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Prior
to completing his undergraduate work, Usery began a comparative study on
commercially available cotton varieties. In his thesis, Usery looked for
which varieties exhibited a tolerance for reniform nematodes. He found
no cotton variety with a tolerance to this nematode.
He
also ran a three-year trial on the effects chicken litter might have on
the unwelcome parasites. Usery’s greenhouse study showed that the
litter had an antagonist effect on the nematodes. His field trials,
though, did not show an effect.
Identify
and Enumerate
Since
total eradication of the reniform nematode is not possible at the
present time, Usery is content to identify infestations and quantify the
populations. He does this in his lab near Elkmont.
Most
of his work is done in the fall. About 90 percent of his work is aimed
at identifying reniform nematodes, but his lab can identify other
nematodes, as well.
Once
the soil samples are received, Usery begins the process of separating
the soil and organic matter from the nematodes. He does this by passing
the samples through progressively smaller sieves.
Once
the nematodes are separated from the soil and organic matter, Usery uses
the sugar sucrose centrifugation method to extract the nematodes. After
he extracts them, the nematodes are then ready to be identified and
counted.
Up
to this point, the work is basic—just like what is done in any lab. In
order to identify the nematodes, Usery must compare what is in the Petri
dish to known images of the reniform nematode.
He
said the name reniform is Latin for "kidney." Since the
females look kidney-shaped while they are feeding, the parasite was
given the name reniform nematode.
"I
find other random nematodes in most soil samples," said Usery.
"Usually it’s the kind that feeds on organic matter—not
threatening to crops."
After
he identifies the reniform nematodes, then he must count. Usery said
severe infestations are represented by a population of 3000 to 4000
reniform nematodes in a 150cc soil sample.
According
to Usery, populations in the Limestone County area are becoming more
prevalent. One of the most common ways for the nematodes to be
transported to a clean field is on equipment.
Once
the nematodes are present in a field and cotton is planted, they have an
automatic food base to feed from, noted Usery.
The
Goal: Suppression
To
suppress the growth of reniform nematodes in his own fields, Usery
plants cotton only every third year. He rotates with corn and soybeans.
Usery
said the nematodes are most active when the temperature is above 60
degrees. During this time, the females feed and reproduce 50 to 200 eggs
every 20 to 30 days.
With
an active reproduction cycle, a field with a small infestation at the
beginning of the season can have a severe infestation by season’s end.
Once
an infestation is detected in a cotton field, Usery advises rotating
with corn to stunt the infestation.
Many
times there is no indication that an infestation exists in a cotton
planting. "There is no identifiable symptom other than bad yield
loss," said Usery. "Many producers confuse the problem with
fertilization problems. The only way to know for sure is to have the
soil tested."
FFA Paved
the Way
Like
many young men who grew up farming, Usery would have been content to
stay on the family farm for the rest of his life. However, he became
interested in the study of agronomy and soils during his time in the
Future Farmers of America (FFA) at Elkmont High School.
"My
ag advisor, Randy Black-ledge, really got me interested in soils,"
Usery recalled. "If it hadn’t been for him, I probably wouldn’t
have gone to college."
Even
though he ended up back on the family farm, Usery is glad he decided to
complete his formal education. "I will always have that education,
whether I use it here or elsewhere," he said.
Usery
recalled that while at Auburn University, he was surrounded by young
people with similar interests to him, just like during his FFA years.
"FFA is practical education," said Usery. "It teaches
leadership, as well."
Celina
Gaines, manager of Limestone Farmers Co-op, stated that she had met
Stan, Jr. while attending Auburn and is proud to see innovative people
like him keeping up with advancements and keeping agriculture alive.
Usery
farms with his father, Stan Usery, Sr. They have nine broiler houses and
400 no-till acres of cotton, corn and soybeans. He said the family began
row-cropping again to make use of the chicken litter from their
operation.
Usery,
Sr. serves on the board of directors for the Limestone Farmers Co-op in
Athens.
Usery’s
wife of two years, Kayla, manages the CVS store in Madison.
Usery’s
lab can be reached through its website, useryconsulting.com.
Susie
Sims is a freelance writer from Haleyville. |
