By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

March 16, 2006 - Northeast Texas farms may have little to go on when planning their pesticide regimen this year. Unpredictable weather has left many without any idea of what may, and may not, be a problem.

From crops to diseases to pests, the future is unclear. Dr. Allen Knutson, Extension entomologist, said it’s hard to make predictions for spring based on unpredictable weather.

“That’s why it’s so difficult to predict insects,” he said. He advised, in the meantime, producers stick with the same pest management program they have utilized in the past because the usual pests are bound to pop up again.

“If people have had a problem in the past, be on the lookout (for it) this year,” he said.

Some common pests that Knutson expects to remain a nuisance are spring caterpillars, fire ants, and possibly grasshoppers.

Hardwoods can be affected by caterpillars, according to Knutson. He said that cankerworms will be noticeable early in the year. Cankerworms are small caterpillars that look like inch-worms. They are often seen on the hardwoods hanging by silk threads. 

“They eat the leaves,” said Knutson. “In most cases the tree can recover without a problem.”

But for small trees, Knutson said the tiny caterpillars can cause big problems. Small trees may not recover from the damage caused by cankerworms, and in that case, Knutson said a spraying program may need to be considered.

Another well-known intruder - fire ants - are expected to make a comeback throughout Texas this spring.

“We are seeing a lot of fire ants where we got some rain,” said Knutson. He added that even though the mounds may  have remained hidden for the last few dry months, the ants never left.

The ants are responsible for a relatively low amount of crops and horticultural damage, but can be dangerous for people, livestock and wildlife, and farm equipment.

Knutson said the mounds can become very large and create a problem in hay meadows where farm machinery can be damaged while trying to maneuver around the structures. 

“You’ve got to slow down,” he said, with optimism of a 2006 hay crop.

In addition, Knutson noted that producers selling hay to outside areas should be aware of fire ant-related quarantines that are in place to stop the fire ant population from spreading. (For more information on the Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine visit the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website at www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/

fireants/).

To stunt the fire ant population, Knutson said fire ant baits are usually successful. 

“But we have to wait until the soil temps warm up,” he explained. He said mid-April to May is a good time to apply fire ant baits. In addition, Knutson said the baits may take two to three weeks to work, and if a person waits too long, the problem can get out-of-hand.

If hot, dry weather continues, Knutson reminds landowners about another common nuisance they may have to deal with.

“We might have grasshoppers returning,” he said. Knutson explained that during wet conditions, especially around mid-April when grasshoppers lay and hatch eggs, helps eliminate some young grasshoppers. Rain at the crucial stages will drown many young grasshoppers, and with rain comes the development of fungi that can also kill the pests. 

Rains later in the season create more greenery, which Knutson said may help keep grasshoppers from “eating landscapes,” and fields. He said grasshoppers tend to live in areas with green vegetation, and when that vegetation dries up, the grasshoppers begin moving in search of food. With greenery all around, there may be plenty of natural forage for the grasshoppers to eat without destroying landscaping plants and crops.

Knutson said the problem insects and diseases that may become a problem will not become apparent until the weather pattern becomes more clear.

“It’s hard to say,” he said. “It just depends a lot on the weather.”

Currently, the Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlook shows the drought in most of Texas will likely persist, with some parts of East Texas enjoying some improvement from the drought. 

More information on seasonal drought outlook, is online at www.drought.noaa.gov/.