SCA and Sweet Sorghum An Orphan in Crisis

SCA and Sweet Sorghum: An Orphan in Crisis Ric Bessin, Raul Villanueva University of Kentucky Sorghum – Sugarcane Aphid Research Exchange Meeting Dallas, TX January 3 – 4, 2017

Introduction • • Potentially a lucrative, small acreage crop Typically 1 to 5 acres (max 75 acres in KY) Common in Amish and Mennonite communities Very few pesticides registered – Sorghum registrations don’t extend to sweet sorghum

Economics – 200 – 220 gallons syrup / acre – $ 4 to $ 5 per pint ($ 32 to $ 40 / gal. ) • $6400 to $8800 per acre – 1000 to 1500 acres in Kentucky • 6, 400, 000 to $13, 200, 00 for KY

Sugarcane Aphid, a mid-summer through harvest pest In Kentucky

Concentration of Juice for Syrup Concentration process (9: 1), this is where most labor and cost is involved

High percentage of sweet sorghum growers are Amish or Mennonite Vernon community (Monroe Co. , KY) with 24 families growing 50 acres of sweet sorghum

Vernon Community: Not organic, but have never used pesticides Not certified as private applicators Have one field owned by their community to fund their school

Strategies used in 2016 and recap: • Early maturing varieties (lower yielding) • Spreading risk with multiple varieties • Transplanting sweet sorghum • Companion plantings inside/outside of field • Section 18 emergency use not successful through EPA • Section 18 crisis-exemption insecticide (issued by KDA) • Sivanto Prime (4 to 10. 5 fl oz/app, 7 day PHI, 7 day interval, 4 app/season, 28 fl oz/season)

SCA management Buckwheat strips planted throughout their fields To increase natural enemies for aphid management Early planting and early harvest Field stripped prior to harvest.

Key Learnings • Equipment needed to get spray coverage and minimize exposure • Getting some sweet sorghum producers willing to begin using insecticides over a 12 foot crop