The Peru Gazette

Cornell entomologist Dr. Elson Shields and the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program have battled an invasive farm crop pest since 1989. In April 2012 they posted the definitive guide to raising and applying native nematodes (microscopic worms) to control destructive alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) online at www.nnyagdev.org <http://www.nnyagdev.org> .

More than 13 percent (500,000 acres/9 counties) of New York farmland has been infested by ASB.

ASB is flightless and all individuals are females. ASB has walked or “hitchhiked” on equipment and transport vehicles to reach new locations from Oswego to Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Wayne counties in New York state. ASB is also transported by flowing water when it balls up into groups of 30-40 individuals that float with the current. ASB is also known to exist in Ontario, Canada.

ASB can destroy entire fields of the valuable dairy and livestock crop in one growing season. ASB-related crop damage can be as much as $1,100-$1,500/acre for the complete loss of 2nd- or 3rd-year crops left untreated.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension associations of Northern New York are educating alfalfa growers across the region about the use of two species of native insect-attacking nematodes as biological control agents and how to rear these native nematodes for release in their own fields.

FFA students and farm youth were engaged in the early on-farm testing of the nematode rearing and application protocol. Farmers have easily adapted existing equipment to apply the biocontrol nematodes.

A joint project with the Cornell Alfalfa Breeding Team under the guidance of Dr. Donald R. Viands and Dr. Julie L. Hansen with the Shields’ Lab is selectively breeding ASB-resistant alfalfa varieties to work in tandem with the biocontrol nematodes to battle the beetle. At least one Cornell-bred ASB-resistant alfalfa variety is in the early stages of commercial seed production.

The Shields’ Lab and Cornell entomologist Dr. Gregory M. Loeb are now evaluating the use of nematodes to control soil pests in New York’s grape vineyards. The Shields’ Lab and Cornell apple entomologists Dr. Arthur M. Agnello and Dr. W. Harvey Reissig are investigating the use of these biocontrol nematodes to control plum curculio in organic apple production systems.

Research on the persistence of the nematodes over a several year crop rotation is continuing with support from the New York Farm Viability Institute and the Cornell University Ag Experiment Station.

MORE INFO:
·      NNYADP
The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) is a farmer-led initiative that prioritizes agricultural industry needs and issues small grants for research to develop solutions and opportunities. The program receives funding from the New York State Legislature.

·      ASB NEMATODE PROTOCOL WORKS
The use of farm-raised biocontrol nematodes is an inexpensive farmer-friendly protocol for controlling alfalfa snout beetle. The treatment combines two types of Northern New York-native nematodes that co-exist, in shallow and deeper soil respectively.

·      “The nematodes naturally recycle within the ASB host, persist in the soil, and effectively self-disperse creating the opportunity for sweeping and perpetual control across treated fields,” says Cornell Research Support Specialist Antonio Testa

·      NNYADP farmer Bernie Gohlert at Hilltop Dairy in Lowville, NY, says, “This alfalfa snout beetle protocol is easily implemented, inexpensive, and field-effective. It is the perfect payoff for the patience and funding the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program invested in finding a solution to protect a highly valuable crop.”

·      In Franklin County, Cornell Cooperative Extension Agricultural Outreach Educator Harry Fefee says, “We have alfalfa snout beetle in Franklin County, perhaps more than people realize. The farmers who have already tried the nematodes here and in Clinton County prefer to treat an entire field and say you can really see the difference in the quality of the crop.”

·      In St. Lawrence County, Cornell Cooperative Extension Agriculture Team Leader Brent Buchanan says, “We see the potential of rearing nematodes for sale by our 4-H students and local horticultural businesses. There is already interest here by a custom applicator/seed dealer in the commercial production of nematodes.”

·     HISTORY
In 1989, Cornell entomologist Elson Shields and plant breeder Donald R. Viands began work at Peck Homestead Farm in Jefferson County, NY (near Fort Drum): ASB had destroyed 70-100% of the alfalfa there year after year since 1985. John E. Peck says, “We saw 25-30 percent loss in our milk production and as much as a 25 percent increase in production costs with the added expense of replanting every year or two.” With successful nematode applications, the farm now enjoys strong alfalfa production in support of its dairy operation.

·      Cornell entomologist Elson Shields and Cornell Research Support Specialist Antonio Testa developed a special greenhouse screening method that allowed for more rapid screening of alfalfa seedlings in the search for plants containing resistance to ASB feeding. To date, more than 160,000 alfalfa seedlings have been screened for resistance, leading to the current field testing of ASB-resistant alfalfa lines in Northern New York.

·      ASB
Alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) is an invasive species believed to have arrived in the Port of Oswego on sailing ships between 1845 and 1896 when the first beetle was collected by a naturalist. That beetle is now in the Smithsonian Museum.