503 



weevils until the first of August and insecticide costs were reduced 30 to 50 

 percent. In Monroe County, extensive spring woods trash collections indicated 

 that boll weevils surviving the program and the winter weather were small in 

 number. Long-range movement of weevils into the treated area was negligible 

 after June 12. After one insecticide application in early June, growers did 

 not need to apply insecticides again for boll weevil control until mid-August. 

 In 1968, the program was expanded to 51.200 acres of cotton in six counties. 

 Most farmers followed program recommendations, however many did not treat 

 throughout September because cotton matured earlier. The highly effective 

 program the preceding year made it hard to convince some former participants 

 that a need still existed for the program. The 1968 program was successful. 



994. . 1976. Activities of the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service in 

 the Pilot Boll Weevil Eradication Experiment, 1971-73. In Boll Weevil 

 Suppression, Management, and Elimination Technology. Proceedings of a 

 Confesence, February 13-15, 1974, Memphis, Tennessee. U.S. Agric. Res. 

 Serv. [Rep.] ARS-S-71, pp. 70-72. 

 On July 1, 1971, H. C. Mitchell was hired and placed in the area as Extension 

 entomologist to carry out the MCES's activities along with the county agents. 

 Mitchell served as liaison between the various agricultural agencies involved 

 in the program, and in many cases served as a troubleshooter when we found a 

 fanner who was unwilling to carry out certain parts of the program. Mitchell 

 was one of the real keys to the success of the eradication program. Several 

 methods were used to inform cotton producers of the experiment and the ways in 

 which they would benefit from it. Countywide producer meetings, community 

 meetings, individual contacts, radio, television, and newspapers were used to 

 spread information concerning the experiment. Weekly weevil-eradication news- 

 letters prepared by the Extension Service entomologists and mailed by the county 

 agents helped to keep cotton producers informed of current developments. Boll 



