with fire has been effective, he said, but using that method in Plaquemines Parish will be a challenge because of the large number of petroleum wells and pipelines in the area. Diaz said a parasitic wasp preys on the scales, but it is not known if it is effective on a widespread basis. “We definitely need to think carefully about the best approaches.”

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