Show AugusLll 20Q4SunN©?sii Are Mites Causing Plant Damage At Your Home? this very moment small creatures uie crawling amuiul in yards everywhere plotting their next attack They multiply faster than in a new subdivision and are as ugly as bemuidagrasx in a rose pens garden These creatures are known us miles "These small pests can strike fear in the hearts ol homeowners and can he very destructive in a landscape” said Jerry Cioodspeed Utah "Most adult mites are so State University Fxtension horticulturist tiny that a hand lens or other magnifier is needed to see them Maybe that's why they arc feared — because they can't lie seen” Mites arc not an insect but a relative of the spider which may also ike all arachnids adult explain some of the tear said (ioodpseed miles have four pairs of legs and a single oval body region (Insects have thiee pairs of legs and three body regions Adult mites lay eggs that develop into miniatures and later adults "One of the reasons mites can become a major problem so quickly is because they reproduce veiy rapidly” he said "When optimal conditions exist a mite can go Itom egg to adulthood m a week Many adult mites live for seveial weeks so populations can increase at an alarm” ing late with multiple generations present at the same time Mites damage plants by piercing them and sucking out the juices causing the plant cells to turn yellow white or oil color Cioodspeed said As the feeding increases the whole leal may take on a bioned duly yellow or brownish coloi Severe infestations can reduce growth causing the plant to become stunted and even weakened enough to die There are many types of mites he said Some ol the common types aie the (wo spotted spider European red spruce and clover mites Spider mites get their name from the webbing they pioduce to protect themselves and their eggs This webbing is hard to see since it is so miniscule "Because of the mite's small sie its damage is often contused with other types of damage and pest ptoblems or misdiagnosed all togcilier” Cioodspeed said "To dcteimme it mites are the culpiil ol plant problems hold a white piece ol paper under the damaged leaves and tap the leaves a few times look closely at the debus that tails Irom the plant II small specks about the sie of a sharpened pencil lead begin moving around they are notes" It your plant has mites there ate options available for conti ol he said he first is to be patient It the infestation and damage is not too severe allow Mother Nature tunc to build up natural piedulois Along with ladybugs and lacewmgs there are also good predatory mites that eventually show up and eat the undesuable miles If you don’t have a great deal ol patience predatory insects and notes can also be or through nursenes bought A strong stream of water sprayed from a hose has also shown to be ellective m reducing note numbeis and damage Cioodspeed continued Spiaying most ornamentals on a tegular basis not only helps reduce the note population but is also not hnimlul to most of the Al ' ' "good guy" piedators the infestation is severe enough to wairant something stronger consider first using an insecticidal soap or oil he said Spray it on top as well as underneath the leaves These products are tody effective when they come into contact with the pest "loo often people try to control mites using a common insecticide such as Malathion Diamon or Sevin” said Cioodspeed "These prod nets can do nunc haim than good Instead of killing the miles they eliminate the good predators leaving the nnte populations to explode thus aggravating the problem even more" As a last resort nnticides are an option available on the market These arc different from insecticides Re fore buying a miticule tiy the other mite control options mentioned II all else fails and mites ate getting the upper hand consult a locul farm supply store or nursery and gaiden center to see if they have a tine nuticide Be sine to read and follow all label directions carefully Cioodspeed concluded Sen Bennett addresses Sage Grouse issue in Loa Concerned with and desage brush clining numbers of greater of AgriDeputy Secretary culture Jim Moseley joined US Senator Robert Bennett at a news briefing in loa Utah where plans were announced for USDA’s NatuConservation ral Resources Ser- vice (NRCS) to fund a $350000 Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) contract that will improve habitat foi the gieater utul other sensitive wildlife species on the Parker Mountain source management area The WHIP contract which will begin implementation this year and run over several years will also help the Paiker Mountain Gramg Association to implement an adaptive rcsouicc management plan developed by wildlife biologists ranchers and resouice management agencies that will benefit both wildlife and livestock WHIP is a reauthoncd voluntary program under the 2002 I 'arm Bill that encouiages creation of high quality wildlife habitats that of support wildlife populations national state tribal and local significance This Paiker Mountain contract will be administered from the NRCS Richfield field office by District Jarman Conservationist Tom He announced plans to paitners on land management treatments that will improve the balance of sage brush torbs and grasses that will work with interested ultimately benefit habitat for the gieater The US Pish and Wildlife VIP's Conservationist in April that would begin an extensive yearlong status review to determine vice announced NRCS WHIP Media Event in Loa Utah are (left to right) USDA Deputy NRCS West Regional Assistant Chief Utah Senator Robert Bennett District Chair Stan Wood and Utah NRCS State River Soil Conservation Sylvia Gillen the Moseley Freemont a partnership representing 15 fed oral and stale land managing agencies and private giaing land man- sage brush habitat which will timately benefit the and other sensitive species such agers to form the Utah Partners for Conservation and Development and to sign a joint resolution as the pygmy rabbit Participants at the news calling for a concerted statewide effort to slow the conversion of hirel- ing were given an opportunity to see areas on Paiker Mountain where Dixie harrow brush treat- and Great Rasin ments aerial herbicide treatments sage brush ecosystems by noxious weeds and other invasive species The NRCS WHIP contract and water structure improvemenis have been upplted with good sults Some of those same treat- the is Ser- attending Secretary Jim Sara Braasch one of several initiatives under- way to assist in the recovery of ments will be included in the new WHIP contract over the next sev eral years Jaiman pointed out that the treatment areas will follow esconservation guidelines that will mg harm the wildlife areas pecially the near the leks where the male tablished grouse performs its colorful ing strut lor mat- more infoi mation about file WHIP and other Farm Bill go to wwwnrx'sgov: or contact your local NRCS field office listed in the phone book under US government it whether to list the greater as a threatened or endangered species under the I Species Act That study has raised concerns among a number Western interests about a possible negative economic impact on the region should sage grouse be listed of Continuing drought und loss of sage biush in Utah has prompted NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE The Sanpete County is proposing to increase its property tax revenue As a result of the proposed increase the tax on a $100000 residence will be $11490 and the tax on a business having the same value as the average value of a residence in the taxing entity will be $20890 Without the proposed increase the tax on a $100000 residence would be $6688 and the tax on a business having the same value as the average value of a residence in the taxing entity would be $12160 The 2004 proposed tax rate is 002089 Without the proposed increase the rate would be 00121 6 This would be an increase of 718 which is $$4802 per year ($400 per month) on a $1 00000 residence or $8730 per year on a business having the same value as the average value of a residence in the taxing entity With NEW GROWTH this property tax increase and other factors County will increase its property tax revt Sanpete enue from $844106 collected last year to $1427227 COLLECTED THIS YEAR WHICH IS A REVENUE INCREASE OF 691 All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing on the tax increase to be held on August 24 2004 at 6 pm West Courtroom County Courthouse 160 N Main Manti Utah Published in the Gunnison Valley News on August 11 & 18 2004 Ttfinrn l CAT Tho wiuLi lu i uaLli Continues This Week at Gunnison Market! Save Big On Name Brand Items! Buy A Case OR Just A Few Cans! Ask For Our Help In Filling Out An Order OR Pick And Choose Between The 1000’s of Items Priced Just For This Annual Event! OPEN UNTIL 10 PM MONDAY THRU SATURDAY Gunnison UT a 528-306- 0 |