March 2005

Pesticide Potpourri

  • The UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office collaborates with the Southern Region IPM Center, located at North Carolina State University. The website maintained by the Center has many pesticide related data sources such as the International Maximum Residue Limit database, and the site can be browsed without a username or password. Please review some of these sources at: http://www.sripmc.org/

  • wpdoc15.gifSome Hawaiians are expressing concern that genetic engineering of taro could pose a cultural and economic threat to the Hawaiian people. Legendarily, taro is a body form of the Hawaiian god Kane, making the plant an ancestor of the Hawaiian people. University of Hawaii plant pathologist John Cho, who conducts taro research, was cited as saying he generally agrees that genetic engineering is neither necessary nor appropriate for taro grown for food, but there are instances in which new varieties have been patented, even when grown using traditional techniques. (The Honolulu Advertiser, 2/14/05).

  • wpdoc16.gifStrawberry latent ringspot virus, a problem for the past 40 years in Europe, has recently been discovered in North America by USDA researchers. Scientists found the virus on 17 percent of the California strawberry samples and on four percent of British Columbia strawberries. The virus was also found in a variegated mint. The virus, which can dramatically decrease yields, is spread by nematodes, so the scientists were surprised to find the virus in California strawberries, as most are planted in pre-fumigated soil. The scientists believe that the virus has been in this country for many years on an ornamental mint sold throughout the United States - popular because of its bright-yellow color - without anyone noticing. It turns out that the color partially comes from the ringspot virus. While the virus has only been found on mint and strawberries in the United States, it can infect many broadleaf crops. (ARS News Service, 2/18/05).

  • wpdoc17.gifA large seed bug (Dieuches armatipes) has been identified in several Florida counties - which is a new record for the state and the nation. It is reported to be a potential peanut pest. (UF PestAlert, 2/22/05).
  • wpdoc18.gifUnder an EPA grant, researchers at Miss. St. Univ. tested several biofungicides (Bacillus lichenformis in the product EcoGuard®, Trichoderma harzianum in the product TurfShield®) and hydrogen peroxide (ZeroTol®) for control of dollar spot on Tif-green bermudagrass greens last summer. These products provided control of dollar spot that was equivalent to that provided by the conventional fungicides iprodione or chlorothalonil (generally 90 percent control or higher). No phytotoxicity was noted in the treatment plots and turfgrass quality was not compromised. (EPA PESP Update, December 2004).
  • wpdoc19.gifIn an association interview, commercial flower growers Rick and Dave Brown of Riverview Flower Farm (Riverview, FL) credit the gamble of cultivating breeder-developed patented plants for part of their success. Their brand, “Florida Friendly Plants” includes native and non-natives that flourish in Florida conditions. Some of these varieties are: Leucanthemum ‘Darling Daisy’, Bracteantha bracteata ‘Coronation Gold’, and Plectranthus hybrida ‘Mona Lavender’. Said Rick Brown, “We are selling plants now that didn’t exist just a few years ago.” (Ornamental Outlook, February, 2005). Note: The reason for this piece is that there are no pesticides currently registered for the above named plants - a trend that will continue to grow.
  • wpdoc20.gifKahn Cattle Company of Bartow County, Georgia; Roger F. Kahn, owner of Kahn Cattle Co.; and Glen M. Bramlett, farm manager of the company, all pleaded guilty on January 21st in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Rome, Georgia, to unlawfully killing over 3,000 migratory birds in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In addition, Kahn Cattle Company pleaded guilty to illegally disposing of hazardous waste in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. In early 2003, Kahn and Bramlett spread corn laced with an obsolete cattle insecticide product known as Warbex around a pond on property owned by Kahn Cattle Company. The tainted corn was spread in order to kill nuisance birds. Warbex contains famphur, which is an organophosphate insecticide. As a result of this act, federal and state agents ultimately collected 3,326 birds, which included predatory birds (great horned owl and red-tailed hawk) and non-predatory birds (Canadian goose, mallard duck, cardinal, blue jay, red-winged blackbird, brown thrasher, grackle, crow and cowbird). The case was investigated by the Atlanta Office of EPA's Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with support from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. (EPA OPP Update, 2/4/05).
  • wpdoc21.gifThe almond industry is promoting an environmentally friendly image, and grower Scott Hunter is a point man in the effort as a dozen newspaper and trade magazine reporters gathered at his farm for the first Environmental Stewardship Bloom Tour, sponsored by the Almond Board of California. The tour was a chance for the almond industry to get public credit for work it has been doing for years. This group has been particularly successful at helping farmers to reduce their use of various sprays referred to as "dormants" because they are used in the winter when trees are dormant. Historically, organophosphates were used to prevent infestations of over-wintering pests such as the peach twig borer and San Jose scale. But Almond Board research found that for many farmers, the sprays were wasted money. Roger Duncan, a University of California Agricultural Extension farm adviser in Stanislaus County, was quoted as saying, "We can get by many times without using a dormant spray," adding that he now recommends that farmers put out traps for the pests and only use the sprays when the undesirable insects are present. Also, some farmers like Hunter have hooked sensors to their spraying machines to make sure jets of pesticides are released only at trees. The nozzles close between trunks. He said that cuts pesticide use between 30 and 60 percent in his orchards. (Stockton Record, 2/23/05).
  • Unlike "green" biotechnology, the "white" variety is, according to this story, less well known - and less controversial. "White" biotechnology, which uses living cells like fungi or bacteria to produce goods and service - has long ceased to be a futuristic concept. Every day, millions of people buy products containing the technology, such as washing powder which contains enzymes to make it more efficient. These modern detergents work with less water and in lower temperatures, meaning less waste water, and lower energy consumption. Analysts predict that in just a few years, up to a fifth of revenues from the chemical industry worldwide will come from biotech products. (DW World, 2/24/05).
  • In a recent article regarding community gardening, a low-cost pest control method was revealed. Organic farmer Rachel Tseng was quoted as saying when she wants fire ants to leave, she communicates with them telepathically. “I don’t want to hurt you, please move - and they always leave.” (Gainesville Sun, 2/26/05).

Ed. note: So that’s were those fire ants in my turf keep coming from!

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