• Texas ranks 3rd in U.S. production.
• Cash value for farmers is $82 million annually and economic impact exceeds $115 million in the state.
• Melons include cantaloupes (75%), honeydews (20%), and other related melons. Most melons are direct seeded but 5 to 10% of acreage is transplanted for earlier marketing. There are 12,000 to 20,000 acres grown in Texas, depending on market outlook.
• Growers prefer hybrid seed because of higher yields and consistent quality. Most melons are produced with plastic mulch and drip irrigation. Some areas use furrow or sprinkler irrigation.

• Problems include whiteflies, aphids, mites, lepidopteran worms, leafminers, squash bugs, and thrips. All of these insects can cause significant losses that can exceed 50% but can be controlled with insecticides. Aphids and whiteflies also transmit serious viruses.
• Honeybees are essential for pollination and fruit development. Insecticides that may harm pollinators are often applied in evenings when the bees are not foraging.
• There are no insect-resistant varieties. Early planting helps reduce some losses due to late-season insects. Some varieties resist viruses transmitted by aphids and other insects.
• Diazinon, oxamyl (Vydate), and dimethoate (Cygon) are three FQPA-targeted products that, if withdrawn, could negatively impact the industry by 10% in yield. Currently there are no commercial replacements for diazinon. An alternative for dimethoate could be imidacloprid (Admire, Provado) which is labeled as a Section 3. Oxamyl is used primarily as a nematicide; there are no economical replacements.

• Problems include fungal leaf spots, Fusarium wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and gummy stem blight, and others.
• Some melon varieties resist several pathogens such as fusarium wilt and powdery mildew. Some varieties tolerate sulfur, which can be used to control powdery mildew.
• No biological control agents are available.
• Chlorothalonil (Bravo)and dithiocarbamates (Maneb and others) are two FQPA targeted products that could negatively impact the industry by 50% in yield if withdrawn. These two products control a broad spectrum of fungal diseases. There are no commercial replacements for these products but azoxystrobin (Quadris) is labeled as a section 3 and myclobutanil (Nova) is labeled as an emergency use/Section 18. These fungicides are effective against certain pathogens and are not broad spectrum.

• Pigweed, purslane, sunflower, and others reduce crop growth by robbing water and shade from the crop. Texas panicum, johnsongrass, and yellow nutsedge are highly competitive with melons for water and shade.
• Cultivation is practiced while the plants are young but once vines become one foot or longer, tillage is no longer possible. Fields are rotated to reduce pest problems.
• Bensulide (Prefar) is an FQPA targeted product that if withdrawn could negatively impact the industry by as much as 20% reduction in yields. Two partial replacements are trifluralin (Treflan) and naptalam (Alanap) but can cause some phytotoxicity. Halosulfuron (Permit) is being assessed for postemergence weed control.

• Field scouts monitor pest problems and give spray advisories as needed.
• Breeding continues to provide improved cultivars, including potential for GMO lines.
• For latest information regarding these issues and status of risk assessments contact j-anciso@tamu.edu or visit ipmwww.ncsu.edu/opmppiap and www.epa.gov/pesticides.

Educational programs conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife, Texas A&M University, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin.