Cahaba Tractor Co.
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Issue 65                              
July 2016
 

 

The heat is on! Summer heat and rain make the grass grow...fast! So, get your lawn mowed quickly and easily with Kubota Zero Turn Mowers. We've got great deals on new and used Zero Turns, plus get 0% financing for qualified buyers on all new equipment through July 31st.

Got questions about Zika? West Nile? Take a look at our article, What's Biting You? Protecting Yourself and Your Animals from Mosquitoes in this month's Chewin' the Cud. 

Get the latest gardening tips in the July Gardening Guide.  

There's a lot to do this month in Alabama. So, check out the July Activities and Events for details. 
  
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Chewin' the Cud: The Cahaba Tractor Corner
close up cow  
    What's Biting You?
       Protecting Yourself and
         Your Animals from Mosquitoes
 
Talk about an invasive species! One of the most annoying and blood-thirsty species to invade the state of Alabama and across the globe is the mosquito. They may be small, but--as we have recently been reminded--their bite can pack a punch that can be deadly. Over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. These deadly carriers afflict humans and animals alike, transmitting diseases and parasites. West Nile Virus, heartworms, equine encephalitis, malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Bovine Viral Diarrhea and, of course the latest to join the group, Zika, are just some of the maladies delivered by these troublesome pests.

There are about 3500 distinct species of mosquito living in the world today. Sixty species reside right here in Alabama. The state's most prevalent mosquito, Aedes albopictus or Asian tiger mosquito, was introduced to the U.S. about thirty years ago in shipments of used tires from Japan and other Asian countries. The bad news is they can live inside or outside and much prefer to dine on two-legged creatures, regardless of their loyalty to blue and orange or red and white. These aggressive hunters feed during the day, mostly late afternoon.

So, what does that have to do with the latest Zika outbreak? As you may have seen in recent news reports, the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus has caused alarm for many, especially pregnant women. The virus can be debilitating and even deadly for unborn children of infected mothers.
 
The Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in Uganda's Zika Forest by scientists at the Uganda Virus Research Institute of Entebbe. They were studying yellow fever in primates when they discovered the stubborn mosquito-bite fever. Initially, they discounted the Zika virus as a serious threat, because at least 80% of the primate victims did not develop significant illness. However, when that same bite was enacted upon a pregnant mother, the virus appeared to cause the serious and life-threatening birth defect known as microcephaly. To date, over 3,500 cases of microcephaly have been reported, mostly in Central and South America.

Although 691 confirmed cases of Zika virus in the U.S. have been reported, most have been traced to infected people who had traveled to affected areas outside the country. There have been six cases in Alabama-all of which were also related to travel to affected areas. Regardless of the amount of cases that may pop up here and there around the U.S., it's important to remember that the Zika virus is not contagious. It can only be spread when a mosquito bites an already infected person and then bites another person, transferring the virus. Less than 25% of those infected with the virus become ill. Most people have no symptoms at all.

According to Derrick Mathias, an assistant professor specializing in medical entomology at Auburn University, there's no need to worry about an outbreak of Zika in the U.S. The virus is transmitted primarily via the Aedes aegypti mosquito. That species is more prevalent in South Florida and South Texas, where high temperatures and rainfall are favorable to mosquito breeding. The Alabama mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has displaced the Zika-connected mosquito, but we should still be on guard. Zika, like West Nile, can potentially be transmitted by mutations among species.
 
There is no evidence that farm animals and pets can contract or transmit the Zika virus. Yet, since we know that mosquitoes are carriers of some serious diseases, we should do whatever we can to eliminate their breeding ground.

So, what steps can be taken to ensure protection for you and your animals?
A female mosquito can create around 200 eggs and in less than a week, with a little water, both her and her children will be on the hunt. So, the source of the breeding ground-water-must be covered, eliminated or changed every two to three days.

Since mosquitoes need less than a teaspoon of water to breed:
*Empty and scrub wading pools, outdoor children's toys, bird baths, pet water bowls, animal troughs and flower pot trays twice each week.

*Use Mosquito Bits, Dunks or Plunks in water sources that cannot be cleaned regularly.   

*Cover containers used to store rainwater for plants.

*Clean clogged gutters and drains.

*Fix leaky pipes and outside faucets.

*Dispose of old containers, buckets and tires that have standing water in them.

*Trim weeds, vines and grass where adult mosquitoes like to rest.

*Fill tree holes with sand or mortar.

*Keep window and door screens shut and repair any holes or cracks where they can enter the house.

*Avoid outdoor exposure when mosquitoes are most active: dawn and dusk.

*Wear repellants with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 and light colored clothing with long sleeved shirts and pants.

*Use netting over a stroller when outside.

Other solutions to deter mosquitoes include:
*Inviting natural predators to your yard like birds and bats by providing housing and other food. Although, not everyone agrees that either consume enough to remove the problem of mosquitoes, it's nice to have them around anyway.
*If you have a pond, invest in fish like fathead minnows, fingerling trout, fingerling bluegill or Gambusia. They will feed on mosquito larvae.
*Plant natural mosquito repellants like citronella, basil, lemon balm, mint, rosemary, marigolds and geraniums around your home and yard.

Oxitec, a Florida-based company, has engineered a "friendly" male Aedes aegypti mosquito that is designed to mate with females of the species. The result is an offspring that does not survive to adulthood. Florida officials are now debating about releasing the genetically modified mosquito in the Florida Keys where the A. aegypti have developed resistance to pesticides. 

Is a Zika Vaccine on the Horizon?
In February, the World Health Organization declared Zika a public health emergency. Pennsylvania vaccine maker Inovio Pharmaceuticals and South Korea's GeneOne Life Sciences developed a drug designed to stop the pathogen. Last month, GLS-5700 was approved for testing on healthy individuals to assess the drug's safety and effectiveness. Since mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus has been reported in 58 countries, the drive to find a vaccine is moving rapidly.

Along with medical and technological advances in the war on Zika and other related mosquito transmitted disease, taking simple, necessary steps in and around your home to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds can help deter their reproduction and disease transmission. For more information, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/; http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1116/ANR-1116.pdf; http://www.mosquito.org/mosquito-borne-diseases 
    
    
Don't let the summer heat keep you inside. If you've got work to do, we've got the equipment to make the job easier. Come see us for new and used equipment and implements to help you get the job done quickly and effectively.

Sincerely,
Cahaba Tractor Co.
2411 Hwy. 31 South
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 663-1470



Cahaba Tractor location
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At Cahaba Tractor,
we make work seem
like play!
Here's Happy Pig
Mud
In
Your
Eye
         Under the Wagon
 
A farm boy accidentally turned over his wagonload of corn.  The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise and yelled over to the boy, "Hey Willis. Forget your troubles. Come in and visit with us. I'll help you get the wagon up later."

"That's mighty nice of you," Willis answered, "but I don't think Pa would like me to."

"Aw come on boy," the farmer insisted.

"Well okay," the boy finally agreed, and added, "but Pa won't like it."

After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. "I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset."

"Don't be foolish!" the neighbor said with a smile. "By the way, where is he?"

"Under the wagon."
 
--Anonymous 

Planting
     July      
Gardening Guide

Fruits and Nuts:

Protect figs and other ripening fruits from birds.      

 

Vegetable Seed:

Plant beans, field peas, rutabagas, squash, New Zealand spinach and Irish potatoes. Begin planting collards, cabbage. broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and celery for the fall crop. Follow the AL Vegetable Garden Planting Chart for planting dates.

Vegetable Plants:
Plant tomatoes in central and north Alabama.

Annuals and Perennials:
Continue to deadhead flowers to promote more blooms. Water as needed to keep plants healthy and actively growing.

Bulbs: 
Iris and spider lilies may be planted late this month.

Roses:
Water and fertilize to keep roses healthy. Wash off excess fertilizer that may get on plants to keep them from burning.
   
Shrubs:

Continue to root shrub cuttings until late July. Mulch to keep soil moist. Remove faded blooms from crepe myrtle and other summer-blooming plants.  

 

Lawns:

Watch for diseases. Mow regularly and water as needed.     

 

Miscellaneous: 

*With hotter temperatures, keeping flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns is a major task this month.   

 

*Check all plants carefully for insects and diseases.  

   

*Water, water, water  

    

The gardening guide is based upon the USDA hardiness zones for Alabama.

The state zones are: 

North Alabama - 7a
Birmingham area - 7b
South Alabama - 8a
Mobile area - 8b
 
For more gardening info, visit:
July
Activities and Events

Celebrate America
American Village
Montevallo
thru July 22

Movies in the Park
Verteran's Park
Alabaster
July 8 & 20, 8-10pm

Antique Engine & Tractor Show
McCalla
July 9

Veggie Varieties-The Old Timey Ones-A Second Saturday at Sloss Walk & Talk
Sloss Furnaces
Birmingham
July 9, 10:30-11:30am

Alabama Gun Collectors Association Summer Show
BJCC
Birmingham
July 9-10

Fultondale Summer Fair
July 12-16

Lunch and Learn: Oh Deer....
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
July 13, 11:30am-12:30pm

Rock the River 2016: An Evening with Anders Osborne
Coosa Landing Boat Ramp
Gadsden
July 15, 7pm

Adult Concert Series: Concerts in the Forest
Vestavia Hills Library in the Forests
July 15, 6:30-7:30pm

Bulls and Barrels
Lazy B Arena
Boaz
July 15-16, 8pm

33rd Annual World Deer Expo
BJCC
Birmingham
July 15-17

Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo
Dauphin Island
July 15-17

Saddle Up for St. Jude
Gardiner Farm Co.
Tuscumbia
July 15-17

Shelby County Shindig BBQ Cookoff & Music Festival
Columbiana
July 16

Sloss Music & Arts Fest
Birmingham
July 16-17

July Trade Days
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
July 16-17

Flicks Among the Flowers,
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
July 20, 8-11pm

Capital City Shape Notes Concert
Old Alabama Town
Montgomery
July 21, 10am-3pm

W.C. Handy Music Festival
Florence
July 22-31

Adams Ranch Bred Heifer Sale
Mid State Stock Yards
Letohatchee
July 23

Southern Young Bulls & Barrels
Sokol Park
Tuscaloosa
July 23

Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
Birmingham
July 23, 11am-9pm

Party at the Parks
Railroad park
Birmingham
July 23, 4-6pm

Bark & Wine
Greystone Country Club
July 23, 6-9pm

Alabama Championship Tractor & Truck Pull
Tanner High School
July 29-30

Bulls and Barrels
Etowah County Fairgrounds
Alexandria
July 30

July Fest
Vina
July 30

152nd Anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay and Siege of Fort Morgan
Gulf Shores
July 30


 

For more Alabama events this month, visit 

    

Contact Us:
Cahaba Tractor Co.

2411 Hwy 31 South
Pelham, AL 35124
(205) 663-1470
sales@cahabatractor.com
Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm M-F

          8:00am-12:00pm Sat.


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