The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) is asking Florida citrus and blueberry growers for data on the use of the insecticide carbaryl (brand name Sevin).
Carbaryl is listed as a recommended chemical control for chewing pests in the 2019-20 Florida Citrus Production Guide. The guide is produced by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Some Florida citrus Extension agents have asked growers to help FFVA in the data collection process.
FFVA, with the support of Florida Citrus Mutual, Highlands County Citrus Growers Association, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association and the University of Florida, will use the data collected to develop a carbaryl case study as part of a national collaboration through the Minor Crop Alliance. The data will help inform the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its assessment of risk posed by carbaryl to endangered or threatened species and their habitat.
FFVA says its data collection effort with citrus and blueberry growers will help it be proactive in protecting carbaryl for its continued registration ahead of EPA’s risk assessment. According to FFVA, the data will help inform EPA during its risk assessment and subsequent consultation process with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
“We need to be able to provide a complete scope for blueberry and citrus growers in each included county,” FFVA stated. “Even if you do not use carbaryl, your individual ‘did not use’ information is still hugely important.”
The carbaryl case study will be presented as part of a national workshop to be held later this fall or early next year, FFVA stated. All data collected from growers will be made anonymous to preclude individual grower responses from identification. The information collection is on a purely voluntary basis and not in response to any agency or department information collection request.
Get more information and find the survey form here. Send the completed form to Mike.Aerts@ffva.com.
Source: Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
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