What's New in the 2019 Midwest Veggie Guide?

Published: November 28, 2018

The Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers is revised annually. There are no major revisions to the 2019 edition; in 2017 there were several, as Michigan State University joined with the seven other Midwestern States. Below are some changes and comments regarding the 2019 edition.

Revisions:

• There were three new tables created last year, one each on fungicides, insecticides and herbicides, which presented selected information, such as the trade name, active ingredient, signal word (caution, danger or warning), the rotational code, usage in greenhouse, and if an organic product. This year's tables use the trade name for sorting the information, making it easier for most to find the desired information.
• A new searchable, mobile-friendly version of this guide is expected sometime in December.

Pest management discussions (in the crop specific sections):

• Cucurbits and cucumber beetles: threshold numbers for this pest are now included, with additional comments on their management. Cantaloupe, cucumber and watermelon thresholds are 1 beetle/plant and for squash and pumpkin is 5 beetles/plant.
• Thrips have been added to fruiting vegetables, reflecting their challenge for tomatoes, both greenhouse and field. I initiated this action, due to comments/complaints from Missouri growers the past several years. An entomologist from Kansas supported this request. There are 21 insecticides listed and many have comments that may be helpful. Two examples, Warrior II comment is 'not for use against Western Flower thrips' and Agri-Mek SC is noted as 1 day PHI for 'commercially-grown greenhouse tomatoes'. (There is a discussion of insecticide rotation options for thrips in the onion pest control section)
• Tomato spotted Wilt Virus/Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus has a management discussion, which focuses on thrips pest control. With greenhouses, being careful to control thrips on ornamentals (e.g. impatiens) when growing anywhere near tomatoes is noted.

New products:

• Satellite Hydrocap (pendimethalin) is now labeled for Cole Crops and Onions as a preemergent. While this is the same active ingredient as Prowl (3.3 EC and H2O), Prowl is not labeled at this time. If interested in Satellite Hydrocap, consider looking for it early. It was not listed in this guide in 2018.
• Exirel is a new insecticide class available for use on Onions to control thrips. Minecto is an insecticide mix also with this active ingredient (Cyantraniliprole), now labeled for thrips control on onion.

Product alert:

• Lorsban is listed in the guide as an insecticide for several vegetable crops (e.g. Asparagus, Cole crops, Legumes and Sweet Corn), but there is ongoing discussion about it revoking it. The online version of the production guide will be revised if changes are necessary, but the print copy has been run.