Friday May 16

Very warm pattern will stretch into the weekend, but slowly cooler as we go. All time record high of 105F hit Brookings, Oregon yesterday. Looks like a rapidly moving cold front will introduce the cool trough of low pressure that will push across the PNW Monday, setting up over the Great Basin / Rocky Mtn states by midweek.

Showers and clouds positioning to strike the region during the front half of next week. Most of the moisture will remain north of Olympia. Pleasant temps for southern Oregon during the same period.

Warmer weather returns by the MEMORIAL WEEKEND break (80's). Currently, no rain/showers in sight, except for late Memorial Day north of Seattle. Even that may not happen.

Cooler, but dry wx with marine clouds come into play right after Memorial Day, lasting through the end of May. Warmer by June 1.

Bottom line: expect periods of warm weather - but NOT as hot as current pattern - through the end of the month. Few days of clouds, chance for showers, mainly northern PNW. The basically DRY pattern will require ag folks to set up irrigation cycles to maintain adequate crop/soil moisture conditions. Good bloom pattern for berry industry - which will make for a compressed harvest.

"If you want to stimulate your imagination, why not try fishing?"

Keeping the iced tea chilled, -Rufus

http://www.ovs.com/weather_cafe.htm

The PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook has been updated for 2008 and has been available for purchase for several months. A total of 8 authors and 23 reviewers were busy at the end of last year to get this publication ready for you. Changes include 22 new host/disease sections, major revisions of 24 host/disease sections, a new article on National Organic Program materials, and updates to the sections on Oregon's Most Unwanted: Invasive Species, Diagnosis and Control of Phytophthora Diseases, Fungicides for Disease Control in the Home Landscape, and Tree Wound Paints. Of course there were minor edits throughout the handbook, including pesticide updates. The web site for the disease handbook, located at http://ipmnet.org/plant-disease/, has been revised to reflect the changes of the 2008 edition and many new pictures have been added to the web site for diagnostic use.

Jay Pscheidt and Cindy Ocamb, senior editors.

Jay W. Pscheidt, Extension Plant Pathology Specialist Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology Oregon State University, 1089 Cordley Hall Corvallis, OR 97331-2903 Voice:541-737-3472 Cell: 541-740-6621 Fax: 541-737-2412 ------------------------------------------------------------

http://ipmnet.org/plant-disease/

May 14, 2008... The Oregon Department of Agriculture has begun placing thousands of insect traps throughout the state in an annual effort to detect gypsy moth and other exotic, invasive, plant-eating pests. All traps should be set by mid-July and will be checked by ODA technicians throughout the summer. Most traps will be removed by late September.

Detecting invasive species of insects before they become widespread is fundamental to the success of ODA's Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program. Early detection of invasive insect populations makes for smaller, more defined gypsy moth eradication efforts should they be needed.

Approximately 18,000 gypsy moth traps are being placed in Oregon, most being set west of the Cascades. The bright green or orange tent-like cardboard traps contain a non-toxic female sex pheromone that attracts adult male gypsy moths. Inside, a sticky substance keeps the winged pest from escaping.

Detection efforts in 2007 led to the trapping of 11 gypsy moths statewide, including six in Shady Cove. Information from the traps led to ODA's decision to conduct an eradication program for gypsy moth in the Jackson County community this spring, where spraying is scheduled to be completed on May 20, weather permitting. At that time, a high density of traps will be placed in Shady Cove.

Eradication projects are primarily based on gypsy moth trapping results of the previous year.

ODA is asking for homeowner's cooperation to allow traps to be placed on private property. Homeowners are advised to keep an eye on traps that may be placed on or near their property, making sure that the traps remain undisturbed. The traps are typically non-toxic, but people are encouraged to avoid handling them. Anyone noticing a damaged trap or who has concerns about ODAs insect pest detection efforts should contact the Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program at (503) 986-4636 or 1-800-525-0137.

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Media contact: Helmuth Rogg at (503) 986-4662.

http://egov.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/ippm_gm_alert.shtml

Two good links:

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/pest/sequioa_pitch_moth.htm

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7479.html#LIFE

This month, the WSU Snohomish County Extension Bugs & Blights workshop will feature a combination of lecture, lab, and field work focusing on insects, diseases, and weeds likely to be encountered in Western Washington during spring and early summer. The two-hour class will cover identification and management strategies for two common and often devastating insect pests: apple maggots and carpenter ants as well as one of the region's most pernicious weeds-Canada thistle.

In addition, there will be other common and not-so-common weeds and insect pests featured during the combination of lecture and hands-on lab. Attendees are encouraged to bring pest, weed, and disease samples for ID.

When: Wednesday, May 28, 10:00a.m.-12:05p.m.; 1:00p.m.-3:05p.m.; or 6:30p.m.-8:35p.m. Where: WSU Snohomish County Extension, 600-128th St SE, Everett, WA Cost: $20, series of 4 classes $65; Master Gardeners: $10, series of 4 classes $35 Register: Pre-registration required, call (425) 338-2400 or download the form at http://snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/registrationform.pdf and mail with your check.

WSDA pesticide recertification credits available. For more information, contact Sharon Collman, collmans@wsu.edu, (425) 357-6025.

About the teachers: Sharon Collman leads Snohomish County's horticulture education program, including assistance to Master Gardeners and garden writers, as well as production, marketing, and pest management to the nursery and landscape industries in Snohomish County. She also provides expertise in plant problem diagnosis, beneficial insects, entomology networking, and backyard biodiversity.

Dave Pehling has been studying and teaching about insects for WSU Snohomish County Extension since 1978. Special interests include beekeeping, insect pest management, and pollinators. In addition to entomological work, Dave teaches vertebrate pest management for the WSU Master Gardener and Livestock Advisor programs in several Western Washington counties.

Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of non-compliance may be reported through your local Extension Office. Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation can request accommodation 21 days before training at (425) 338-2400. If accommodation is not requested in advance, we cannot guarantee availability on-site.

Kate Halstead Workshop Coordinator WSU Snohomish County Extension 600 128th St SE Everett, WA 98208 425.357.6024

http://snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/registrationform.pdf