Peanut - Cotton Infonet - Frost Advisory link

http://www.ipm.vt.edu/infonet

THE PRIDE DOG FOOD

THE PRIDE DOG FOOD

NC Move Over Law

NC Move Over Law

North Carolina’s Move-over Law Now Extends to Boating

Families For Roadside Safety:

EPA Requires Safety Measures for Rodent-Control Products to Protect Children and Wildlife

Pesticide Broadcast (Newsletter) http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/Broadcasts/broadcast06-11-08.html
jtk sent this using ShareThis.

Rapid fire-ant sting desensitization OK in kids | Health | Reuters

Rapid fire-ant sting desensitization OK in kids | Health | Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE48S79W20080929?pag...
jtk sent this using ShareThis.

Links to Some of My Favorite Software

Fire Ant Biology: Colony

Fire Ant Biology: ColonyFire Ant Circle

from: http://www.aces.edu/dept/fireants/

Great resourses for Fire Ant info!!

Click on these links for lists and explanations of the different methods and products available for fire ant control.

Fire Ant Insecticides for use in Urban Areas

2008 Fire Ant Control Materials for Alabama Homeowners

Fire Ant Control Made Easy Videos

Seed Species Profiles > Buckmasters > Pennington Food Plots

Seed Species Profiles > Buckmasters > Pennington Food Plots: Seed Species Profiles

COOL SEASON

Austrian Winter Peas
Type: Cool season annual legume
Uses: Austrian winter peas will make a great food plot or addition to a mixture planted in the fall to attract deer. Highly favored by whitetails, these fast growing peas will attract deer to a plot soon after germination, making them a preferred choice for bow hunters.
Planting Information:
Date: September-November
Rate: 50 pounds/acre or 1 1/4 pounds/1,000 sq.ft.
Depth: 1/2"

Birdsfoot Trefoil
Type: Perennial legume
Uses: Birdsfoot Trefoil will make great forage for deer, turkey and other wildlife in harsh conditions. It is very tolerant of poorly drained, lowland or acidic soils. It is drought resistant and salt tolerant but not adapted to the Deep South. Trefoil is very slow to establish, but once established it is persistent and resistant to browsing.
Planting Information:
Date: August-October and February-April
Rate: 10 pounds/acre or 1/4 pound/1,000 sq. ft.
Depth: 1/4"

Sweet Blue Lupine
Type: Cool season annual legume
Uses: Blue Lupine has become a favored planting by many wildlife enthusiasts wanting to attract deer, turkey, quail and other game. It produces excellent high quality deer feed in the fall and spring months. Lupine produces a beautiful blue spike-like bloom and also makes excellent seed production for game birds.
Planting:
Date: North: April-May
South: September-October and March-April
Rate: 100 pounds/acre or 2 1/2 pounds/1,000 sq. ft.
Depth: 1" maximum

Arrowleaf Clover
Type: Cool season reseeding annual legume
Uses: Arrowleaf clover is a very high yielding and high quality reseeding clover. The hollow stemmed plants have large blooms that are pink, white and purple in color. It is late maturing and will usually be productive into late July. It will tolerate low pH and sandy soils. This heavy reseeder makes a great plot for deer and turkey.
Planting Information:
Date: September-October
Rate: 8 pounds/acre or 3 ounces/1,000 sq.ft.
Depth: 1/4" maximum

Alfalfa
Type: Cool season perennial legume
Uses: Alfalfa makes an excellent quality forage for deer, turkey and rabbits. High in protein and with tremendous yields on good, well-drained soil, Alfalfa provides nutrition during fall, spring and summer.
Planting Information:
Date: September-October and March-May
Rate: 20 pounds/acre or 1/2 pound/1,000 sq.ft.
Depth: 1/8" maximum

Crimson Clover
Type: Cool season reseeding annual legume
Uses: Crimson clover, by far, is the most widely used annual clover for feeding and attracting deer, turkey, rabbits and other game species to food plot areas. It is a widely adapted plant that tolerates different soil types and low pH soils. It is an excellent and dependable re-seeding clover that is early maturing. Crimson works well in mixtures with small grains or later maturing clover such as white and red.
Planting Information:
Date: September-October
Rate: 20 pounds/acre or 1/2 pound/1,000 sq. ft.
Depth: 1/4"

Hairy Vetch
Type: Cool season reseeding annual legume
Uses: Hairy vetch makes an excellent addition to fall planted deer mixtures. Its spring forage production is very palatable to deer and turkeys and it makes an excellent seed crop for quail and turkey.
Planting Information:
Date: September-October
Rate: 20 pounds/acre or 1/2 pound/1,000 sq. ft.
Depth: 1/2" maximum

Red Clover
Type: Cool season perennial legume
Uses: Red clover is a winter-hardy legume that is excellent for deer and turkey food plots. It is a highly productive, late maturing clover growing from 18 to 30 inches tall during early to mid summer. It is very high yielding but usually only lasts about two years before needing to be replanted.
Planting Information:
Date: September-October and February-April
Rate: 15 pounds/acre or 6 ounces/1,000 sq. ft.
Depth: 1/4" maximum

Subterranean Clover
Type: Cool season annual legume
Uses: Subterranean clover is a very low growing, shade-tolerant clover that will tolerate acidic soil conditions.
Planting Information:
Date: September-October
Rate: 20 pounds/acre or 1/2 pound/1,000 sq. ft.
Depth: 1/4"

White Ladino Clover
Type: Cool season perennial legume
Uses: Ladino clovers grow best when planted with small grains such as wheat, oats or rye. They can be overgrazed by deer in the young seedling stage and the grains can help take the early grazing pressure off the clover. Ladino clovers are very high yielding and high quality providing excellent protein for fall, spring and early summer. Ladino clover will generally last for 3 to 5 years as a perennial. Ladino clover makes an excellent food plot for deer and turkey as well as produce insects for quail chicks and turkey poults. Use on clay or loam soils or bottom land for best results.
Planting Information:
Date: North: August 15-October 1
Frost seeding: January-February, March-May
South: September-December
Rate: 8 pounds/acre or 3 ounces/1,000 sq.ft.
Depth: 1/4" maximum

Wintergrazer 70 Rye
Type: Cool season annual grain
Uses: Wintergrazer is well adapted throughout many parts of the U.S. It is excellent in combination with clover as a nurse crop because of its early maturity and ability to maintain its upright growth. It does not mat down and smother the clover that is getting established underneath it. It can reach a height of 4 to 5 feet tall and is very fast to establish, producing deer feed in as little as 14 days in ideal conditions. Wintergrazer rye grain is preferred by deer and is the most cold tolerant of all the cereal grains. Wintergrazer 70 is a rye grain and should not be confused with ryegrass.
Planting Information:
Date: September-November
Rate: 100 pounds/acre or 2 1/2 pounds/1,000 sq.ft.
Depth: 1/2"

NCSU TurfFiles CENTERE- Turfgrass Information for North Carolina

Everything you ever wanted to now about grass in North Carolina!

TurfFiles - Turfgrass Information for North Carolina: "TurfFiles"

NCSU: ENT/for-05 Fire Ants in Horse Operations

NCSU: ENT/for-05 Fire Ants in Horse Operations

This explains what to use and how to use baits for control of Fire Ants in Pasture.

here is an excerpt:

Special Tips for Using Baits ! Do's and Don'ts ( Most bait failures are attributed to application error. )
Check for ant activity using potato chip test first.
Do not apply if ground is wet or rain occurs within 36 hours.
Do not store open product for longer than package allows. Some baits have a short shelf life and are not attractive when carrier is stale.
Do not store baits near other pesticides or fuels from which they may absorb odors and taste.
Do not apply baits directly on mounds, fire ants do not come and go from the top of the mound.
Do not disturb mounds when using baits so as not to interfere with normal foraging patterns, no matter how much fun it is.
Do not apply within ten days of applying a direct poison as there will be limited or no foraging.
Reapply as suggested by the label. This is not a permanent solution.

Need to ID a bug? Try this site........

BugGuide.Net

Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

"Fire ant reports up since Hanna " from Daily Advance - News

Tropical Storm Hanna apparently unleashed more than heavy rains and strong winds during its passage ...

"Schools spray play areas" from Daily Advance - News

Neighborhood lawns aren't the only places infested with red fire ants. Mounds of the painfully bitin...

Your Total Comfort Hunting Blind - Elevators - "Your Easy Way Up"

Shadow Hunter - Your Total Comfort Hunting Blind - Elevators - "Your Easy Way Up"

Elevators LLC - Your Easy Way Up


Soon to be available @ G. P. Kittrell & Son, Inc.!!!!!!

Food Plot Articles from Pennington

Click in the picture for a wealth of food lot info !

40-10 Forage Pea

40-10: "> Peas > 40-10

Printer friendly
40-10

Forage Pea
Description

* small seed size
* slightly longer vine length than Trapper or Grande

Performance

* high relative feed value
* high forage yields (20% more than Trapper)
* late maturity
* seed with cereal to provide best combination of volume and feed value

Adaptation

* adapted to pea producing area of Western Canada

Advantage

* For the producer who desires a high nutrient, high yielding forage. It is especially effective when used in conjunction with annual forage cereals."

BUCKMASTERS | Deer Just Can't Resist!

	BUCKMASTERS ULTIMATE
FAQs Q:	What clover is recommended for Deer and Turkey?
A:	Under extreme grazing pressure and adverse climate conditions, Pennington Durana has proven to be more persistent than ladino-type clover. Durana is an intermediate type clover that is tolerant of deer pressure and produces more seed and smaller leaves for turkey. Since it is a perennial, Durana will last for several years and will provide a highly digestible, high protein food plot for deer, turkey and many other types of wildlife.
Q:	Do food plots need to be fertilized?
A:	Absolutely. All growing things need nutrition and food plots are no exception. Without fertilizer, food plots will not produce food or protein at their full potential. Specially formulated for wildlife food plots, Pennington's Wild Game Fertilizer is a 15-5-10 analysis that has 50% slow release nitrogen, which means it will feed your food plots for up to 100 days. This product also contains palletized lime, which aids in neutralizing the acidic soil found in woodland soils where food plots are grown.
Q:	How important are minerals to a deer's diet?
A:	Extremely important. Just as humans need minerals in their diets, deer need them to stay healthy and productive. Minerals provide many benefits to deer, including: increased conception rates in does, delivery of more fawn, distribution of calcium and phosphorous for antler production and increased overall health of the entire deer heard. Pennington's Rackmaster brand of deer mineral offers the required 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorous and is an all natural, soil colored formula that is easy to use when making mineral licks.
Q:	How essential is soil pH in the development of a food plot?
A:	Soil pH has everything to do with the establishment of healthy plants and directly relates to the plant's ability to absorb soil nutrients, which are necessary for plant survival and health. A pH of 5.0 is considered acidic and may cause as much as 50% waste of fertilizer. Using lime will raise the soil pH, making the soil less acidic and root systems more robust. Most plants perform well in soil with a pH of 6.5.
Q:	How can I control seed depth when I'm planting my food plots?
A:	There are various methods of controlling seed depth, depending on the way you apply seed and prepare your soil. If you are tilling, this is what Pennington recommends: Always cultipack or drag the area smooth and firm before planting seed. Soil tillage incorporates air into the soil and makes it very fluffy and soft, which allows seed to settle deeper than their planted depth. Firming the soil before planting will eliminate seed movement in the soil after planting, which is especially important when planting small seed such as clover.
Q:	How do I continue to provide supplemental food plots for my wildlife during planting season?
A:	Most wildlife enthusiasts completely destroy their food plots in order to plant a new one each season. Pennington does not recommend this method, as it removes the food source from the animals until new seedlings emerge and causes excess pressure on the new seedlings. Our recommendation is to strip plant* your food plots or to incorporate some permanent food plots and some annual plots, so that your animals have a constant food supply. *A strip planting example: If you have a two acre food plot, disk and plant everything but ½ acre. Once your new plants are growing well, plant the last ½ acre
Q:	How much area should I plant for wildlife?
A:	This is dependent upon several factors: deer density, natural habitat, neighboring properties and your personal goals as a property owner. Pennington offers this general advice: With a low deer density, plant a minimum of 2.5% of your total property in food plots. For a high deer density, you should plant at least 7% of your property. For example, if you have a 100 acre track with low deer density, then you will need approximately 2.5 acres of food plots. This same acreage with a high deer density would require approximately 7 acres of food plots.
Q:	How will I know if deer and other wildlife are utilizing my food plots?
A:	Pennington recommends this simple wire cage solution: Construct a tomato-type cage out of strong, heavy gauge wire so that all animals will stay out of this specific area of the plot. The cage should contain a two by two surface area. This structure will allow growth factors (sunlight, rain, fertilizer) to enter, but will keep out grazing pressure from animals. As your plots grow and the deer and other wildlife graze, the plants inside the cage will grow considerably taller than the area outside the cage. This will indicate that animals like the food source. (insert CalculatingFoodPlotSize.jpg)
Q:	Are all wildlife seed mixtures basically the same?
A:	No! The mixtures available on the market today are widely varied. From short term to long term mixtures, perennial to annual and high protein to low protein, wildlife seed mixtures are as different as the animals that will enjoy them. Here are some tips to help you make a decision for your individual needs: Chose a mix that will work well in the planted area. Take into consideration soil type and moisture, zone of the country in which you reside and your climate. Decide when you want the mixture to provide supplemental feed for your wildlife. Decide how often you want to plant the mixture. Determine whether you will need a high protein mix or one that will feed a large number of animals. Evaluate your property: Do you have full sun or partial shade? Determine planting area and the season in which you want to plant. Set your budget. Evaluate soil pH requirements and nutrient requirements for the seed mixture. Determine quantity of mixture needed to plant the total habitat. There are so many considerations and decisions to make about the seed mixture that is right for you. Pennington can make your life easier and help take the stress out of your decision. The Rackmaster product line from Pennington is regionally developed to offer you choices that will satisfy your needs and provide the highest quality food source for your wildlife. Pennington is here to help. Many answers to your questions are provided on this extensive website (please utilize the search function to easily find what you're looking for). But, if you can't find an answer here, simply call our hotline at 1-800-285-SEED. You'll speak directly with a seed expert who will help you evaluate your choices and provide seed advice. TIPS Wild Game Tips for Winter Springtime Wildlife Food Plot Tips Summer Tips GUIDES Wildlife Pocket Planner Introduction to Planting Food Plots Planting Method for Wildlife Products Successful Wildlife Food Plot Sold at G. P. Kittrell & Son, Inc.

Fire Ants !!!!!!! Invading Gates County!!!!!

We found Fire Ants at the house in the spring of last year and soon afterward we were inundated with them at the Sunbury VFD SubStation here in Corapeake. I have spent a lot of time searching the Internet , talking to people, and treating myself to find the best options for dealing with these little devils. I am looking at practicality, cost, availability, safety, and of course effectiveness.

My favorite product is Extinguish Plus. This is a mound treatment granular bait. It combines the slow acting insecticide found in the proven Amdro with the effective IGR (insect growth regulator) found in Extinguish. It in just a few days and gives good control. There are other baits like Amdro and Over n' Out Mound Treatment that work well also. Baits allow time for the workers to bring the bait down underground to the others, especially the queen. It is important to put the bait out when the workers are feeding and with no rain in forecast for the day. The best time to apply is in the morning when the dew is dry. Another effective method of application is to broadcast 1 to 2 lbs. (depending on the product) of bait per acre. The negative to broadcasting is mechanics of applying such a small amount per area. Baits come in 1#, 1.5#, 2#, 4.5# and larger size containers. Most of the smaller containers have a shaker cap on them.

If you have to kill a mound quick, then a drench will work. The best time to apply a drench is early or late, when the colony is not feeding, so most are in the mound. These will kill the ants in 24 hours, but the negative is you have to mix the chemicals in water (1 gal per mound) and more care must be taken for safety. Also, they may not kill the whole colony. Orthene and Cyonara are two of these chemicals that work well and are inexpensive.

The Cadillac treatment is a broadcast contact killer with soil residual. These can keep Fire Ants at bay for up to a year. The negative to these are the cost. One such product available to homeowners is Over n' Out Granules. One 20# bag covers 10,000 sq ft. A typical acre house lot would take 4 bags. Bifen Lawn & Perimeter is also effective.

We carry all the products mentioned here and will add more if we find some that are more effective or are a better value. Call us if you have any questions. 465-8929


JMHO

JTK


Fire ant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Biology, Control, and Management of Imported Fire Ants in North America at www.eXtension.org

Red Imported Fire Ant In North Carolina

Fire Ant Management in Pasture

Alabama Fire Ant Management Program

Alabama Cooperative Extension - Fire Ant Resources

LSU Red Imported Fire Ant Research

Texas Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project

USDA Areawide Fie Ant Suppression

Fire Ants in Virginia

Joint Injections and Cartilage Health: More Fuel for the Fire

Joint Injections and Cartilage Health: More Fuel for the Fire

by: Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
September 03 2008, Article # 12624

The potential impact of intra-articular medications on the health of cartilage in joints has been debated for decades. Adding fuel to the fire is the recent finding that two common joint medications not only support cartilage cells, they also might help to protect cartilage from being damaged by some other substances sometimes used within the joint.

The researchers found that both triamcinolone and hyaluronic acid supported cartilage cells and protected cartilage from the toxic effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; an endotoxin, which is a pro-inflammatory agent), amikacin, and/or the local anaesthetic mepivicaine.

View the Full article @ http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12624#

What can you catch from your horse?

Horse Diseases and Humans

by: Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPM
September 01 2008, Article # 12079

What can you catch from your horse?

If you work around horses long enough, you'll be handling ones that have lameness, diarrhea, abortions, skin diseases, and even neurologic signs. Our first concern is generally for the horse's well-being, and the last for our own health, since, after all, who gets sick from a horse?

Zoonotic diseases are those that are transmissible between animals and people. This article is going to address only selected diseases that humans can obtain from horses by direct or indirect contact.

Read this article at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12079

Food Plot Articles

Update: Pennington changed their site!! The links no longer work & the new site is pretty lame. Hopefully they will fix it. You might try to google the titles to find other copies.

JTK



Pennington Seed

All Clovers Are Good! By Kent Kammermeyer

Alyceclover (Alysicarpus vaginalis) By Kent Kammermeyer

An Effective and Economical Method of Killing Fescue and Other Weeds in Food Plots By Kent Kammermeyer

Arrowleaf Clover (Trifolium vesiculosum) By Kent Kammermeyer

Austrian Winter Pea (Pisum sativus) By Kent Kammermeyer

Browse Exclosures Necessary for Your Food Plots By Kent Kammermeyer

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) By Kent Kammermeyer

Choose Your Wildlife Seed Carefully and Wisely! By Kent Kammermeyer

Crimson Clover By Kent Kammermeyer

Fertilization of Existing Plants for Deer/Turkeys by Kent Kammermeyer, Senior Wildlife Biologist

Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) For Deer? by Kent Kammermeyer, Senior Wildlife Biologist

Food Plots Need Attention Now By Gerald Almy

FORAGE CHICORY (Cichorium intybus) By Kent Kammermeyer

How Much and Where to Plant For Deer & Turkeys by Kent Kammermeyer, Senior Wildlife Biologist

Know Your Soil pH and Fix It With Dolomitic Lime By: Kent Kammermeyer - Senior Wildlife Biologist

Lablab (Lablab purpureus) By Kent Kammermeyer

Ladino Clover (Trifolium repens) By Kent Kammermeyer

Late Winter A Good Time to Add Clover to Food Plots By Wayne Tankersley

Oats (Avena sativa) By Kent Kammermeyer

PATRIOT WHITE CLOVER (Trifolium repens) By Kent Kammermeyer

Patriot White Clover, Powerful and Persistent By Kent Kammermeyer

Rye (Secale cereale) By Kent Kammermeyer

Salt Tastes Good, but Does It Benefit You or Your Deer Herd? By Kent Kammermeyer

Successful Food Plots Begin With A Soil Test By Wayne Tankersley

The Whole Truth About Durana White Clover By Kent Kammermeyer

Top Ten Cream of The Crop Food Plot Plants...North and South By Kent Kammermeyer

What Your Mama Never Told You About Brassicas! By Kent Kammermeyer

Why Do (Almost All) Deer Hunters Need Food Plots to Achieve Their Goals? By Kent Kammermeyer

Winning the Weed War! By Kent Kammermeyer

Powered by ScribeFire.

Fine Tuning a Sprayer with "Ounce" Calibration

Fine Tuning a Sprayer with "Ounce" Calibration Method


We are asked all the time "How much do of this stuff do I put to the gallon of water?". The answer is #1 Read the Label, #2 Calibrate you sprayer, # 3 Read the Label

This is a good paper by Va Tech on sprayer calibration

JTK

Salt Tastes Good, but Does It Benefit You or Your Deer Herd?

Pennington Seed

Salt Tastes Good, but Does It Benefit You or Your Deer Herd?
By Kent Kammermeyer
Among deer hunters and biologists, there exists a condition of virtual uniform agreement that deer are attracted by salt and use it heavily in certain locations at certain times of the year. However, with any further in-depth discussion of salt, this agreement ends. There is little agreement among biologists because there is little research to prove why deer use salt or how much they need, or which elements found in salt or minerals are most important for deer for antler growth or reproduction. No wonder! It's a complex question involving soil fertility and composition, deer physiology and nutrition and minimum daily requirements necessary for optimum growth and antler development. It's like settling the controversy of whether butter or margarine is better for you. What about saccharin or nutra-sweet? How much vitamin B12 do you need every day? Millions of dollars each year are spent on these basic important human nutrition questions and the answers still are not forthcoming. Taste preference is another complicating factor. Do bass prefer minnows, crawfish, or worms? What about exotic colors (motor oil, pumpkin, grape)? Obviously, the deer-salt relationship is even more complex than this and needs some serious, expensive research in the future. In the meantime, let me update you on the latest information available on salt and it's trace components, what your deer probably needs for antler development, and how to apply salt to your best possible advantage to benefit both your deer herd and hunting strategies.

For starters, most soils are lacking in Sodium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Cobalt, Selenium, and many other essential elements that are contained in trace mineral salt and have shown to be important to deer. Deer are definitely attracted to both sodium chloride (NaCl-table salt) and calcium chloride (CaCl-rock salt) licks. Scientists think that both sodium and calcium are necessary elements for many bodily functions of maintenance and growth, and deer (somehow realizing this) seek out sources of these elements lacking in the soil. Deer needs do not end here, however. Studies in Pennsylvania and Mississippi have shown definite dietary needs for Calcium and Phosphorus and that these elements are most valuable to deer in a 2:1 ratio in their diet. By the way, antlers are composed of 20% Calcium and 10% Phosphorus, just like other bones in the deer's body. For this reason, several biologists and researchers have recommended a concentration of 16% Calcium (CA) and 8% Phosphorus (P) in any salt which is put out for deer. This is one of the highest concentrations currently available in commercial salt mixes and is sufficient to provide deer the elements necessary for antler growth and other functions. Pennington’s Rackmaster Deer Minerals (25 lb bag) has 16:8 CA:P and 45% salt (NaCl). When asked to provide these high concentrations in block form, dealers and manufacturers of salt say that they cannot provide high concentrations of the two elements in block form but they can provide them in loose granular form packed in bags. First recommendation: Don't buy salt blocks. Your money is better spent on loose salt formulations with high percentages of Calcium (16%) and Phosphorus (8%). Total Sodium Chloride in these bags should run between 30% and 50% with various trace percentages of Zinc, Magnesium, Manganese, Sulfur, Copper, Iodine, Cobalt, and Selenium. This bag salt is available from several sources and brand names including Pennington Seed Company (see above). It varies widely in price ranging from $6 to over $20 per 25 lbs of the mixture. Pennington’s mix is $7.50/bag. Price can often be a function of how pretty or ugly the package is - remember that deer won't eat the package anyway. What else? Deer apparently need and use salt the most in spring and summer when vegetation is lush, bucks are growing antlers and does are carrying or raising fawns. Peak months of usage for salt appear to be the months of April, May and June. After June, usage tapers off gradually through the summer until finally stopping completely sometime in the fall. Deer usage of salt, basically conforms to the growing season for native vegetation, again hinting that elements contained in salt are missing from the native vegetative diets of deer and the deer are seeking these out from the salt.

For the greatest benefit of your deer herd and antler growth, your salt should be applied in March so that it is fresh and available to deer when they seek it the most - especially during new antler growth. Another reason for application of salt in March has been supplied by Georgia DNR biologist Reggie Thackston of Forsyth, who completed a research project monitoring the longevity of salt in the soil and its usage by deer. Reggie's results indicated that salt leached through the soil very quickly even on heavy clay soils. In only 3 weeks after he applied a mineralized salt formulation to the soil, the concentration of salt was greatest at the 3 to 6 inch depth while that of Calcium and Phosphorus remained highest at the surface of the soil. This phenomenon may indicate at least 3 things: 1) Attractiveness of deer to sodium may decline quickly over time, as it leaches downward; 2) Deer dig deeply in salt licks to seek leached sodium at lower levels; and, 3) Reapplication of pure Sodium Chloride (without Calcium or Phosphorus) once more per year (possibly in June) may increase attractiveness of salt licks and encourage more usage of the Calcium and Phosphorus which remains available at the soil surface. Time will tell if these results continue to hold true or are replicated by other research.

With the questions what and when answered, the next questions are where and how much. Without a doubt, the best soil for a salt lick is heavy clay. Sand is the worst. The obvious reason was explained above - salt quickly leaches downward and disappears. It leaches much slower in clay. It also runs off much slower on flat ground. The ideal spot for salt then is a flat clay ridgetop in a shallow depression mixed lightly with the soil. One 50 lb bag per site would not be too much. One salt lick per 300 acres (one-half square mile) would be a good rule of thumb to make these sites available to all the deer on your property. Any more than this would probably be wasted and any less may not be enough.

One club that I am familiar with got a little carried away a couple of years ago with salt. Knowing that a little can be a good thing, and that obviously a lot more is even better, this club proceeded to put out 1 1/2 tons of salt on 900 acres! One of the members was heard describing their deer as well preserved with high blood pressure! Seriously folks, deer don't need this much salt. Until we find out differently or better, go by the 50 lbs per 300 acre rule and spend the rest of your money on lime, fertilizer, and food plots. By the way, it is no coincidence that lime supplies Calcium and Magnesium and fertilizer supplies Phosphorus. Sound familiar?

The general rule about salt application and formulation should apply to all regions of the country including Mountains, Ridge and Valley, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain. Only one problem exists on the Coastal Plain in some localities and that is lack of heavy clay soils. Salt application here will obviously need to be at more frequent intervals, possibly 3 to 4 times per growing season. Possible use of troughs or plastic or metal liners for salt licks may greatly increase their longevity and effectiveness. Now, finally the bottom line. Let me guess that there might be a few folks out there in readerland who don't put salt out for the benefit of deer or to grow big deer antlers, but maybe just to hunt over it. This may be totally illegal in some states! In other states, however, there is a way to do this legally to accomplish all three objectives using the methods I just prescribed and a few extra precautions. In Georgia, for example, it is illegal to hunt deer over bait. Salt is considered bait if it is visible on top of the ground and you are hunting within 200 yards or in sight of it at any distance. However, it is perfectly legal to hunt over a salt lick where the salt is completely dissolved into the ground and not visible on top of the ground. This condition will always happen if salt is applied in early spring and hunted over in the fall. If you decide to apply salt in September, don't hunt over it! It's bait, just like corn or apples.

What about the effectiveness of hunting over salt licks in the fall? It is really variable but mostly ineffective, deer usage is fading rapidly. During bow season, there may be enough deer usage of salt licks to warrant hunting on a lick where salt is completely dissolved. This is very unlikely during gun season. By November, usage of licks fades rapidly and does not increase again until spring greenup in March or April. Stories of deer hunting success over salt are probably tainted by misinterpretation of why the deer was near the salt lick (on its way to a food plot or acorns, near a scrape or rub etc. etc.).

In summary, the application of salt formulations probably benefits both you and your deer herd if it is done correctly and legally. Until we gain further insight and begin fitting more pieces to the deer puzzle, it definitely can't hurt and is not very expensive when compared with lease prices or food plot costs. The other important point is that salt formulations are like vitamins and minerals to people - they are meant to supplement the diet by providing elements which are lacking in native diets. They are no panacea and cannot replace good deer management, food plots, timber management, soil fertility or acorns when it comes to deer growth, population size, or antler development. So, take this with a grain of salt, let salt formulations be a small, important part of a bigger deer management program on your property. Application of salt judiciously is a wise means, not an end. That trophy buck which may appear on your wall this year may be the result of salt plus 25 other factors which went into his antler development and your hunting skills!

If you would like to know more about this subject, the best article that I have ever read on salt and minerals was “Mineral Supplementation for Antler Production” by Harmon P. Weeks, Jr., on pages 155-168 in Quality Whitetails: The Why and How of Quality Deer Management by K.V. Miller and R.L. Marchinton, Stackpole Books, 1995, available from Quality Deer Management Association at 1-800-209-3337.

The Horse: Possible Beet Pulp Shortage Reported in Eastern U.S.

The Horse: Possible Beet Pulp Shortage Reported in Eastern U.S.

A lack of plain beet pulp in several East Coast feed stores is fueling some speculation that a shortage could be in the works.

Beet pulp is a byproduct from the process of extracting simple sugars from sugar beets for the manufacture of table sugar. The pulp, which has 8-10% crude protein and 18% crude fiber, is often used as a livestock feed or equine supplement.

"We're in decent shape on beet pulp shreds, but many feed suppliers in the area are out," said Larry Drennen, of Oxford Feed & Lumber in Oxford, Penn. "It seems that last year's harvest hasn't made it through the full year."

While outages of plain beet pulp have been reported, the pulp with molasses seems to be readily available.

View the full article @ http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12523

2008 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual

2009 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual online version


see this page ( II. CHEMICAL APPLICATION EQUIPMENT ) for sprayer calibration.

How To Purchase the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual or CD-ROM With Updates

from http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/entomology/pestlink.html :

Pest and Pesticide Information Links

Faculty contacts: Pest Expertise within Entomology Commodity Responsibilities - (all departments) Pest Information: Getting your pest problem identified - the NC Plant Disease and Insect Clinic Insect Notes - Information on specific pests and their control Ornamental & Turf Pests - information for the general public TurfFiles - turf management information including insects, diseases and weeds North Carolina Pest News - Weekly summaries of pest activity (published May-September) Public Health Pest Informaton - NCDENR Wildlife Damage Control Regulatory Pest Problems (NCDA&CS - Plant Industry Division) Invasive Species (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) Pesticide Information: Chemical Control Recommendations - NC Ag. Chemicals Manual Pesticide Safety Education - Pesticide applicator safety and licensing information NC Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services Pesticides Section - pesticide registration, applicator certification, pesticide disposal Structural Pest Control Section - information related pest control companies Pest Management Information - crop profiles and pesticide use data Pesticide Broadcast - Current information about pesticide issues (published as needed) IPM in North Carolina Schools Other Insect Specific Information: Bees and Other Pollinators Corn pests Cotton pests Dung beetles Forage pests Fruit pests Face Flies Peanut pests Small grain pests Soybean pests Stored grain pests Tobacco pests Other Pest Links: Plant Disease Information - Dept. of Plant Pathology Consumer Horticulture Information - Dept. of Horticultural Science National IPM Network -NCSU component Cotton bollworm picture courtesy of Jack Bacheler, Dept. of Entomology, NCSU.

Extension Entomology Faculty | Plant Disease & Insect Clinic | Pest & Pesticide Information | 4-H Entomology

Research | Extension | Teaching | Outreach/Educational Programs | Computer Information |
Facilities and Programs | Newsletter (Antenna) | Seminar Schedule |
Entomology Graduate Student Association | Mike Duke Seminar | History of the Department

Home | Program Areas | Personnel | Student Information | Department Information |
Insect Information | Links | Contact Us | NC State University Home Page