Pesticide Potpourri
- The Pesticide Information Office has recently published a trio of circulars that examine the cost of pesticides used in Florida on a per acre basis. The three papers are split between fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides/miticides/nematicides. Look for them in the Extension database (EDIS).
- The Pesticide Information Office has compiled a set of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for online purchase. Our goal is to give pesticide handlers and applicators an alternative, and hopefully more convenient option for receiving CEU credits. With cooperation from the Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services, these modules are now available
for purchase through the IFAS Bookstore. Each presentation should take around fifty minutes to complete, and each cost $20.00. We will continue to add modules to our collection. Since these modules are still in their early state, suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated. Please feel free to contact the Pesticide Information Office at (352) 392-4721. If you experience any technical issues with the modules, you can 
contact Nathan Whidden at nwhidden@ufl.edu. Please follow the purchasing directions on the IFAS Bookstore’s website. You need Macromedia Flash installed to view the presentations. To access these modules, and to receive further information, please visit our website: http://pested.ifas.ufl.edu/ - Recently published research suggests that historic use of Chilean nitrate fertilizer has contributed to background perchlorate levels in certain agricultural areas. This molecule was detected in several types of foods grown in the U.S. The lead researcher was quoted as saying “Many people, including myself, have focused on military-industrial sources of perchlorate. But the numbers don’t support it. Stepping back, the best way to get something into the food chain is fertilizer.” These fertilizers were imported into the U.S. by the hundreds of tons in the 1800s. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 10/2/06).
- Tests by an independent laboratory have found no genetically modified events (LL601 or other) in samples of breeder seed or foundation seed grown by the University of Arkansas system over the past three years said UA Vice President for Agriculture Milo Shult. The university is a major supplier of foundation rice seed to seed dealers. Arkansas produces about half of the rice grown in the United States. Transgenic rice varieties have been developed by seed companies and certified by the U. S. Department of Agriculture as posing no risk to public health or the environment, but they have not been approved for commercial use due to their potential impact on trade with countries that prohibit the import of genetically modified rice. About half of the Arkansas rice crop is exported. (Northwest Arkansas News Source, 9/25/06).
- In Brazil, Bt cotton, modified to contain an insecticidal gene of bacterial origin toxic to common lepidopteran pests, will result in a reduction in the number of insecticide applications, which translates to a reduction in production costs. “Today, cotton production in Brazil requires about 20 applications of insecticides to control insect pests,” said Wilhelmus Uitdewilligen, from the Association of Cotton Producers of Mato Grosso, Brazil. “With transgenic cotton, we estimate a reduction of 25%.” Biotech cotton has been approved for commercial planting by the Brazilian Technical Commission for Biosafety. “With a reduction in costs and a decrease in the use of insecticides, we will improve our competitiveness in the international cotton market,” said Uitdewilligen. He also stated that Brazil has a ten-year delay in adopting the technology compared to international competitors like the United States, China, and India, which affects the competitiveness of the Brazilian product. (Crop Biotech Update, 9/22/06).
- CropLife Canada members reported a decrease in pest control product sales in 2005, down 3% over 2004. This decrease was mainly in the herbicide sector in the cereal and oilseed crops, down 1% and 7%, respectively. Insecticide sales continued to fall in 2005 down 35%, while fungicide and seed treatment sales increased by 2% and 10%,
respectively, over 2004. Herbicides continue to dominate pesticide sales
in Canada accounting for 78% of all pesticide sales in Canada in 2005. Cereal crops accounted for 41% of all pesticide sales. Sales of pesticide by active ingredient decreased by 5% over 2004. Specialty product sales accounted for 8% of pesticide sales in 2005, an increase of 8% over 2004 with Seed Treatment continuing its yearly increase, up 10% over 2004. (CropLife Canada, 9/22/06). - A California county judge recently ruled that an almond grower and his managers will go to trial after an employee became sick from methyl bromide exposure while fumigating the orchard. The owner of Golden West Nuts, Inc., his manager, and his foreman have all been charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors for allegedly failing to provide protective equipment, pesticide use training, and proper medical care to the worker. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 9/18/06).
- In early September, a lawn care company in Michigan mistakenly sprayed the yard of a known anti-pesticide activist. TruGreen ChemLawn sprayed the lawn and then posted a warning sign for pets and children to stay off the lawn until dry near a sign the activist had posted that read “Pesticide-Free Zone.” The activist was understandably upset. The mixup occurred when TruGreen acquired another company that the activist had hired to aerate the yard as well as do sprinkler work. The contract with TruGreen has been canceled. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 9/18/06).
