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 …

organizations

Battle over Atrazine Continues

Dan Corn, Environment, Field Crops, Pest/Pest Control, USDA-EPA

Late last month, the Environmental Protection Agency reopened the finalized reregistration of atrazine. The EPA proposes an extremely low ecological level of concern value for atrazine of just 3.4 parts per billion, down from the scientifically proven 15 parts per billion, according to Gary Marshall, Triazine Network Co-Chair and retired Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO. “In 2019, the EPA agreed …

gcc

Growers Disappointed Supreme Court Decides Not to Hear Glyphosate Case

Dan Pest/Pest Control, Regulation

Agriculture groups expressed disappointment regarding a Supreme Court decision denying consideration of the case Monsanto v. Hardeman, which pertains to state glyphosate health warnings. A coalition of groups issued a joint statement regarding the decision Tuesday, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and National Cotton Council. The joint …

epa

Growers Frustrated with EPA Regarding Pesticide Impacts

Dan Legislative, Pest/Pest Control, Regulation

American farmers are again at odds with the Environmental Protection Agency over the Endangered Species Act. The final EPA biological evaluations of neonicotinoids and their impacts on endangered species are overly conservative and don’t use all available data, according to the farm groups. Grower groups like the American Soybean Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation are concerned the evaluations …

technology

APHIS Funding for New Pest Management Projects

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

Funding to help new developments when it comes to plant pests. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) invites stakeholders to submit project suggestions for fiscal year 2023 Plant Protection Act funding. APHIS will provide $75 million in plant protection funding for these projects, including at least $7.5 …

fresh produce

Low Pesticide Residues on Fresh Produce

Dan Fruits, Herbs, Pest/Pest Control, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

How safe is your fresh produce? We answer that question coming up on this land of ours. Fresh fruits and vegetables and known for being healthy for us, but sometimes misinformation is put out about pesticide residue. One organization even claims to base its misinformation on a government study. So, advocates of healthy foods for American families went to work …

pesticides

Finding The Truth About Pesticides in Produce

Dan Fruits, Pest/Pest Control, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Vegetables

Finding the truth about pesticides in produce. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Each year, an anti-conventional farming organization puts out a list of fresh produce products that they claim are contaminated with harmful pesticide residues. However, there is no scientific evidence to support their claims, and they’re simply false. Another organization works to fight that misinformation. Teresa Thorn …

four-legged pets

Four-Legged Pets Trained to Sniff Out Damaging, Invasive Pests

Dan Pest/Pest Control, This Land of Ours

The four-legged pets trained to sniff out some damaging and invasive pests.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. They may be man’s best friend but they’re also angling to be Agriculture’s best friend.  Detector Canines, trained by the USDA’s PPQ program, are learning how to spot and stop spotted Lanternflies and Japanese beetles before it’s too late. These …

program

Program Helping Protect Pollinators from Invasive Pests

Dan Pest/Pest Control, Pollinators, Pollinators, This Land of Ours

The USDA program helping protect pollinators from invasive pests. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bee pollination alone is responsible for more than 15-billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. Unfortunately, the honey bees are also vulnerable to invasive pests like parasitic mites, viruses, and predatory …