Onion Maggot Control, Prattsburg, 1995

Seeds were planted 19 Apr in muck soil near Prattsburg, New York, on Franjo Farms. Plots were single rows, 30 ft long replicated 4 times in a RCB design. Germination and damage counts were recorded from the center 20 ft of each row. All seeds were planted using a hand-pushed cone seeder at the rate of 9 seeds/ft. Some insecticides were applied before planting as seed treatments by A. G. Taylor’s Horticultural Science Seed Treatment Laboratory at Geneva, NY, by film-coating an aqueous suspension of 3 parts by weight of Opadry AG, to 10 parts by weight of the seed protectors. All seed treatments also included Progro at the rate of 25 g of formulation/kg of raw seed to minimize incidence of onion smut (Urocystis cepulae). Other insecticide treatments were applied as in-furrow drenches in 75 gal water/acre at planting, or after seedling emergence as over-furrow sprays in 500 gal water/acre. Furrow treatments for smut included Dithane F-45 at planting using 2.4 qts formulation/acre based on a 15-inch row width. Over-furrow insecticide sprays were applied 23 May. Cumulative damage readings were made once or twice weekly between 23 May and 30 Jun.