Sugar Beet Nematode 



Carried by Irrigation Water 



Irrigation water passing over infested areas carries many nematodes 

 to uninfested localities with the soil washed away from these areas. 



The use of factory waste water for irrigation purposes has resulted 

 in spreading this pest over large areas in those localities where the nem- 

 atodes exist. 



Carried by Implements, People and Live Stock 



Nematode infested soil is often carried from infested to uninfested 

 fields on the farm implements used in their cultivation. 



The wagons used in hauling a crop from infested fields or in hauling 

 manure onto such fields often carry the nematodes to other fields. 



Work animals or stock allowed to run on infested land, as well as 

 people, spread this pest by carrying the eel worm in the soil clinging to 

 their feet. 



In Manure of Animals 



The sugar beet nematode does not pass through the digestive organs 

 of sheep alive. There seems to be no evidence that this is true of other 

 farm animals. It is therefore quite possible that nematodes may be 

 carried in the manure of other animals, and if beet tops on infested land 

 are to be pastured, sheep should be used for this purpose. 



METHODS OF CONTROL 



The fact that the sugar beet nematode is a really formidable 

 pest, if allowed to spread, cannot be too strongly impressed upon 

 the minds of all beet growers, especially as it occurs in damaging 

 numbers in several beet growing sections of the United States, 

 including a small area in Colorado. 



Since there are no known methods of entirely freeing the soil of 

 nematodes which can be used in field practice, the adoption of proper 

 precautions to prevent their introduction into new fields is of the greatest 

 importance. Once this eelworm is established, the prevention of its 

 spread is no less important than the establishing of a system of crop 

 rotation which will check its multiplication. 



How to Prevent Spread of Nematodes 



(1) No waste water should be allowed to run from infested to un- 

 infested fields. 



(2) In infested areas, factory waste water should not be used for 

 irrigation purposes unless first properly treated with lime. 



(3) All implements used in working infested land should be very 

 carefully cleaned by removing all soil from them before they are used in 

 uninfested fields. This includes the cleaning of wagon wheels. 



(4) The feet of persons and work animals should be thoroughly 

 cleaned before going from infested to uninfested fields. 



(5) Live stock should not be allowed to run on infested land unless 

 it is to be confined there until removed to market. 



(6) Beet tops from infested land should not be removed but should 

 be pastured on the land where grown. 



.(7) The manure of animals fed on beet tops from infested land 

 should not be used on uninfested land. 



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