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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — JULY 9/JULY 16, 2021
Aphids are many, but control systems are few There are several thoucan also be found on furnisand kinds of aphids, some ture and vehicles. of which only feed on one Honeydew can be washed kind of plant. The cabbage off with dish detergents or aphid, for example, only tar removers. feeds on cabbage and other These annoying insects members of that family have some unusual characsuch as cauliflower and radGREEN AND teristics. Aphids without ishes. The spruce gall aphid GROWING wings are female and do is only found on spruce and not need a mate in order to By Linda G. Tenneson fir trees. There is a potato produce young. The young aphid, a rose aphid, and aphids are born alive. However, when many other kinds. too many aphids are trying to live on Aphids have slender mouthparts one plant, some of them develop wings which are used to feed on sap in and fly to another plant. While they plants — particularly new growth, are poor fliers, their light weight unopened flower buds and young enables them to travel on the wind. leaves. As they feed, they use their The winged aphids mate and lay eggs. saliva to help digest the plant sap and Eggs laid in late summer can survive leave behind a sticky substance called the winter and hatch in spring. Aphids honeydew. The honeydew does not mature quickly and continue reproharm the plant, but a kind of sooty ducing all during their lives. mold may develop on it as a result. Aphids usually do not kill plants, This mold will block sunlight from but in severe cases cause twisted and reaching the leaves. This honeydew curled or yellowed leaves. Aphids are attracts ants and yellowjackets and small, only a sixteenth to an eighth of
an inch long. They are pear-shaped and have soft bodies. They range in color and may be green, black, red, yellow, brown or gray. The nymphs, or young aphids, are pale and smaller than the adults. They have what one source called “tailpipes” which extend from their backsides as well as a tiny tail. As they grow, they shed their exoskeletons and leave those white skins on leaves or stuck to the honeydew secretions. Ants may take care of aphids to “milk” them for their honeydew. The ant strokes the aphid to encourage it to produce honeydew. Aphids can also carry plant viruses and move them from one plant to another. The virus causes damage to leaves and fruit. Because aphid populations can explode, it is important to check plant leaves and stems for the presence of aphids regularly throughout the growing season. They can feed on weeds as well as desired plants, so weed removal is one means of control.
Another method is to knock the aphid off a plant with a strong spray from a water hose. Lady beetles, lacewings, syrphid fly larvae and parasitic wasps all eat aphids. Insecticidal soap, horticultural oil and pyrethrin are pesticide control methods, but must be applied to the undersides of the leaves as well as the tops. These pesticides only kill the aphids they touch, so repeat applications may be needed during the aphid season. Systemic pesticides which travel inside plants work longer, but will also harm beneficial pollinator insects. Go to extension.umn.edu/yard-andgarden-insects/aphids for more information and pictures to identify the type of aphid that may be in your garden Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v
Lindquest: ‘Cows are much healthier’ in the new barn LAND MINDS, from pg. 2
about two-and-a-half months the best — for our cows and for old. all of us too!” able daily per cow production for you Brody: We sample forages These two young men cerguys? monthly. Whenever a forage tainly convinced me. I’m a farm Brody: 80 to 85 pounds is okay … change we change the ration kid. Helped milk cows when a some do slightly better. And 300 to 330 accordingly. Our total ration kid, hand milking in a standays per lactation is the goal. The includes alfalfa hay, corn silage, chion barn (‘nuf said). Yep, this cows let you know when they’re getearlage, soybean meal, distillis better. And their cows are ting to the end. About 25,000 pounds ers grain, minerals plus the telling much the same story. per lactation is what we’re achieving. additional protein supplements “These cows are a lot healthier These robotic milkers do a great job of as needed. As you see, good than when in the other barn,” warm-water washing and massaging nutrition is the mainstream of said Rod. An in-ground conthe teats before each milking. Each good milk production. tainment pit collects all cow is primed and ready! manures which are pumped Q: The obvious question in Q: Talk about feed quality … You each fall, then knifed into view of this hot and dry June: grow your own corn for silage; alfalfa fields replacing the need for what’s it doing to your crops? hay for roughage? purchased fertilizer. Rod: Like virtually everyone Photo by Dick Hagen Rod: Yes, feed quality depends on the we need rain soon! Rod’s wife is Naomi. Brody’s Four robots handle the milking duties for Lunquests’ 220-cow growing season and the management wife is Amanda. Daughters Q: You’re still in the first year milking herd. of our field crops. We work through a include Mackenzie, 27; Korissa, acres. We also rent about 300 acres. with your robo barn. Everything nutritionist (Nelson Consulting) who 23; and additional son Kolby, 20. Rod’s My ag teacher was Norris Osvold. helps with the different ingredients to okay so far? phone is (320) 894-3211. He’s passed away, but deserves much balance our forage and silage feeds. Rod: I haven’t seen anything we Summing up: Trust me … this of the credit for helping me to see the And we monitor nutrition — even for should have done different, so I think Robotic operation at Lindquest Dairy our baby calves. Keeping each animal it was a good decision. Most important- strong future in dairy farming. Farms is indeed the dairy farm of the healthy and growing is the goal of Milk prices were about $17 per hun- future! ly, I think our cows are acknowledging good nutrition. dredweight in mid-June for Lindquest the same. Construction was Arnzen Dick Hagen is the staff writer emeriDairy Farm. Rod modestly commented Construction, St. Rosa. They’ve done Q: Any special handling of baby tus of The Land. He may be reached at numerous robotic barns. I bought this $17 would be better. Brody added, calves? rdhagen35@gmail.com. v “You’ve got to think positive. But I’m farm right out of high school in the Rod: We bottle feed everything until late 1980s. Today we own about 560 absolutely convinced robo milking is
