News

Conservatives aim to sell GOP on immigration reform

(USA TODAY) During a rally earlier this month, thousands of immigrants, civil rights activists and Democratic leaders called on the Republican-controlled House to pass a bill to revamp the nation’s immigration system.

But a much smaller group heading to Capitol Hill later this month may be more influential over Republicans who are skeptical that an overhaul is a good idea.

About 300 conservatives from around the country and with varying backgrounds — pastors, farmers, police chiefs, business owners — will arrive in Washington on Oct. 28 to meet with Republican lawmakers and make a conservative pitch for a new immigration law.

Participants in the “fly-in” say they can better speak to the conservative members of the U.S. House since they share many ideals on government. For more: usat.ly/19KVt5L.
 

Government shutdown puts Florida citrus forecast on hold

The USDA’s widely anticipated initial citrus forecast has been delayed until President Barack Obama and congressional leaders resolve their federal budget impasse, which has shut down dozens of government agencies since Oct. 1.

The USDA usually releases its first citrus forecast in mid-October, and it influences the negotiations between Florida growers and juice processors on farm prices for their fruit. Processors buy 95 percent of Florida’s orange crop and more than 60 percent of the state’s grapefruit harvest each season.
 

All-America Selections adds regional winners

Starting this November, All-America Selections will begin rewarding entries that have superior regional performance. The AAS website will be completely revised by Nov. 10 to accommodate the lists and designations of Regional Winners as well as the traditional National Winners.

AAS divided North America into six regions: Northeast, Southeast, Great Lakes, Heartland, Mountain/Southwest and West/Northwest. The 2010, 2011 and 2012 trials were analyzed to determine which entries could have been a winner from each region. The first of those Regional Winners will be announced in November, along with the standard November announcement of new national AAS Winners.

The AAS trialing process has not changed because each entry will still be grown and judged based on noted characteristics of how they compare to similar varieties that are grown side by side.

For more: www.all-americaselections.org.
 

Early fall color may be sign of stress

Though beautiful in October, early fall color in landscape plants can be an indicator of a stressed plant. Consumers’ plants could be letting them know they are having problems and may need help.

Burning bushes can turn color and drop leaves early when infested with spider mites. Heat-stressed burning bushes and other plants like Alberta spruces are prime locations for the buildup of mite populations that develop quickly under hot conditions causing injured foliage that turns color and drops early.

Damage to the base of a trunk or stem from animal feeding, weed whips, mowers and disease will reduce the flow of water and nutrients up a tree, leaving the plant weak and susceptible to other problems. This type of damage stresses the tree much like drought stress. Trees and shrubs weakened from these injuries may turn color early. Plants with damaged stems may need watering during dry conditions to prevent further damage.

For more: http://bit.ly/NMfallcolor
 

Pest alert: European pepper moth

The European pepper moth (EPM), Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller), a relatively new invasive species, has been confirmed in a Maryland greenhouse operation. Greenhouse managers and people working with them should be alert and monitor for this new pest.

In the U.S., the moth was first detected on begonia in San Diego County, Calif., in 2004. By September 2011 it had been detected in 17 counties in California. It has also been detected in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. EPM has also been recorded as a problem in greenhouse-grown chrysanthemums and other cut flower species in Ontario. It is not known whether this pest is mainly a greenhouse problem or whether it could cause damage in field and landscape plantings.

It might be that the insect is adapted to the close growing conditions in a greenhouse environment and not suited for most field production situations. In the greenhouse, the foliage touching the substrate surface may make ideal conditions for this moisture-loving pest.

Because this pest has rapidly spread across the United States and Canada, traditional containment through quarantine, has been discarded as impractical. The University of Maryland Extension is working with growers to bring this infestation under control.

For more: http://bit.ly/PepperMoth