Florida orange

Chlorpyrifos Update: Ban Not in Effect Yet for Citrus

Ernie Neff Pesticides, Regulation

An update on the use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos in Florida citrus was provided in the November 2021 issue of Citrus from the Ridge to the Valley, the Central Florida citrus Extension newsletter. In August, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will stop the use of the insecticide on all food. Excerpts from the Extension newsletter’s discussion about the …

EPA Bans Chlorpyrifos on Food

Ernie Neff Pesticides

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food. It said it is taking the action to better protect human health, particularly that of children and farmworkers. In a final rule released in August, EPA is revoking all “tolerances” for chlorpyrifos. The tolerances establish an amount of a pesticide that …

court

Court Rejects EPA’s Aldicarb Approval

Ernie Neff Legal, Pesticides

The federal Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia on June 7 rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of the pesticide aldicarb on Florida oranges and grapefruit, the Center for Biological Diversity reported. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed in March by farmworker and conservation groups after the EPA approved the use of up to …

Principles and Risks of Trunk Injection for Delivery of Crop Protection Materials

Tacy Callies Pesticides, Research

By Ute Albrecht and Leigh Archer Trunk injection is a targeted delivery of materials into the stem or trunk of trees as an alternative to spraying or soil drenching. It is practical for disease and pest management in high-value forest trees and ornamental plants where aerial applications are problematic because of environmental and human health-related concerns. Interest in using the …

Florida’s Aldicarb Decision Challenged

Tacy Callies Pesticides

Amid arguments about the troubled citrus industry and the health of farmworkers, a chemical company is challenging a state decision to block aldicarb, a pesticide that could help fight citrus greening disease. AgLogic Chemical, LLC filed an administrative challenge on May 11, about three weeks after the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) denied an application to use …

court

EPA Ordered to Act on Chlorpyrifos

Ernie Neff Pesticides

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on April 29 applauded a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make a required safety finding for chlorpyrifos residues detected on food. Chlorpyrifos is a widely used agricultural pesticide approved for use on more than 80 food crops. The court decision orders the EPA to …

Aldicarb Denial Disappoints Associations

Ernie Neff Pesticides

Two Florida citrus grower associations expressed disappointment over the recent Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) decision to deny the use of the pesticide aldicarb in Florida citrus. “We are frustrated in the decision as we believe aldicarb will provide a powerful tool in the fight against citrus greening and can be used safely,” said Florida Citrus Mutual …

citrus production

Grower Views Differ on Aldicarb Denial

Ernie Neff Pesticides

Two growers expressed different views about the recent decision to deny the use of the pesticide aldicarb in Florida citrus. The denial was made by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). One termed the decision “disappointing.” The other referred to it as a “a blessing.” “It is disappointing to lose any tool that would strengthen our existing …

Aldicarb Registration Denied for Florida Citrus

Tacy Callies Industry News Release, Pesticides

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) denied AgLogic Chemical LLC’s state pesticide registration application for the pesticide aldicarb on citrus crops in the state of Florida. Aldicarb is an N-methyl carbamate insecticide primarily used as a nematicide. Responsible for the worst known outbreak of pesticide poisoning in North America, aldicarb is one of 28 active pesticide ingredients …

Groups Sue EPA Over Aldicarb Decision

Ernie Neff Pesticides

Three organizations on March 3 sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its decision in the final days of the Trump administration to reapprove previously cancelled uses of the pesticide aldicarb on Florida oranges and grapefruit. The Farmworker Association of Florida, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Working Group filed the suit in the District of Columbia …

Aldicarb Registered for Florida Citrus

Ernie Neff Pesticides

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Jan. 12 announced two actions to help protect America’s citrus industry from HLB and citrus canker. One action is for the insecticide aldicarb; the other is for the antibiotic streptomycin. ALDICARBEPA is registering one technical product, a supplemental label and one new end-use product for the insecticide aldicarb for use on oranges and …

florida citrus

Growers Want Aldicarb Again

Ernie Neff Pesticides

Citrus growers told Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials why they want the insecticide aldicarb registered for use in Florida citrus, and discussed their problems with citrus greening. EPA cancelled the use of Temik, the Bayer brand name for aldicarb, on citrus at the end of 2011. Mike Aerts of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) said the Oct. 22 …

Citrus Grower Data Needed on Carbaryl Use

Ernie Neff Pesticides

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 …

What to Do About Lack of Respirators for Pesticide Applicators

Ernie Neff Pesticides, Regulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a statement recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the availability of respirators required when applying agricultural pesticides. The statement offered guidance advising agricultural handler employers and pesticide handlers on what to do in the face of the equipment shortage. The agency noted that cooperative Extension pesticide safety educators and agricultural organizations were …

citrus nutrition

Pesticide License Testing to Resume

Tacy Callies Citrus, Pesticides

Due to COVID-19, all pesticide license testing in Florida was suspended for more than six weeks. Now that the state has started to reactivate services, testing will resume at select University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension offices on May 18. Not all testing locations will open on May 18. Due to the number of COVID-19 …

New CEU Article Now Available

Tacy Callies CEU, Pesticides

With training classes cancelled due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, restricted-use pesticide license holders are finding it challenging to get enough continuing education unit (CEU) credits to keep their licenses active. Help is here! Citrus Industry magazine has published a new CEU Central article. Read the article and pass the 20-question test to earn one free continuing education unit in …

N95 Mask Shortage for Pesticide Applicators

Ernie Neff COVID-19, Pesticides

According to Laurie Hurner, Highlands County Extension director and citrus Extension agent, some Florida growers have reported a shortage of N95 respirator masks. Hurner said many growers use those masks for pesticide application. Such masks have reportedly been in short supply for medical personnel nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. “With the COVID-19 virus, it is getting more and more difficult …

Pesticide License Renewal Update for Florida

Tacy Callies Pesticides, Regulation

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) citrus Extension agents reported that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has extended Emergency Order 2020-002, which includes pesticide license renewal and expiration information. Emergency Order 2020-007, signed by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on April 20, extends the expiration period for another 60 days. “Please remember that …

pesticide

UF/IFAS and FDACS Working to Bring Pesticide Licensing Online

Daniel Cooper Citrus, Industry News Release, Pesticides

(UF/IFAS) — University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are working to identify ways to provide online testing for certified pesticide applicators while in-person testing is unavailable due to COVID-19. All in-person UF/IFAS Extension programs and activities, including pesticide testing, have been postponed or cancelled through …

Innovation in Natural Insect Control for Citrus

Tacy Callies Organic, Pesticides

By Chip Henry When I chose to produce citrus organically nearly five years ago, I accepted the responsibility of implementing a nature-based protocol of production for my grove. Subsequently, I searched for products that were available to address the aspects of nutrition, soil health, undesirable vegetation suppression and insect control. The process of “turning over every rock” was imperative, with …