University of Nebraska Extension - Holt/Boyd News Column for the Week of May 12, 2024

LaDonna Werth, Extension Educator Phone: 402-336-2760 E-mail: LWerth2@unl.edu

Tips To Help Children in a World That Is Critical of Body Size

Create an environment where children learn to feel good about themselves.

• Help children recognize what they are good at and make opportunities for them to develop these skills and talents.
• Introduce children to different hobbies, sports, neighborhood and community activities, and the arts.
• Encourage children to pursue what they enjoy and what makes them feel good about themselves.

Help children learn how to deal with teasing and bullying.

• Teach children strategies to avoid reacting to unkind words and actions.
• Role play with children and practice how they can use the strategies.
• Talk about calmly walking away from peer provocations.
• Help children develop positive I-messages: "I'm going to ignore these words because I know they are not true. I'm a good kid, I'm good at swimming, social studies, and writing letters to my cousins, and I have a best friend, Alicia, who likes me just the way I am."

Set and maintain limits on the amount of time that children spend watching television and movies, and playing video and computer games.

• Limit screen time, outside of homework, to 2 hours or less per day.
• Work together to select television shows and movies that everyone likes and that portray what is important to you.
• Make watching television and movies a special activity, not a routine activity.
• Keep the television turned off during meals and when no one is watching it.
• Maintain television-free bedrooms.

Keep track of the visual media that children see.

• Limit the number of fashion, glamour, and muscle building magazines that come into your home.
• When children see images of female and male bodies that are unusually thin or overly muscular, talk about how media images are created with special techniques.
• Explain that different kinds of bodies have different strengths.
• Help children recognize that taking care of their bodies allows them to do what they like to do.

Give children the experiences needed to enjoy healthy foods and beverages.

• Plant a garden and teach children about where fruits and vegetables really come from.
• Teach children the basics of food preparation.
• Involve children with menu planning.
• Avoid soda and sugary beverages.
• Munch on fruits and vegetables between meals instead of fatty, sugary, and salty snacks.

Show children what a healthy lifestyle looks like.

• Purchase mostly healthy foods and beverages.
• Eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet.
• Plan regular meals and snacks.
• Enjoy physical activity and active play every day.
• Avoid dieting and withholding food for punishment.
• Eat when hungry and stop eating when full.
• Make mealtimes pleasant and relaxed.

Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are the most popular vegetable crop in the home garden. There is nothing quite like a tomato fresh from your garden!

They are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Fruit size varies from bite-sized cherry tomatoes to giant beefsteak cultivars. Tomatoes may be round, oblate (fruit are flattened at the top and bottom), or pear-shaped. Tomato fruit may be red, pink, orange, yellow, green, or purple. (Figure 1) Tomatoes are low in calories and a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants.

Planting

Ideal Growing Conditions

Tomatoes can be successfully grown in many different soil types but perform best in deep, loamy, well-drained soils. Tomatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8 but can be grown in slightly alkaline soils. Tomatoes need at least six hours of direct sun daily for best yields.

Starting Seed Indoors

Tomato plants can be started indoors or purchased at garden centers. Tomato seeds should be sown indoors 5-6 weeks before the intended outdoor planting date. After germination, place the seedlings under artificial lighting or in a sunny window.

Buying Transplants

When purchasing tomato plants, select stocky, dark green plants that do not have fruits. Fruit development on young plants stunts growth and reduces total yield. Look for plants that show no signs of disease or insect damage.

Hardening

Whether grown indoors or purchased from a garden center, transplants should be properly hardened before placing them in the garden. Initially, place the plants in a shady location out of the wind, then gradually expose the plants to longer periods of sunlight. After several days, the tomatoes should be ready to be planted in the garden.

Transplanting

Transplant tomatoes into the garden after the danger of frost has passed. This is typically early to mid-May in Iowa. To obtain good yields, the last practical date for planting tomatoes is June 20.

If plants have been started in peat or coir pots, tear off the top edge or ensure the top edge is well below the soil surface once planted. If the top edge of the pot is exposed to the air, it will act like a wick and draw water away from the plant. If the tomatoes are in plastic pots or cell-packs, carefully tap out the plants. Use a sharp knife to cut around plants growing in small flats.

Set plants into the soil deeply, up to their first true leaves. Pinch off the bottom leaves of tall, spindly transplants and lay the stem sideways in a trench. Carefully bend the stem upward so that the upper few inches of the stem are above the soil surface. Roots will develop all along the buried stem. (tomatoes are the only vegetables that can be planted successfully in this manner.)

Spacing

Plant spacing depends on the growth habit of the cultivar and the training system. Indeterminate cultivars that are staked can be planted 1.5-2 feet apart within rows. If grown in wire cages, space plants 2-3 feet apart. Tomatoes allowed to sprawl over the ground should be spaced 3-4 feet apart. Rows should be spaced 4-5 feet apart. Determinate tomatoes can be planted 1.5-2 feet apart in rows 4 feet apart.

Care

Water

Like most vegetables, tomatoes perform best when they receive one inch of water per week. Supplemental watering is best done in the morning and applied directly to the soil surrounding the plants. Avoid overhead irrigation as it splashes soil, helping to spread common diseases like septoria leaf spot.

Soil type does not affect the total amount of water needed but does dictate watering frequency. Sandy soils require more frequent water applications, but less water applied per application.

Consistent watering is essential, especially during fruit development. Plants that do not grow with even soil moisture can develop cracks and blossom end rot.

Fertilizing

If a soil test has not been conducted, apply and incorporate 1-2 pounds of all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, per 100 square feet before planting. Three to four weeks after transplanting, fertilize the tomato plants with a dilute fertilizer solution.

Use a water-soluble fertilizer or dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of 10-10-10 or a similar analysis fertilizer in a gallon of water. Depending on soil fertility, an additional fertilizer application may or may not be required. Over-fertilization promotes excessive vegetative (leafy) growth and may inhibit fruit development.

Mulch

Apply a mulch to the soil surface around tomato plants to:

• conserve moisture and help maintain a consistent soil moisture level
• control weeds
• moderate soil temperatures
• reduce disease problems
• reduce fruit spoilage
• keep fruit and leaves free of rain-spattered soil

Several organic materials can be used as mulches. These include lawn clippings, shredded leaves, straw, and pine needles (Figure 3). Do not collect grass clippings from lawns that have been treated with a broadleaf herbicide until it has been mowed two or three times. A 2- to 3-inch-thick layer is usually adequate, depending on the material.

Black and other colors of plastic mulch are often used by commercial growers to achieve an earlier crop, higher yields, control weeds, conserve moisture, and improve fruit quality. Plastic mulches are not cost-effective for home gardeners.

Weeding

Controlling weeds is beneficial for all vegetable crops, including tomatoes. Remove weeds through light cultivation. A layer of mulch can be used to suppress new weed growth.

Source: Aaron Steil – Iowa State University Extension Educator (Iowa Extension Yard and Garden - April 2024)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Selecting Summer Forages, Thistle Control Options

Native Nebraska pasture plants such as tall, Platte (prairie), Flodman, yellowspine, and wavyleaf (gray) thistles can be beneficial for butterflies and provide seeds for songbirds. However, many non-native thistle species such as musk, Canada, plumeless, bull and scotch are noxious weeds that must be controlled depending on your Nebraska county. These non-native thistles can cause significant grazing losses as they become aggressive competition for desirable pasture grasses and can spread rapidly.

For pastures with noxious weed thistles, now is the time for spring herbicide applications, while the plants are still in the short rosette to bolted growth stages prior to flowering. Our extension publication, Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska (EC-130), provides a cost comparison of labeled thistle noxious weeds control products.

For musk and plumeless thistles, the highest-rated spring control herbicides include: Chaparral®/Opensight®; Dicamba or 2,4D ester + Dicamba; Milestone® and Transline®.

Other labeled products include: 2,4-D ester; Cimarron Plus®; Curtail®; Grazon P+D; Redeem R&P; and Telar®.

Canada thistle is a perennial; therefore, fall control is the preferred time for herbicide applications. So, during spring and summer, it is recommended to prevent seed production by mowing once in June and again in July, along with applying inexpensive herbicides like 2,4-D (2 quarts per acre) or tank mixed dicamba and 2,4-D. Then, after the first fall frost but before the ground freezes, apply a labeled fall herbicide. Spring-labeled Canada thistle products include: Graslan L®; Method®; Grazon NXT; Chaparral/Opensight®; Tordon 22K or picloram 22K; Escort® or Cimarron Plus®; Wide Match®; Milestone®; or Transline®.

As always, read and follow product labels. For best spring control success, all herbicides must be sprayed in rosette, pre-bud to early spring flowering stages. After flowering, hand rogueing (using a hoe, corn knife or shovel) or mowing of flowering stalks are your remaining thistle control options.

Source: Todd Whitney – UNL Extension Educator (Cropwatch – May 9, 2024)

Horn Flies and Control Options

Nebraska’s spring weather conditions have made it more difficult to predict the emergence of horn flies. If the current weather pattern continues, we should start to see horn fly emergence in the southeast part of the state in early May, reaching northern Nebraska by late May. If we experience an abrupt and sustained warm-up, horn fly numbers could reach or exceed the Economic Injury Level (EIL) statewide by the end of May. The EIL represents a fly population of 200 flies per animal that negatively impacts cattle production enough to warrant paying for a fly control measure.

The horn fly is a major pest of pasture and rangeland cattle in Nebraska and throughout the U. S. Once horn fly numbers surpass the EIL, cattle alter grazing patterns and behavior, reducing milk production and weight gain. In Nebraska, horn flies can be present on cattle well into September and early October, with thousands of flies per animal. Developing a comprehensive control program can reduce the horn fly’s impact.

Now is the time to develop or re-evaluate a horn fly management plan for 2023. First, look at last year’s plan. Did it provide adequate fly control? If fly control in 2022 was less than desired, now is the time to alter the plan and make necessary changes.

Selecting the most desirable control method for your operation will depend on efficacy, cost, convenience, and herd management practices. Current delivery methods to control horn flies are described below. Ensure animals have met any insecticide withdrawal periods before marketing. Regardless of the control method used, horn fly migration from neighboring untreated herds may mask the effectiveness of your treatment and may increase horn fly numbers above the economic injury level.

Dust bags

To effectively use dust bags, locate the bags so cattle must pass under them on their way to water, feed, or mineral. This can be accomplished by fencing around water tanks and suspending the bags in the entrance/exit openings. Studies have shown dust bags not placed in the forced-use arrangement provide 25 to 50 % less control. One dusting location with two bags treats approximately 50 to 60 cows.

Back rubbers and Oilers

As with dust bags, back rubbers and oilers are more effective when placed in a forced-use arrangement. Insecticides used with these devices should be mixed with No. 2 diesel fuel or mineral oil and should be recharged weekly. Do not use motor oil to dilute the insecticide; this will harm the cattle.

Pour-ons

Pour-ons are ready-to-use insecticide products applied in measured doses along the back line of animals. They reduce flies for several weeks, so re-application is required throughout the fly season depending upon horn fly pressure.

Animal Sprays

Insecticide sprays can be applied with low- and high-pressure sprayers or by mist blower sprayers. When using low- and high-pressure sprayers, cattle should be gathered and corralled to ensure adequate spray coverage. Mist blower applications are made in the pasture where cattle are grazing, thus reducing animal stress related to gathering and penning cattle. Animal sprays will provide 7 to 14 days of control and will need to be re-applied throughout the fly season.

Oral larvicides (feed additives & boluses)

Oral larvicides, such as feed additives, or Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) are insecticides incorporated into mineral blocks, tubs, loose mineral or boluses. These products prevent developing horn fly larvae in manure pats from becoming adults. Oral larvicides are effective when consumed in sufficient quantities throughout the fly season and should be presented to cattle 30 days before the start of fly season.

A recently introduced Altosid bolus called Altosid IGR XRB is another option. The bolus offers 195 days of activity. The bolus, which is administered orally in a chute setting, works just like Altosid IGR feedthrough by disrupting the growth of horn fly larvae that are developing in the manure pat. The bolus ensures a steady release of the active ingredient, methoprene.

Oral control products have no effect on adult flies.

Insecticide Ear Tags

Ear tags have one or more insecticides embedded in a plastic matrix. Movement of the head or grooming of the animal slowly releases small amounts of insecticide over time that travels through the hair coat of the animal. In Nebraska, ear tags should be applied during the last week of May or the first week of June to achieve maximum control through fly season. Ear tags applied too early decline in efficacy while fly numbers are still high. Adult animals and calves should receive the number of tags recommended on the product label. Tagging only the calf and not the cow will not provide the desired level of horn fly control.

Compressed Air Application

The Vet Gun™, a device like a paintball gun, applies an individual capsule of insecticide (VetCap) to an animal and can provide horn fly control between 10 to 35 days. VetCaps can be used on beef cattle weighing at least 600 lbs.

Traps

Traps do just that -- physically capture horn flies. The Bruce fly trap (Figure 2) is a walk-through system where cattle enter through either end, pass through a 10-foot trap area, and contact a series of strips made of canvas or old carpet. These strips dislodge most of the horn flies on the animal’s topline and sides. Since Horn flies are attracted to light, disturbed flies move to the top of the trap where they are captured. The animal exits the trap with fewer flies on it, and the trapped flies cannot escape. Repeated use of the trap can reduce the overall local horn fly population. Like dust bags and oilers, the Bruce trap is best employed in a force-use situation where cattle must pass through it on a regular basis. Field studies conducted in North Carolina in 2022 showed the trap reduced horn flies by 41%. For more information or how to get plans to build a Bruce fly Trap, please contact me at dboxler1@unl.edu or 308-696-6721.

Source: Dave Boxler - Nebraska Extension Educator, T.L. Meyer - Nebraska Extension Educator (BeefWatch – May 8, 2024)