The Cooperative Extension Service And The Civil War

by Thomas R. Fasulo
Entomologist and Civil War Reenactor
((or is it Civil War Reenactor and then Entomologist?)

Although no Matthew Brady photographs of ticks in uniform exist, they did serve in the Civil War. In fact, I'm currently writing a book called "Fighting Ticks of the Confederacy". I just finished the first chapter, "Eight Legs For Texas", that recounts the exploits of the Lone Star Tick Brigade.

Those of you who have an interest in insects and other arthropods (and it's well-deserved, as insects are the primary life form in the world) might appreciate the following information.

(I could start a long discussion on why insects are the primary life form and how they differ from mites and ticks, but are usually lumped in together under entomology. But I won't. You can thank me later.)

Abraham Lincoln, blessings be upon him, signed the Morrill Act during the Civil War (1862) that had as much, if not more, effect upon the United States as the Civil War did. This act started land-grant universities in each state and, as a result, the Cooperative Extension Service (CES). In 1995, the USDA reorganized this Service as part of its whole reorganization. As a result it is no longer called the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) but some other name which has as its acronym CSRESS, or something like that. Hey, what did you expect from federal reorganization?

Those who reenact come into contact with many of my little friends. (As an entomologist I make a living working with these guy so I consider them my friends.) These include ticks, chiggers, mosquitos, ants, biting flies of all types (mosquitos are flies too, but are mentioned separately because...well, this could start another long discussion) wasps, bees (including the Africanized bees for southern U.S. reenactors) and other crawling and flying critters.

As an entomologist and extension specialist I could send each of you publications on all the above and the CES (or is it CRESS?) would pay for it. However, the information I send would be generalized (and Florida specific). Each county in the United States has a county extension office that has more information (or access to it) than you can believe. The information is in the form of documents and services provided by that office and your state's land-grant university. This information is also generalized and specific to your state.

These publications cover 4-H, pest (insects, diseases, nematodes, spiders, ticks, etc.) control, shed building, commercial and home horticulture and gardening, home economics, care of horses and cattle, and many other topics. Services includes insect identification, plant disease diagnosis, soil samples, and recommendations in these areas. Some services cost. For example, if an extension agent at a county office can't identify an insect, he or she might send it to the university. My department has an Insect Identification Lab that, for $8, provides identification down to species, generalized chemical control recommendations and specific recommendations from the state extension specialist in that area. Check out your state's services.

Those of you in reenacting who thought of ways a lot of this information can help you in our hobby, have my permission to pat yourselves on the back. Those of you who didn't might want to consider how sewing, quilt making, pest control (including fabric pest control), horse and oxen care, cooking, canning and preserving, and more are all connected in some way with our hobby.

While a number of publications (color brochures, software, and large black and white booklets) are for sale, 99.9 % are free. Let me say that again in case you missed it. FREE (Well, actually your taxes pay for them.)

The best way to find your county extension office and access the information that can help you in reenacting, and your "other life" is to look in the telephone book, usually the county or state government section, under County Extension Service, Cooperative Extension Service, or Alachua County Extension Service. (I used my county, Alachua, here. You need to substitute your own.) Call and ask them where they are. They will often mail you information, but if you want lots of publications (or want to browse the hundreds of publications) you really need to go there.

Another way to obtain information is by computer, as if you didn't know that already. For example, while many states don't offer university-recommended chemical recommendations, the University of Florida does. And we have them on the World Wide Web. My department develops the the complete Florida Insect Management Guide for the current year. You can view and download recommendations on specific insects and arthropod pests (ticks, mosquitos, chiggers, wasps, deer flies, etc.) or the entire guide in a subject area (homeowner, horse, cattle, tomatoes, fruits, etc.).

My department's WWW site contains information on most urban and homeowner pests (ticks, chiggers, flies, ants, wasps, cockroaches) and links to over 300 publications on every aspect of entomology. We also sell a lot of Buggy Software. Many of the publications contain information on the biological, cultural and reduced-pesticide control of the "bad insects." In addition, there are links to the whole world of entonomology on the WWW. In fact, more information than you want to know. The URL is http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/

Here's an additonal note. Insects are mostly protein. This means they can be eaten in the field and provide a healthy fat-free diet. When Civil War soldiers and sailors banged the weevils out of their hard tack they were doing themselves a disservice. Don't make the same mistake. After a day of reenacting there is nothing like sitting around an open campfire sharing a pan of deep-fried mealworms and roasted crickets with your pards!

Private Thomas R. Fasulo
University of Florida Entomologist (day job)
Gainesville, FL 32611

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