Cole Crops
These guidelines are based on those developed by R.V. Hazzard, R.L. Wick, J.C. Howell & A.R. Bonanno, published in C.S. Hollingsworth & W.M. Coli (eds). 1999. Massachusetts Integrated Pest Management Guidelines: Crop Specific Definitions. University of Massachusetts Extension Publication IP-IPMA.
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Soil and Nutrient Management and Cultural Practices
- Crop rotation is practiced to reduce incidence of diseases and insects:
- a. Field has not been planted to crucifers for three previous years; 15 pts OR
- b. Field has not been planted to crucifers for two previous years; 10 pts OR
- c. Field has not been planted to crucifers in the previous year. 5 pts
- Fields have been evaluated with an appropriate soil test for nutrient
status and pH
for the current year. 10 pts OR
Fields have been evaluated with an appropriate soil test for nutrient status and pH within two years. 5 pts - Soil organic matter has been tested within three years. 10 pts
- Fertilizer is applied in accordance with soil test results and expected uptake of nutrients, accounting for additional nitrogen supplied by organic matter, compost and cover crops. Expected nutrient uptake is determined from the New England Vegetable Management Guide. 15 pts
- A pre-sidedress nitrogen test is used to determine the need for supplemental nitrogen. 10 pts
- Nitrogen fertilizer is applied by split application. Some is applied through the planter at planting, and some as a side dress. 10 pts
- This year's crop was preceded by a winter cover crop. 10 pts
- If the winter cover crop was a legume or legume/grass mix, its nitrogen contribution is calculated and fertilizer for this year's crop was adjusted accordingly. 5 pts
- If compost or manure is applied, its nitrogen contribution is calculated, and fertilizer application is adjusted accordingly. 5 pts
Category Total 80 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Pesticides Application and Records
Only pesticides approved and registered for cole crops in the state are used. Records of pesticide applications are maintained, including date, field and block, target pest, crop stage pesticide name and EPA number, formulation, rate and number of acres treated. Pesticide drift is minimized. Re-entry and pre-harvest intervals are adhered to. Win-PST analysis is conducted for all pesticides considered for use on the farm.
- Pesticide application equipment is calibrated at the start of the
season and the
procedure is recorded. 10 pts - Calibration is checked at least once during the season and equipment is recalibrated as needed. 5 pts
- Records of pesticide applications are maintained and organized. 10 pts
- Records of planting dates and stage of crop of treated fields are maintained. 5 pts
- Water-sensitive spray cards have been used to test the coverage of leaf surfaces in this crop within the past five years, using current pesticide application equipment. 10 pts
Category Total 40 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Disease Management
Disease management includes the practice of crop rotation. Preventative
fungicides are generally not recommended unless the field has a history
of disease or weather conditions are particularly favorable for disease
development. Diseases include Alternaria leaf spot, black rot, Sclerotinia
white mold, Rhizoctonia, blackleg, clubroot, and
Fusarium yellows.
- Diseases resistant cultivars are planted in fields with a history of specific diseases. 5 pts
- Seed has been disease-indexed and found to be disease-free, or has been hot-water-treated to reduce Alternaria leaf spot, black rot, or blackleg. 10 pts
- If transplants are used, they are grown in-state, using sanitary practices. 10 pts
- If transplants are imported from out of state, they are inspected and used only if free of insects and diseases. 5 pts
- Fields are monitored weekly for disease symptoms and records of scouting results are kept. 10 pts
- If disease problems occur, diseases are accurately identified (using the help of consultants or a diagnostic laboratory if needed). 10 pts
- Fungicides and bactericides are applied only when disease symptoms occur, when weather conditions are particularly favorable for specific disease development, or if a field has a history of disease which can be suppressed by chemical means. Only those pesticides which will suppress the targeted disease are used. 10 pts
- Fungicides applications are rotated by active ingredient for resistance management.
- If sclerotinia blight (white mold) is present, infected plants are removed from the field to reduce carryover of long-lived sclerotia. 10 pts
- Where clubroot has been observed, soil pH has been raised to 7.2 by regular applications of lime. 10 pts
- Diseases resistant cultivars are planted in fields with a history of specific diseases. 5 pts
- Crop residues are promptly incorporated into soil after harvest to speed decomposition and reduce disease inoculum. 10 pts
- Cull piles are not located in near fields. 5 pts
Category Total 45 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Insect Management
Major Pests: Cabbage root maggot fly, imported cabbageworm (ICW),
diamondback moth, cabbage looper, onion thrips, cabbage aphids, and flea
beetles.
- In spring or fall cole crops, during periods when flies are active and crop is susceptible, the presence of cabbage maggot eggs is determined by weekly sampling at the base of at least 25 plants. 10 pts
- Insecticide to control cabbage maggot is applied according to thresholds specified in the New England Vegetable Management Guide. 10 pts
- Insecticide to control cabbage maggot is a banded application targeting the base of the plant. 10 pts
- Non-chemical means, such as floating row covers, are used to exclude
or control
cabbage root maggot or flea beetles during periods when the crop is susceptible
and pests are active. 10 pts - Imported cabbageworm, diamondback moth, cabbage looper, onion thrips and flea beetles are monitored weekly by sampling at least 25 plants per field. For caterpillars, percent infestation is calculated. 20 pts
- Treatments for caterpillar pests conform to IPM thresholds for the appropriate crop stage as specified in the New England Vegetable Management Guide. 10 pts
- A selective microbial insecticide is used to conserve beneficial insects. 10 pts
- If onion thrips are historically a problem, resistant cultivars are planted. 10 pts
- If multiple applications of foliar insecticide are used, the risk of insecticide resistance is reduced by alternating resistance groups of insecticides. 15 pts
- If flea beetles are a problem, spring and fall crops are planted in separate fields to prevent movement of summer adults into fall crops 10 pts
Category Total 70 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Weed Management
- This year's fields were scouted for weeds in the previous year, at mid- to late season. Weeds were identified and mapped. This information was used in the current weed management program. 10 pts
- Weed management includes one of the following:
- a. Herbicide use is supplemented by at least one cultivation or hand weeding; 5 pts
- b. Herbicide rates are reduced through banding of herbicides and cultivation; 10 pts
- c. No herbicides are applied and weeds are controlled through cultivation. 15 pts
- Weeds in fields, alleys and roadways are prevented from going to seed. 10 pts
- Fields are scouted in midseason for weeds. Location and species of
uncontrolled
weeds are mapped and the information is used in planning for next year. 10 pts - Outbreaks of new or problem weed species are controlled, using chemical
or
non-chemical means, to prevent spreading or seed production. 10 pts - A trial plot is maintained to test a different weed management technique.
The
methods and results are recorded. Bonus: 10 pts
Category Total 55 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Education
- Manager has a current copy of the New England Vegetable Management Guide. 5 pts
- Manager attends one or more state/regional/national Extension vegetable
training
session during the current year. 5 pts - Manager subscribes to the UMass Extension Vegetable Notes & IPM Message. 5 pts
Category Total 15 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Grand Total 305 pts
Adjusted Grand Total ______ pts
Percentage of adjusted total %
