Cornell Cooperative Extension Community Horticulture

From: “PSU Ag Sci News” <psuagscinews@psu.edu>

=======================================================

Penn State Ag Sciences News 6.21.2007

=======================================================

A printable info graphic to illustrate this story is available for downloading at http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/may03/mosquito.pdf

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Although West Nile virus made headlines in mid-June by showing up in mosquito samples taken in Blair County – the earliest it has shown up Pennsylvania in any of the last five summers - the disease has not been nearly as bad here as health officials feared, according to an entomologist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural
Sciences.
West Nile virus, which can cause a potentially fatal form of encephalitis — is an invasive species that found its way to North America from Africa. The disease, which first showed up in the United States in 1999 in New York, is carried by birds and spread by mosquitoes. It now has been found in nearly every county in Pennsylvania.
The 2002 West Nile virus outbreak in North America was the largest encephalitic disease epidemic ever documented in the Western Hemisphere, and it was the largest West Nile virus outbreak ever documented, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. But outbreaks since have not been so severe.
“Although scientists have been surprised at how rapidly it has disbursed here, the outbreaks have not been nearly as disastrous as some predicted,” says extension entomologist Steve Jacobs. “In Pennsylvania, the first cases of West Nile encephalitis were detected in 2001 (there were three cases). In 2003 the number of new human cases had risen to 237, but by 2006 the numbers had dropped to just nine human cases.”
It’s a good thing that the disease has not been worse in the United States because there isn’t much that can be done to isolate it, Jacobs laments. “There is very little we can do to stop something like this,” he says. “All we can do — once the virus is spread throughout the state or the country — is to educate the public to wear insect repellents and recognize the disease so they can seek treatment. But in terms of general health risks to the public, West Nile is well down the list. I think many people believe the risks of dying from West Nile are much higher than they are.”
Ordinarily, mosquitoes are little more than a mild irritant, Jacobs notes. But because they can transmit diseases to humans and pets – such as West Nile encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis and canine heartworm — people should take steps to avoid being bitten and to eliminate mosquito-breeding areas.
Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Only female mosquitoes bite, according to Jacobs. “In most cases, the female must have a blood meal before laying eggs,” he says. “The females’ persistent search for blood brings them into houses and yards, where they may become annoying pests.”
Many mosquito problems can be traced to containers of water around the yard, such as children’s toys, pots and cans, tire swings, animal tracks and clogged rain gutters. Neighborhood breeding areas can include construction sites, trash dumps and cemetery urns or planters. Most mosquitoes remain within a half-mile of where they hatch, but some can fly miles.
During warm weather, mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that stands for more than four days. “The most effective way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate standing water,” says Jacobs. He advises homeowners to:
–Remove old tires, tin cans, buckets, glass jars, toys and other water-catching objects.
–Tightly cover rain barrels to prevent egg-laying.
–Change water in bird baths by flushing with a hose at least once a week.
–Fill tree holes with sand or cement or drill holes to allow drainage.
–Keep rain gutters clean and free of obstructions.
–Drain excess water from flower pots.
–Keep swimming pools covered when not in use.
–Turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
–Empty accumulated water from boats and cargo trailers.
–Clear aquatic vegetation from around the edges of ponds to allow fish to feed on mosquito larvae and pupae.

When going outdoors for an extended period of time, insect repellents can provide protection from mosquito bites. “Repellents can protect for up to five hours,” says Jacobs. “But because people vary in their attractiveness to mosquitoes, the effectiveness of the repellent may depend on the individual.”
Before using a repellent or insecticide, be sure you thoroughly read and understand all directions and cautions on the product label, Jacobs warns.
For a free fact sheet on mosquitoes, contact the nearest county office of Penn State Cooperative Extension, or visit the Web at http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/mosquitoes.htm.

###

EDITORS: Contact Steve Jacobs at (814) 863-3963 or by e-mail at sbj2@psu.edu.

Jeff Mulhollem

Writer/Editor
(814) 863-2719
jjm29@psu.edu

While orange cauliflower may seem unappealing to some, it has distinct nutritional advantages. Now, Cornell researchers have identified the genetic mutation behind the unusual hue. The finding may lead to more nutritious staple crops, including maize, potato, rice, sorghum and wheat.

Read the full article in the CALS newsroom:

http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/public/comm/news/orange-cauliflower.cfm

Check out this sample of a new E-mail Gardening Newsletter from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer, Albany, Schenectady.

Draft sample (pdf)

To learn more about their transition form paper to electronic format contact David Chinery
at dhc3@cornell.edu.

Keep an eye out for a mail tube coming to your county. It contains a couple of beautiful gardening-oriented posters. One about the our Vegetable varieties for gardeners project and another about youth Garden-based learning efforts.

Vegetable poster (PDF)

GBL poster (pdf).

We saved on time and cost by combining our shipment into one mailing tube per county. It will arrive next week addressed to the community horticulture contact in your county. We hope you will share the posters with others interested in your county including 4-H youth development.

If you are interested in a poster version of the gardening benefits flier (pdf) which is also in the tube let me know (ljb7).

Hope these are useful for your office, county fairs, and other community displays!

Lori

Thank you volunteers and volunteer program coordinators for a terrific 2006!

The full 2006 MGV report is available at: www.gardening.cornell.edu/education/mgprogram/

In 2006, over 2,200 active Master Gardener Volunteers (MGV) spend more than 102,000 hours working to bring gardening success to New York State citizens and communities. That volunteer time is equal to 56 FTEs (full time equivalents) and is estimated to be worth more than $1.8 million to the outreach effort of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE).

Through their service MGV helped CCE make more than 156,000 direct citizen contacts. That averages out to 70 direct citizen contacts per MGV.

Thank you for your support in helping Master Garden Volunteers continue their success in NYS communities.

Sincerely,

Lori Bushway

State Leader of CCE MGV program

Part I of Bulletin 74, Cultural Guidelines can now be accessed electronically, Go to
http://ipmguidelines.org/ choose (click on) Pests Around the Home.
And you will see both Part I Cultural Guidelines, and Part II Pesticide Guidelines, (2005-06 version, the latest available as we await the new Northeast Guidelines).
Special thanks to PMEP staff who worked with me to put the Cultural Guidelines (Part I) on line, since there are no more print copies available.

Carolyn Klass 6/13/07

Try Cornell’s DropBox: https://dropbox.sas.cornell.edu

This is especially helpful for sending your large powerpoint presentation to workshop organizers or sending photos.

Here are excerpts from their FAQ (frequently asked questions) page

What is the DropBox?

The DropBox is a secure method for transferring files. Files are encrypted during transport over SSL (https://) using strong encryption only.

Who can use the DropBox?
Any person or persons with an active Cornell NetID.

Where can I use DropBox?
Anywhere there is a computer with an Internet connection and web browser.

How do I use DropBox?

• Go to https://dropbox.sas.cornell.edu
• Login using your NetID & Password via either SideCar or CUWebLogin
• Click on the ‘Prepare Upload’ icon.
• Type in the NetID or name of the person you want to send to. Press enter or Add
• You may send to more than one person. Just keep adding NetIDs or names.
• Set how many files you wish to upload.
• Browse for the file(s) on your system.
• Set the number of days until the files are expired (deleted automatically from the server).
• Hit the ‘Send’ button and the file will be securely uploaded to the DropBox.

What happens next?
The people that you send files to will receive an email message with information about the files and a link to download them. They then go to the DropBox, log on and download their files, securely!

What if I have a question?
For a thorough manual on using DropBox, see DropBoxUserManual.pdf prepared by Campus Life.

Check the Help button on the DropBox main page. If you still have questions, please submit them at https://tech.sas.cornell.edu

If you want to start a food garden with your students but don’t have the space in your schoolyard for a traditional vegetable plot or fruit orchard, try your hands at edible landscaping: designing with plants that can do double duty as ornamentals and crops.

In this article the National Gardening Association highlights the basics of edible landscaping, and offers a couple of related lessons to whet your students’ appetites for designing with healthy eating and aesthetics in mind.

Full article at this link.

Tell us what you think about this new project from the National Wildlife Federation?

http://www.nwf.org/gardenersguide/

We held a program work team gathering on campus at the end of April.

Here are the minutes (pdf).

Our gatherings are open to all CCE county and campus staff and stakeholders.

We will not meet again until winter 2008 as we have these events coming up where we will have opportunities to connect:

July 18th to 19th
New York State Master Gardener Volunteer Conference

July 26th Conference call at 9am to get feedback on the conference.

September 20th and 21st

Community horticutre and garden-based learning in-service: Why Don’t They Get It: Telling the Extension Garden Story

October 23rd and 24th

Lawn-care in-service. Collectively CCE receives 5 to 10 thousand lawn question every year. Get the skills and knowledge you need to help your community have great lawns and be environmental stewards.