Field Scouting with Google Glass? Group Will Study the Potential

There has been a lot of hype about using newer web-connected technologies to carryout field scouting and surveys in agricultural commodities.  In a feature article in the October 2014 issue of Growing Georgia, Allison Floyd provides an overview of new project funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture that will evaluate how Google Glass technologies can be used in pecan production.     

See:  http://growinggeorgia.com/features/2014/10/field-scouting-google-glass-group-will-study-potential/     

Drones & Trees:  A free quarterly newsletter by the image-analysis company Intelescope Solutions Ltd that contains very readable reports (usually 4) about operational remote sensing, use of drones, digital imaging, etc.  focused on forestry applications.  The article “A View from Above: Using Tree Crown Measurement for Early Intervention and Inventory, Article 1 in the October 2014 newsletter continues this trend.  Check it out at at http://www.intelescope.com/en/sustainability/newsl3art1_2014/.   

  

Previous newsletters have contained articles titled:

-  Satellites, Manned Aircrafts, UAVs – Pluses & Minuses of Image Sources

-  How to Select the Right UAV for Your Forestry Application

I am not promoting Intelescope, but I do find their newsletter to contain some useful information that you might also find of interest.  

Invasive Lionfish Populations May Increase Along with Water Temperatures

The lionfish, Pterois volitans, has already shown itself to be one of the fastest spreading invasive species we have seen along America's southeastern coastline, including the gulf. Unfortunately scientists think that as ocean temperatures rise the lionfish will be able to inhabit coastlines further north.

lionfish, Pterois volitans
U.S. Geological Survey Archive, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org 

If you are interested in reading more:

• Native fish community structure and Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans densities along a depth-temperature gradient in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, USA
• Warm Atlantic Ocean Waters Could Increase Expansion of Invasive Tropical Species

Georgia Outdoors Program

Check out "Invaders" by the Georgia Outdoors Program! It's available for viewing online here

Kudzu Bug and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Webinar

When:              2:00 P.M. Friday September 5, 2014 

Where:             Your Computer 

These invasive insects have negatively affected people and agricultural production systems across the Eastern and Southeastern U.S. 

In this week’s All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar¹, two leading U.S. experts on these invasive pests will discuss: how to identify them; how they are spreading; and their economic impact.

During the first half hour Dr. Mike Toews² will address the topic Kudzu Bug Takes Over the Southeastern U.S.

During the second half-hour Dr. Tracy Leskey³ will address the topic Brown Marmorated Stink Bug -- All Bad

Log into the webinar from your computer at https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/fireant and follow online instructions.

__________________________________________________

¹ The All Bugs Good and Bad 2014 Webinar Series are brought to you by the eXtension Imported Fire Ants, Urban IPM, Bee Health, Invasive Species, Gardens, Lawns and Landscapes, and Disasters Communities of Practice and by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.  For more information about  the All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series see: http://www.extension.org/pages/70120/.  

² Dr. Mike Toews is Associate Professor of Entomology and Co-Director Center for Invasive Species & Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia http://www.ent.uga.edu/personnel/faculty/toews.htm

³ Dr. Tracy Leskey is Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/people/people.htm?personid=21287

Additional information about kudzu bug and brown marmorated stink bug can be found at: https://www.extension.org/pages/62788/megacopta-cribraria-bean-plataspid#.VADSnPldWCk; https://www.extension.org/pages/13371/brown-marmorated-stink-bug-halyomorpha-halys#.VADS2vldWCk; http://www.kudzubug.org/ http://www.stopbmsb.org/

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thanks for your interest!

Giant Snake Population Expanding North

The python population is expanding north according to an article in the Palm Beach Post. Burmese python is the biggest problem and up until recently these snakes have been located mostly in the Everglades National Park where they are devastating populations of native wildlife.

• Read the article in the Palm Beach Post

  

  Burmese python, Python molurus ssp. bivittatus
  Image by Lori Oberhofer, National Park Service, Bugwood.org

Kudzu That Ate U.S. South Heads North as Climate Changes

See Bloomberg article here: http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-25/kudzu-that-ate-u-s-south-heads-north-as-climate-changes.html