Cahaba Tractor Co.
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Issue 66                               
August 2016
 

 

It's definitely the dog days of summer! So, don't stay out in the heat. Get your lawn mowed...fast...with Kubota Zero Turn Mowers.
Speaking of getting the job done quickly, take a look at the Kubota L2501 on sale now with 0% interest. See more below.

Have you been bugged by house flies? Wonder why there are so many and where they're coming from? Then read Bug Off! Preventing and Controlling Fly Infestations in this month's Chewin' the Cud for the ugly facts on flies. 

It may be hot, but there's still work to do in the garden. Get the latest tips in the August Gardening Guide.  

And, make sure you take a look at the August Activities and Events to get the latest on what's going on around the state this month. 
  
  Let's Get to Work!

 Get this Kubota L2501 at a
      Special Sale Price with 0% financing!     
 

  Used Products and Specials  

Check out all the great deals at cahabatractor.com.
Hurry in for the best selection!

Get this and other great buys in our Used Products!
Kubota L3940 HSTC $26,980
Enclosed Cab with A/C & Heat,
Front Loader with 6' Land Pride HD Cutter

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Chewin' the Cud: The Cahaba Tractor Corner
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                      Bug Off!
       Preventing and Controlling
                Fly Infestations
 
What can get in through the tiniest hole, but cannot get out through the window? The house fly--that irritating little buzzer that dive bombs at you while you eat and manages to escape the almighty fly swatter every time. If you've been inundated with these pesky bugs this summer, then read on.

It just so happens that, like other plants and animals, our little friends are "in season" right now. The common house fly, aka Musca domestica, prefers warmer temperatures and is most active between late spring and early autumn. That explains the sudden onslaught of flies buzzing around your house and making your life miserable. Unless you live in the polar ice caps, you cannot escape flies. So what do we do to get rid of them? The saying goes that to defeat your enemy, you have to know your enemy. So, let's explore some facts about house flies: who they are, what they do, and what we can do to get rid of them.

House Fly Life Cycle
House flies typically live for about 30 days in the wild. Although, those that have set up permanent residence in your home may live longer. There are four stages in the house fly life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The cycle begins when an adult female house fly lays her eggs in any warm, moist matter that will also feed her larvae, typically dead and decaying animals, compost, fecal matter or uncovered food. She will lay about 100-150 eggs at a time. Within a few days, she is capable of laying close to 1,000 eggs.

In 24 hours, the eggs hatch into larvae, also known as maggots. Egg larvae resemble small grains of rice. The larvae feed on the matter where they were deposited for three to five days. After molting several times, they will make their way to a drier, darker place to pupate. Fly pupae are encased in a hard, brown shell to protect them while they develop. In three to six days, they will emerge as an adult fly. The flies emerge all at once, creating an infestation in areas. Within two to three days of becoming an adult, a female house fly is capable of breeding and the cycle begins again. One pair of flies can produce more than one million offspring through their offsprings' offspring in a matter of weeks. In winter when temperatures are colder, flies survive as larvae or pupae in a warm location until spring and the cycle begins again.

House Fly Diseases
Since the house fly begins its life living in and feeding on excrement, animal carcasses and garbage, it is known to carry more than 100 pathogens, including Salmonella, Staphylococcus, E. coli and Shigella. These pathogens can cause diseases in humans and animals like typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and hepatitis, among others. House flies collect these pathogens on the tiny hairs on their legs and mouth while feeding. This is how diseases are transmitted to humans and animals. When flies land on food or whatever they choose as their latest meal, they liquefy it with saliva before sopping it up with their sponge-like mouthparts. Basically, they regurgitate as they eat. In addition, wherever they land, all the pathogens that they have picked up along the way is transferred to the object on which they land.

House Fly Prevention and Control
Now that you know the ugly, disgusting truth of what these flies do each and every time they land, here's some ways to protect and prevent them from becoming a problem in your life:

Prevention
* Remove and clean up any outside waste around your house, including animal fecal matter, dead animals or rodents.
* Remove rotted fruits and vegetables from your garden.
* Keep trash bins clean and tightly closed. Also place them as far away from home entrances as possible. 
* Repair torn window screens and seal any entry points to your home such as around doors and pipes. Also, keep doors closed.
* Do not leave spoiled food or over-ripened fruits or vegetables uncovered inside your house to keep flies from laying eggs on them.  

Control
* Flies have a highly evolved evasive ability and a wild field of vision that helps them avoid getting smacked with the fly swatter. It takes (.2) seconds for a fly to respond to someone swatting them. So, you might try using two fly swatters from opposite directions.
* Fly paper works well in small places. Ultraviolet traps are good for use indoors. Inverted cone fly traps are good for outdoor applications. Commercial fly baits are made with a pheromone that attracts flies. When all else fails, you may need to hire a professional exterminator.
* Some natural solutions that have been used and may or may not work include: Boric acid and carnivorous plants such as, Venus fly trap and the pitcher plant. Parasitoid wasps have been incorporated on large farms where huge piles of manure become ideal breeding grounds for flies. The wasp stings a fly pupa then lays a single egg inside the shell. The hatched wasp larvae feeds on the pupa and grows. Another upside to using parasitoid wasps is they generally kill any fly pupa they come across, whether they lay an egg inside or not.

Not only are house flies annoying, but they can be expensive, too. Treating an illness transmitted through flies to you, your pets or your livestock can be costly. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture states that flies contaminate or destroy $10 billion worth of agriculture products annually.

Ridding your home and farm of the common house fly is best done by preventing them from moving in and taking up residence around your home. The more diligent you are in removing any possible breeding grounds now, the least likely they'll be seeking out real estate opportunities on your turf in the future.
      
    
We know it's hot outside, so you need equipment that's going to help you get it done right. Come and see all the new and used equipment we have in stock to help you work faster and smarter.

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



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A young woman went to her doctor complaining of pain. "Where are you hurting?" asked the doctor.

"You have to help me, I hurt all over," said the woman.

"What do you mean, all over?" asked the doctor, "be a little more specific."

The woman touched her right knee with her index finger and yelled, "Ow, that hurts." Then she touched her left cheek and again yelled, "Ouch! That hurts, too." Then she touched her right earlobe, "Ow, even THAT hurts," she cried.

The doctor checked her thoughtfully for a moment and paused to give her the diagnosis, "You have a broken finger," he said. 
 
--Anonymous 

Planting
     August       
Gardening Guide

Fruits and Nuts:

Cut our old blackberry canes after fruiting and then fertilize and cultivate for replacement canes.        

 

Vegetable Seed:

Plant turnips, beans, field peas and rutabagas in south Alabama. Follow the AL Vegetable Garden Planting Chart for planting dates.

Vegetable Plants:
Plant cabbage, collards, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and celery.

Annuals and Perennials:
Water as needed to keep plants healthy and actively growing. Plant perennials and biennials.

Bulbs: 
Divide old iris plantings and add new ones.

Roses:
Water and fertilize to keep roses healthy. Hybrid teas and floribundas may need extra pruning to keep them from having a scraggly appearance.
   
Shrubs:

Layer hydrangea branches.    

 

Lawns:

Continue to watch for diseases. Mow regularly and water as needed.     

 

Miscellaneous: 

*As the heat continues this month, it's important to keep flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns healthy.    

 

*Watch plants closely for insects and diseases.  

   

*Water as needed.    

    

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:
August
Activities and Events

152 Anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay and Siege of Fort Morgan
Gulf Shores
August 1 and 6-7

Game Check Seminar
Tuscaloosa
August 2

National Coast Guard Day
August 4

Game Check Seminar
Butler
August 4

World's Longest Yard Sale
Fort Payne
August 4-7

Summer Flower Show
Wetumpka
August 4-26

Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
August 5

Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days
Athens
August 5-6

National Friendship Day
August 7

Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive Day
Alabama National Cemetery
Montevallo
August 11

Game Check Seminar
Troy
August 11

Alabama Restaurant Week
Statewide
August 12-21

Left Hander's Day
August 13

Beef Cattle Conference
Auburn
August 13

Bulls and Barrels
Huntsville
August 13

Game Check Seminar
Huntsville
August 13

Game Check Seminar
Spanish Fort
August 16

Game Check Seminar
Alexander City
August 18

South Alabama Pro Rodeo Classic
Ozark
August 19-20

Buckmasters 20th Annual Expo
Montgomery
August 19-21

Bulls and Barrels
Childersburg
August 20

Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony
August 21

Game Check Seminar
Cullman
August 23

18th Annual Herdbuilder Replacement Female Sale
Uniontown
August 26

9th Annual Small Ruminant Conference
Orange Beach
August 26-27

Game Check Seminar
Camden
August 29





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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