September 2003

Pesticide Potpourri

  • A new area of litigation is mold “damage” claims. The Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform and Center for Legal Policy at The Manhattan Institute recently released two analyses: “A New Plague - Mold Litigation: How Junk Science and Hysteria Built an Industry” and “A Scientific View of the Health Effects of Mold.” As one can guess, the two documents advanced the belief that serious health claims linked to mold do not meet the “reliable standard” set by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1995 and that there is no sound scientific evidence that mold causes toxicity in home environments. Surprisingly, a California congressman said he would do anything to kill legislation that would lend credence to this notion. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 7/28/04).
  • wpdoc11.gifWith a majority of soybean plantings in the U.S. using glyphosate-tolerant technology, potential drift problems were inevitable. Arkansas is currently dealing with a situation that probably was not predicted by risk managers. When glyphosate lands on rice tissue during the reproductive stage, the effect can be a seed head that is blank or deformed. Since soybeans in Arkansas (2.9 million acres) were planted late this year, weed control needed to be performed later, which was during the reproductive window of the rice crop (1.4 million acres). Some farmers may think that they are seeing straighthead disease when they are really seeing the effects of glyphosate. The flag leaf is normal in straighthead disease, but it is stunted by glyphosate. Also, about 80 percent of Arkansas’ 950,000 acres of cotton are glyphosate resistant. (Delta Farm Press, 8/13/03)
  • wpdoc12.gifThe American Water Works Association has notified the EPA that it believes the immunoassay method selected for monitoring atrazine in water is flawed. The specific concern is that water samples exposed to chlorine dioxide will interfere with the detection of atrazine. Consequently, steps to dechlorinate the water must be taken. The AWWA also argued that the trigger for atrazine regulation should be 12 PPB, rather than 37.5 PPB. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 8/4/03).
  • wpdoc13.gifAn Auburn University researcher believes that sodium azide may be a good replacement for methyl bromide, and may be potentially better than this material for two reasons. Sodium azide applied via drip irrigation has shown yield results in Alabama, Florida, and California that are equivalent to methyl bromide or better. The material also breaks down within a couple of weeks. The chemical’s manufacturer, American Pacific, is trying to register the compound under the trade name SEP-100. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 8/4/03).
  • blsbt-05a.jpgThe third outbreak of blister beetles in Florida this summer has been detected as eight horses in Miami-Dade County have been afflicted by contaminated feed and three have died. As was the case with earlier outbreaks in both Clay and Palm Beach counties, the contaminated alfalfa hay had come from Oklahoma. The FDACS is urging horse owners who use imported alfalfa - especially from Oklahoma - to deal only with reputable suppliers and to examine their feed carefully before providing it to their horses. Blister beetle is occasionally found in alfalfa hay imported into Florida as a result of modern haying practices, which crush the beetles during hay baling. The beetle releases a highly irritating substance into the hay, resulting in severe colic and sometimes death of horses which consume the contaminated hay. Horse owners throughout Florida can contact the FDACS' Division of Animal Industry at (850) 410-0900 with any questions regarding this issue. (FDACS Press Release of 8/20/03).
  • Beginning this fall, U.S. border inspectors will be trained to look for "agroterrorism," defined as the deliberate import of harmful pests or plant and animal diseases. Commissioner Robert Bonner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told members of The National Plant Board last week that border agents will cross-train agricultural experts to share each other's expertise. The NPB is an organization of state plant pest regulatory agencies. (CropLife America Spotlight, 8/29/03).
  • corp2118-2.jpgSome pesticides and other chemicals used around the world have been detected in arctic seawater, a finding that could lead to stricter international controls. In comments at a conference in Boston in late August devoted to arctic area persistent organic pollutants, a member of Canada's Meteorological Service said, "The appearance of a new chemical in the arctic is a nail in the coffin when it comes to international regulations and controls." Such detection means a chemical has traveled great distances by air, water, or animals to locations where there are few, if any, local sources. Chemicals named include the pesticides endosulfan, lindane and trifluralin. The research is part of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program. For more information, access the report at http://www.amap.no (CropLife America Spotlight, 8/29/03).
  • europeanstarlinglcl.jpgWith their keen eyesight, good hunting skills and speed, falcons have become the preferred method for some west coast wine grape growers who want to rid their vineyards of pests and keep costs to a minimum. This year, nine vineyards in San Luis Obispo County have hired a falconer to scare away thousands of European starlings - small, mottled birds known as "winged rats," - whose voracious appetites lead them to consume entire crops of grapes. With wine grapes as the county's most valuable crop - earning almost $118 million last year, according to the county agriculture report - keeping starlings out of a vineyard is vital. (The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, CA via Agnet).
  • mapimg2.gifOfficials from the Brazilian government were cited as saying on September 2 that a United States agriculture inspector was sent home from Brazil after he was found collecting data on fungus on soybean crops without permission. The inspector, who was not identified, was sent home by the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia after Brazil's Agriculture Ministry complained. "There was no authorization from the Agriculture Ministry," said a source at Brazil's Agriculture Ministry. "This never happened before." The U.S. Embassy was not immediately available for comment. (Reuters, 9/2/03 via Agnet).
  • ole2.gifNew Zealand ranchers launched a nationwide protest of the government’s plan to introduce a flatulence tax on sheep and cattle. The demonstrations, dubbed “Fight Against Ridiculous Taxes” (FART) protest fees that will supposedly go to global warming research. New Zealand’s government claims that half of its greenhouse gas emissions are due to ruminants, and that ranchers should share the costs of finding ways to reduce these gases. (Gainesville Sun, 8/24/03).

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