pest

Pest Prevention Projects and PPA 7721

Dan Pest/Pest Control, This Land of Ours, USDA-APHIS

Projects to prevent plant pests. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Over 370 projects across U.S states and territories are funded as part of a USDA program focused on plant pest and disease defense. Samantha Simon of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service tells us about the USDA program designed to support state efforts. “It grants USDA …

tour dates

NCC Expresses Disappointment with Dicamba Ruling

Dan Cotton, National Cotton Council (NCC), Pest/Pest Control

The NCC is extremely disappointed in a ruling by the Arizona Federal court that vacates the label for over-the-top use of dicamba products for the 2024 crop. (NCC/MEMPHIS, TN/February 7, 2024) – The National Cotton Council (NCC) is extremely disappointed in a ruling by the Arizona Federal court that vacates the label for over-the-top use of dicamba products for the …

ams

USDA Releases 2022 Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary

Dan Pest/Pest Control, Specialty Crops, USDA, USDA-AMS, USDA-EPA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the 2022 Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Summary, which shows that over 99% of the samples tested had pesticide residues below benchmark levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The tests were conducted on 10,665 samples from 23 commodities including fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, dairy, nuts and grains.   The PDP …

State

Around the State with Commissioner Pate

Dan Alabama, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), Industry, Pest/Pest Control, Pollinators

In this week’s “Around the State with Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate”, Commissioner I understand there is a new threat to Alabama’s honeybee colonies. Can you tell us about it? Again, if you believe you found a yellow-legged hornet, send a photo of the insect with the abdomen and legs visible to agi.alabama.gov/contact-us/ with the subject line “Invasive Species”. Or contact the …

Invasive Hornet Found in Georgia

Dan Agri-Business, Georgia, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), Pest/Pest Control

An invasive hornet is found alive in the U.S. for the first time in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Agriculture says the living Yellow-Legged Hornet a non-native hornet species, that, if allowed to establish in Georgia, could potentially threaten honey production, native pollinators, and the state’s number one industry – agriculture. Earlier this month, a beekeeper in Savannah, GA, found …

SWAT act

SWAT Act Would Fund Research on Drosophila

Dan Agri-Business, Environment, Pest/Pest Control

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) is taking another swing at the SWAT act. He, along with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) reintroduced the bipartisan Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act that would reduce the spread of spotted wing drosophila (SWD). It would also advance research on the invasive insect that is hurting fruit growers …

organizations

Organizations Voice Support for Existing Pesticide Law

Dan Agri-Business, Legislative, Pest/Pest Control, Regulation

More than 400 organizations affirmed the support of the pesticide regulatory system under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, or FIFRA, in a letter to lawmakers this week. The letter is in response to recently introduced legislation that the organizations say would undermine the science-based standards contained within our nation’s pesticide law. This is the third time these organizations …

agricultural

EPA Proposes Changes to Agricultural Worker Protection Standard

Dan Agri-Business, Environment, Pest/Pest Control, USDA-EPA

There could soon be changes to certain agricultural pesticide use rules, as the Biden administration seeks to change some adjustments made in 2020. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule that would change the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS).   In 2015, EPA made significant changes to the …

protein

Problems with Insect Protein

Dan Pest/Pest Control, This Land of Ours

Can insects really be the main source of animal protein in a healthy diet? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The use of insect protein is becoming more popular around the world, and some are saying it’s a sustainable primary source of animal protein. But now, the organization Doctors for Disaster Preparedness says that may not be so. …

technology

Technology to Prevent Pest Invasions

Dan Pest/Pest Control, Technology, This Land of Ours, USDA-APHIS

Using technology to prevent pest invasions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This week we’re focusing on technology in agriculture. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) uses the sterile insect technique to prevent invasions of damaging exotic fruit fly pests, which are among the most destructive pests of fruits …