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Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
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________________________________________________ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences |
Southwest Florida Vegetable Newsletter
September/October 1999
October 31-November 2, 1999 Florida
State Horticultural Society Annual Meeting
Indian River Plantation Marriott Resort, Stuart, FL.
Contact Kathy Murphy at FSHS at 407-673-7595
November 3, 1999
Q and A for Agricultural Employers and Contractors - 7 PM
US and Florida Departments of Labor
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center
2682 SR 29 N, Immokalee, FL
For info contact Diane Milford at 954-356-6929 ext 14.
November 18, 1999
Complying with The Worker Protection Standard - 10 AM - Noon
Dale Dubberly, Bureau of Compliance
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center
2682 SR 29 N, Immokalee, FL
Contact Sheila Griffith at 863-674-4092
December 9, 1999
Vegetable Field Day and Growers Meeting - 10 AM - 3PM
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center
2682 SR 29 N, Immokalee, FL
Contact Sheila Griffith at 863-674-4092
December 15, 1999
Florida Farm-A-Syst - 1 - 3 PM
Dr. Patrick Ludgate
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center
2682 SR 29 N, Immokalee, FL
Contact Patrick Ludgate at 941-338-3232
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Gene McAvoy
Vegetable Extension Agent II Hendry County Extension Office PO Box 68 LaBelle, Florida, 33975 863-674-4092 |
All these problems will undoubtably reduce crop
yields and increase disease control and other costs this season.
Despite these
setbacks, however, vegetable growers have always
been a hearty bunch and not easily discouraged by adversity. Vegetable
growers, and indeed all agricultural producers
accept the fact that weather is a natural phenomena and beyond the control
of
mere mortals.
While growers are aware of and accept such challenges,
what is more difficult to accept and is becoming increasingly more
onerous and more and more difficult for growers
to contend with is the ever growing mountain of regulation at the federal,
state
and local level.
This myriad of regulation, in combination
with confusing and often misguided environmental and labor legislation
now poses a
maze that many growers and other agribusinesses
find increasingly difficult to negotiate.
At a recent vegetable growers meeting held in
Immokalee, respondents to a growers survey unanimously indicated
that
compliance with environmental and other government
regulation were a concern to their business. They further indicated
that
they had seen a substantial increase over the
last decade, in the number and complexity of environmental regulations
that affect
their operation. Of those surveyed, one
quarter estimated that they now spend 25% or more of their time dealing
with
regulatory issues. In addition to this
group, fully half of the replies indicated that they spend between 6 and
25% of their time on
regulatory issues.
This is incredible and the explosion of regulation
affecting agricultural producers shows no sign of abating any time soon.
While
IFAS and the extension service may be able to
assist growers in understanding and sorting through this regulatory maze,
it is
apparent that the industry cannot continue to
prosper under this onslaught.
Growers need to get pro-active to help combat
this growing menace to agriculture. All sectors of the agricultural
community
must join forces in communicating and educating
the public and politicians alike on the essential role they play in the
nation’s
economy. Growers would be wise to support
the lobbying efforts of grower oriented organizations, like the Farm Bureau,
FFVA, and others before they are legislated and
regulated into oblivion.
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For methyl parathion, the canceled uses represent
approximately 90% of the theoretical dietary risk to children. Eliminating
these crop uses hypothetically brings the estimated
dietary risk down to approximately 78% of the reference dose, making the
risk for food “acceptable” for children and all
others in the U.S. population. The methyl parathion uses that were
canceled
include all fruits (apples, peaches, pears, grapes,
nectarines, cherries, and plums), carrots, succulent peas, succulent beans,
tomatoes, artichokes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
cauliflower, celery, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens,
rutabagas, spinach, and turnips. Canceled
non-food uses are ornamentals, grasses grown for seed, the mosquito use,
and
nursery stock. Uses remaining on the methyl
parathion label are alfalfa, almonds, barley, cabbage, corn, cotton, dried
beans,
dried peas, grass, hops, lentils, oats, onions,
pecans, rape seed, rice, rye, soybeans, sugar beets, sunflower, sweet potatoes,
walnuts, wheat, and white potatoes.
For azinphos-methyl, a summary of the risk reduction
measures now in place includes a reduction of use on pome fruits (apples
pears, quinces and crabapples). Also, a
maximum seasonal use rate is now established, and there is an increase
in the time
between the last application and harvest (now
extended to 21 days). Tolerances for pome fruit have been lowered
from 2.0
ppm to 1.5 ppm now and to 1.0 ppm in 2001.
Canceled is the use on cotton east of the Mississippi River and all sugarcane
use. EPA cited these uses as major factors
contributing to drinking water exposure. Other canceled uses for
azinphosmethyl
include ornamentals, Christmas tree, forest tree,
and shade tree uses. A cap was also put on production of the product
in the
U.S. The cap is intended to prevent users
from shifting to azinphos-methyl because of other actions, such as the
cancellation of
many methyl parathion uses. To reduce worker
exposure, the length of time that workers must wait before entering a
treated field or orchard is increased.
All applications with hand-held equipment are prohibited. Closed
mixing/loading systems
and enclosed cabs are now required when using
azinphos-methyl.
As part of the cancellation agreement, the four
manufacturers of these two pesticides have agreed to buy them back from
end
users, so users will not be burdened with the
cost of disposal of unused pesticides.
These announcements put EPA between a rock and
a hard place. Following FQPA’s enactment, EPA had the task of
translating a broad mandate into specific actions
that were almost certain to displease someone if not everyone. In
1997, EPA
put 39 organophosphates at the top of a priority
list of pesticides to be examined. Environmentalists and the Consumers
Union
expected that EPA would decide the future of
the organophosphates by August 3, 1999. When the Agency announced
restrictions on only two, they accused EPA of
caving in to agricultural interests and filed suit to compel EPA to comply
with
their interpretation of the review schedule set
by Congress. Conversely, the pesticide industry warned that the decision,
however modest, was merely the first step in
a process that would strip Americans of vital pest-fighting weapons and
leave them
at a competitive disadvantage against foreign
growers. Industry and agricultural groups also sued EPA, requesting
that EPA be
required to engage in rulemaking on policies
affecting chemical risk assessments before making any similar decisions.
Lawmakers, from both parties, openly criticized
the Clinton administration for further restricting these two pesticides.
At a
Houe Agriculture Committee subcommittee hearing,
lawmakers accused the EPA of bowing to political pressure, rather than
making decisions on the basis of scientific evidence
and the principles laid out by Vice President Gore in 1998. They
said that
EPA’s decision bypasses full development of the
science policies and is a bad precedent for future Agency actions
Are EPA’s actions based on political science or
sound science? This question will continue to arise as EPA makes
regulatory
decisions. The methyl parathion and azinphos-methyl
decision may improve the safety of America’s food supply, especially for
children; but it is another round in a long,
politically charged regulatory struggle. EPA’s best hope is to be
meticulous in their
science. It was interesting when announcing
this decision, EPA made the assurance that the U.S. food supply is safe,
and
encouraged parents to continue feeding children
fruits and vegetables, indicating “the benefits of a diet that includes
fruits and
vegetables far outweigh the risks of pesticides.”
Reuters; July 30, August 3
& 4, 1999
New York Times; August 9,
1999
Toledo Blade; August 8, 1999
via Agnet
San Francisco Chronicle;
August 13, 1999 via Agnet
Chemically Speaking,
September 1999
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Watermelon Contains High Amounts of the Cancer-Fighting Agent Lycopene |
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Early findings from scientist with the U. S. Department
of Agriculture indicate marketable watermelons contain large amounts of
lycopene, a caroteniod that creates the rich,
red color within the melon, Lycopene also is found in tomatoes and tomato
products, pink grapefruit and guava.
"We think there are a lot of potential uses for
watermelon that haven’t been explored yet,” said Penelope Perkins-Veazie,
Ph.D,
USDA-ARS plant physiologist. “Watermelon
can be a functional food, one that has non-nutritional properties that
prevent
certain diseases.” Perkins-Veazie is leading
a team, of scientists from the USDA-ARS, Oklahoma State University
and Texas A&M University, working on this
project, sponsored by the National Watermelon Promotion Board at the
USDA-ARS South Central Agricultural Research
Lab in Lane, Okla.
Recent studies indicate men who consumed lycopene-rich
diets of tomatoes and tomato products had a much lower risk of
experiencing prostate cancer or heart attacks.
In animal studies, lycopene-rich diets have been reported to reduce the
risk for
breast and colon cancer. “The medical research
on lycopene is just phenomenal and it’s always based on tomatoes or tomato
products, while watermelon has been ignored,”
said Perkins-Veazie. “Compared to fresh tomatoes, watermelon has
more
lycopene, and it’s easier to extract because
watermelons have fewer pigments and less insoluble material.”
The National Watermelon Promotion Board, based
in Orlando, Fla., invested $15,240 to discover the lycopene concentration
in marketable fruit and in culls, melons considered
unsuitable for shipment. The board’s Research Review Committee,
comprised of growers, shippers, and importers,
voted to approve the proposal during the board’s fall board meeting in
1998.
NWPB Executive Director William Watson said the
early findings present breakthrough opportunities for the watermelon
industry. “We’re excited about the potential
for the watermelon industry to grow and develop new markets that cater
to the
consumer demand for lycopenerich foods,” Watson
said.
Lycopene is not produced by the human body and
must be ingested through lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables or nutritional
supplements. Perkins-Veazie says interest
in extracting essentially pure lycopene for health products is increasing,
with one
company now selling lycopene pills using tomato-derived
lycopene. In addition, she says natural sources of red color are
in high
demand by the food industry.
Lycopene derivation isn’t as well understood in
watermelon as it is in tomatoes. According to the USDA Food Database,
the
average lycopene content in watermelon is officially
higher than in tomato (48ug/g vs. 30 ug/g respectively) but the content
varies with the watermelon variety. Early
tests indicate that samples of Sangria, Summer Sweet and Scarlet Trio contained
a
range of 39 to 70 micrograms of lycopene per
gram of watermelon flesh, said Perkins-Veazie. In comparison, fresh
tomatoes have 9 to 42 micrograms per gram of
lycopene.
“On a per-pound basis, watermelon flesh contains
18 to 32 milligrams per pound of lycopene compared to 4 to 19 milligrams
per pound in fresh tomatoes. Cooked processed
tomatoes contain 44 milligrams of lycopene per pound,” said Perkins-Veazie.
Scientists are investigating the lycopene content
in several different varieties of watermelon. They’ll track the lycopene
levels in
open-pollinated and hybrid varieties, such as
Fiesta and Sangria and in seedless varieties, such as Tri-X types.
Newer varieties,
such as those with deep-red flesh, may have higher
levels of lycopene than classic, older varieties, such as Charleston Grey
and
Black Diamond, scientists said.
“We have found that the lycopene content in some
of these newer dark melons is significantly higher than the average reported
values for watermelon,” said Julie Collins, USDA-ARS
food technologist. “We’re seeing newer varieties that have more
lycopene that was previously thought.”
Collins said, “The darkness of the melon is a good indicator of the lycopene
content. If
you see a dark red watermelon in the market,
you need to eat it, because it’s a good source of lycopene.”
Scientists don’t know whether the lycopene content
in watermelon changes once it has been cut and exposed to light or
refrigerated. “Once a watermelon is cut
from the vine, it doesn’t ripen, in terms of gaining more sugar,” Perkins-Veazie
said.
“It can gain a small amount of color. We
don’t know whether watermelon color is all due to lycopene or if other
types of
pigments can be formed from lycopene breakdown.”
Perkins-Veazie is interested in discovering how
to easily extract and process lycopene from watermelon for future use by
the
industry. Working with a team of scientists,
she plans to develop a large scale lycopene extraction, stabilization and
purification
process in cooperation with the food processing
center at Oklahoma State University.
As a powerful antioxidant, lycopene helps protect
the body from oxidative damage from harmful substances inside the body
and
in the environment. Lycopene is an effective
scavenger, donating electrons to attack and neutralize free radical oxygen
molecules before they damage cells and cause
DNA mutations that bring about diseases such as cancer.
In the body, lycopene is present in human plasma
and body tissues. As a fat-soluble compound absorbed by the intestines,
lycopene is carried to the testes, prostate,
adrenal glands, kidneys, breasts and adipose tissues.
Susan O’Reilly: NWPB Director of
Communications
Orlando FL (407)895-5100
Citrus & Vegetable Grower
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As harvested vegetables age, their natural resistance
to pathogens wanes, so packers must minimize decay during storage,
whether it’s for a couple of days or several
months. There are few, if any, postharvest fungicides available,
thanks to product
cancellations due to health concerns or manufacturer’s
decisions not to support minor uses. And in some cases, pathogens
have
developed resistance to fungicides. The
inpending ban on methyl bromide, used as a postharvest fumigant on some
crops, has
made the search for alternatives to synthetic
fungicides even more urgent.
The good news is that a USDA program in biological
control of postharvest diseases has identified three promising strategies
-
biologicals, UV light, and natural fungicides
- that appear to induce resistance in harvested vegetables and fruit.
Scientist with
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are
working with industry and researchers worldwide to develop treatments that
can supplement or replace traditional fungicides,
according to Charles Wilson, a plant pathologist at the ARS Appalachian
Fruit
Research Station, Kearneysville, WV.
Antagonists As Allies
The most advanced technology - microbial antagonists
that colonize fruit wounds and compete with pathogens for nutrients - is
already used in some commercial packinghouses.
Aspire, a yeast marketed by Ecogen Inc., and Bio-Save bacteria from
EcoScience Produce Systems Corp., based in Orlando,
represent the first generation of these antagonists.
As ARS scientists look for antagonistic
microorganisms, they carefully screen out those that produce antibiotics,
fearing that
public acceptance of such products would by unlikely.
They also eliminate yeast candidates that have been associated with any
human diseases.
The Bio-Save products were developed through a
cooperative research and development agreement between USDA and
EcoScience. Wojciech Janisiewicz, a plant
pathologist at the Appalachian Fruit Research Station, discovered the ESC
11
isolate of Pseudomonas syringae, a bacterium
that occurs naturally in U.S. orchards, and EcoScience scientists discovered
the
ESC 10 isolate.
EcoScience plans to submit a label expansion for
control of Fusarium dry rot and silver scurf on potatoes. Ecogen
is currently
evaluating Aspire on other crops including potatoes
and onions.
Making Strides
Janisiewicz has conducted extensive research on
the BioSave bacterium. The next generation of antagonists, he predicts
will
control a broader spectrum of pathogens under
a wider range of conditions. For example, mature fruit has less natural
resistance to pathogens and contains more sugar,
making it more vulnerable to attack by fungi. So he’s looking for
more
aggressive organisms that will work on mature
fruit or perform equally well on different cultivers.
Work continues on enhancing the antagonists.
Wilson and his colleagues are testing chitosan, a substance derived from
shellfish
that forms a semi-permeable film and inhibits
various pathogenic fungi. When added to an antagonist and applied
as a bioactive
coating to vegetables and fruit, it will have
an radicate effect on pathogens that will complement the antagonists’ protective
effect.
There are other interesting projects under
way in Janisiewicz’s lab, too. ARS scientists are working with chitinase
and
beta-glucanase, naturally occurringing agents
that dissolve the fungal wall by producing lytic enzymes. In the
future, it’s likely
that packers will be able to apply a mixture
of biological controls with different mechanisms of actions. “We
think this will be
the next big hit,” Janisiewicz says.
Reduced Risk Options
At the Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory
in Fresno, CA, Joseph Smilanick is looking at enhancing the effectiveness
of
biocontrol agents with hot water treatments or
substances that are considered reduced risk or generally recognized as
safe.
These include sodium bicarbonate and liquid lime
sulfur solution. The latter has an advantage over sodium carbonate
or
bicarbonate solutions because after it’s used
in the packinghouse it can be disposed of by applying it to fields, where
it lowers
soil pH.
American Vegetable Grower
August 1999
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However, buffer zones also bring an extra dividend: LOWER PEST PRESSURE.
The sole fact of having a buffer zone, be it an
open cleared strip around the field, or a windbreak/tree-line type divider,
keeps
pests and spores from drifting into the planted
areas from other fields., Usually the borders of the fields or fence
rows of
nurseries and groves tend to be overgrown, especially
with weeds, and as luck would have it that these weeds are actually
the
chosen hosts of the pests that will then attack
the crops in the area they surround.
Growers that have taken the time to clear their
boundaries, as well as those that have planted trees or tall plants
to make hedge
rows are reporting lower incidences of pest and
disease pressures, and the only thing they have done different is to take
care of
their buffer zones.
Some enterprising growers have even gone to the
extreme to plant Neem Trees in their boundaries. These trees are
fast-growing and will become good windbreaks.
The fact that the Neem Tree (from India, where it is known for its insect
repellent properties) is expected to also repulse
the hordes of whiteflies and other predator insects charging at the succulent
field, has not yet been confirmed as the trees
are still young, but expect reports on their effectiveness after the next
growing
season!
Spray Tips 8/16/99
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Vegetable Quality |
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Nitrogen: Nitrogen is an important constituent
of proteins and plays a critical role in a cell’s biochemical machinery.
Low N
can result in reduced yields and less protein
content and inferior quality. Excessive N can reduce vitamin C content,
lower sugar
content and acidity. High N fertilization
can also lead to flavor changes in celery. Other effects of excessive
soil N include
delayed maturity, increased weight loss during
storage of sweet potato, and an increase in hollow stem in broccoli, soft
rot in
tomatoes and bruising of peppers.
Phosphorus & Potassium: Phosphorus (P)
is an important component of plant DNA, cell membranes, and energy-yielding
intermediates of photosynthesis and respiration.
Potassium, (K) plays an important role in osmotic (water potential) regulation
of cells and in activating different enzymes
in photosynthesis and respiration. As for fruit quality, high P levels
have been
reported to increase vitamin C content, increase
titratable acidity and alter color of vegetables. High K levels have
often been
associated with improving quality of vegetables.
Optimum K fertilization has been associated with decreased blotchy ripening
of tomato.
(Editor’s note: Excess K has been implicated
in decreasing the specific gravity of potatoes. Excessive K can also
lead to
increased soluble salt problems)
Calcium: Calcium is an important component
of cell walls and cell membrane function. Unlike N, P or K, calcium
is very
immobile in plants and cannot be transported
from older tissues to growing tissues during times of deficiencies.
Therefore, the
time of calcium availability can have important
implications in the amount that winds up in a specific plant part.
Common
calcium deficiency disorders include blossom-end
rot, brownheart of escarole, tipburn of lettuce and blackheart of celery.
(Editor’s note: Although high calcium levels will reduce these disorders, the problem is often related to water management since calcium moves in the transpiration stream and anything that impedes water update also limits calcium uptake.)
High calcium has also been associated with other positive effects such as extended storage life, delayed ripening, increased firmness and reduced respiration and ethylene production.
(Adapted from Ritenour, Vegetarian
99-08
Manatee Vegetable Newsletter
September/October 1999
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New Applicator Category |
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Category Description: Natural Areas Weed
Management: This category is applicable to individuals who use or
supervise the
use of restricted use herbicides to control unwanted
vegetation to protect natural communities of conservation and recreation
lands and natural areas. This category
is valid for licensure of commercial and public applicators. Applicators
acting under the
authority of another license category prior to
this category being established may continue activities under the alternate
category
until license renewal or expiration.
The Natural Areas Weed Management category will
be implemented as soon as the training materials and examination are
developed. These are in process at this
time. Until the manual and exam are available, persons needing certification
for this
activity should use the Forestry category.
The Natural Areas Weed Management Category will require 16 Continuing
Education Units (CEUs) to renew certification
and licensure.
(Dr. Norm Nesheim, June 14, 1999)
Glades Manpower Development Newsletter
July 1999
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Fresh Produce Industry |
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In October, 1998, the FDA released the “Guide
to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables”.
This guide is one step in an effort to improve
the safety of fresh produce from the farm to the table. It provides
voluntary
guidelines that can be used to evaluate individual
operations, both field and packinghouse.
Recently, a series of Food Safety Workshops was
held by FFVA around the state to introduce the new Guide to growers and
packers. Participants were provided with
a good overview of the program and suggestions for things to consider when
conducting a self-audit of their food safety
procedures covering each of the following key areas:
Water: Water quality dictates the
potential for contamination. It may be the source or may help spread
a pathogen. Water
quality needs vary with how it’s used and the
degree of contact with the product (i.e. irrigation water vs. wash water,
eaten
whole or peeled, etc.). Both GAPs (Good
Agricultural Practices) and GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) can be
followed
to maintain water quality in the field and packinghouse.
Examples could include use of drip irrigation, monitoring pH and C1
levels, cleaning and sanitizing water contact
surfaces, changing water in dump tanks and hydrocoolers, and maintaining
proper
temperatures in dump tank water and cooling operations.
Manure and Biosolids: These can be
significant sources of contamination. Sludge or biosolids that are
land-applied have
probably already been tested. Get a copy
of the analysis and keep it on file. It’s probably best not to use
raw manure in fresh
produce production. Federal and state regulations
provide requirements for the use of biosolids in the US. Domestic animals
should be excluded from fields and packing facilities
to ensure that animal waste from adjacent fields does not contaminate
production areas.
Worker Health and Hygiene: Employees
should be trained to follow good hygienic practices. It’s interesting
that many
OSHA and WPS guidelines focus on protecting worker
health by mandating hygiene facilities and encouraging handwashing
before using the restroom or eating, etc.
Now we need to carry this a step further and also promote handwashing after
using
the restroom, using proper handwashing techniques
and the importance of using toilets. Such basic sanitation and hygiene
training could be included in training you already
conduct under the WPS. Place placards in washrooms or other areas
to
remind employees of the correct procedures.
Become familiar with disease signs and symptoms and educate your employees.
Use of gloves can be a good GAP by protecting
workers from pesticides, chlorine, etc., while providing protection from
cuts or
lesions to avoid contact with fresh produce.
Something as simple as keeping a log of when restrooms were cleaned is
a good
example of GMP that can help document your compliance
efforts.
Field Sanitation: Clean harvest containers
or bins prior to use. Keep harvest equipment as clean as practical.
Assign the
responsibility for maintaining clean equipment
to someone dependable who will monitor for problems.
Packing Facilities: Remove as much
soil as practical outside the packing facility before containers or produce
are brought
inside. Store empty containers in a manner
and location that will minimize contamination. Establish and maintain
a good pest
control program and keep a pest control log.
Transportation: Good hygienic and sanitation practices should be used when loading, unloading and inspecting fresh produce. Vehicles should be inspected for cleanliness, odors, dirt and debris before loading.
Traceback: Most growers already have
procedures to track produce containers from the farm, to the packer, distributor
and
possibly retailer, although this is more difficult
with products that go through repackers. Documentation should include
as much
information as necessary to enable the source
of that product to be determined. This could protect you in a potential
contamination incident.
One practice that FFVA does not recommend is the
use of pathogen-specific testing. Currently, one problem is
the lack of
threshold levels to be able to say whether a
product is safe or not. Even if “quick tests” were developed which
a producer
could use to make a quick determination, they
often give only a yes or no answer. Since it’s virtually impossible
to entirely
eliminate all pathogens (thus, the title of the
guide, i.e. “...minimize...hazards”), pathogenspecific testing at this
time would only
create more problems.
Emphasize to your employees that what we are dealing
with here is FOOD which will, at some point, end up in someone’s
mouth. A lot of the guidelines are just
good common sense. Additional workshops are planned this fall with
expanded
guidelines and information on GAPs and GMPs for
Florida vegetable industry. In the meantime, one of the most important
things growers and packers can do is document.
No matter how trivial or routine the task, if it’s something that could
help
minimize the potential
for microbial contamination in your operation,
keep a log or some type of documentation for your protection.
You may access the guide on the internet at http://www.fda.gov
Manatee Vegetable Newsletter
September/October 1999
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Answer - False.
Decontamination sites must be established within ¼ mile of all workers in the field. These sites should include:
1 Enough water for routine and emergency whole
body washing and eye flushing.
2 Plenty of soap and single-use towels.
(roll paper towels)
3 A clean change of clothes (a spray suit will
do).
The water provided should be safe and cool enough
for washing, eye flushing and drinking. Do not use tank water that
is also
used for mixing pesticides.
Provide handlers these same supplies where personal protective equipment (PPE) is removed at the end of the task.
Provide these same supplies at each mixing and loading site.
Do not put worker contamination sites in areas being treated or under an REI.
Spray Tips
July 1999
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In order to understand foliar absorption, we must
first take a look at the surface of a leaf. Moving from the outside.
The leaf
surface is composed of layers of cuticular wax,
followed by the cuticle or “skin” of the leaf. The cuticle exudes
the wax. Under
the cuticle are the cell walls of various types
of leaf cells. Inside the cell walls are the plasma membranes of
the cells
themselves. A foliar applied nutrient must
pass through the cuticular wax, the cuticle, the cell wall, and the
membrane in that
order. Sometimes the nutrient will pass
though these various layers, while other times it may pass through the
spaces between
these layers. Such absorption involves
both active and passive processes of the leaf.
The second and most often the, major means of
foliar absorption is through the stomates, which are microscopic
pores in the
epidermis of the leaf. When the stomates
are open, foliar absorption is often easier. Plant species vary widely
in the, number of
stomates per leaf area, and in their relative
distribution. Some plants have more stomates on the lower leaf surface
than on the
upper and some vice versa.
In simpler terms, some plants are, good at absorbing
nutrients through their leaves, while others are not. The variables
tend to
be how many stomates and how they are distributed,
and how thick the waxy cuticle of the leaf is. Plants with large,
broad soft
leaves such as Spathiphyllum or many bedding
plant species are rather efficient at absorbing, foliar nutrients.
Palms, Avocados,
Cucubits, some Citrus and Zamias for example
are not as adept at this absorption, due to the thicker tougher nature
of their
foliage.
The speed of absorption of nutrients is quite
variable according to the nutrient, and to some degree the plant type.
Rates of
foliar absorption have generally not been studied
in ornamental varieties.
ONE THING THAT IS NOT WIDELY KNOWN IS THAT NUTRIENTS
ARE GENERALLY ONLY ABSORBED
WHILE THE SPRAY IS WET ON THE LEAF.
Once the spray has dried, absorption generally
ceases until the leaves are moistened again, either by the dew the next
day or
additional rainfall or overhead irrigation.
The various types of chelating agents are also not equal in their ability
to penetrate the
leaf. Some chelating agents work better
on some types of plants, but not necessarily as well on others. The
best chelating agent
will depend in part on what type of plant you
are spraying.
Another common misconception regards rates of
foliar nutritional applications. Generally, there is a great deal
of difference
between the amount of chemical it takes to maximize
absorption and the amount it takes to burn. Absorption is the limiting
factor, so don’t make your rates too high.
You may be able to double or triple the spray rate, but it won’t necessarily
increase
absorption. It will increase risk of spray
injury, so be conservative in your foliar application rates.
There are a number of situations when foliar nutritional
supplements are especially useful. One is during propagation of slow
rooting plant material. Long term mist
propagation can leach nutrients severely, and foliar nutritional sprays
during that time are
very helpful. Nutritional sprays can be
used efficiently to overcome other problems. Another useful foliar
technique is during
cold fronts. When a cold front comes down,
frequently you get heavy rain followed by several cold days.
During this period,
the fertilizer is not releasing a great deal,
and the plants are not feeding. That is a good time to come in and
apply some foliar
nutrition to keep the plants moving until things
warm up.
Several techniques should be used when trying
to maximize foliar absorption of nutrients. One is to try to maximize
the time that
the spray is wet on the foliage. This preferably
means early in the morning, when humidity is up, leaves are wet with dew.
Spraying in the middle of a hot day will give
you reduced effectiveness in absorption. It also helps to add urea
or potassium
nitrate to nutritional sprays when applying trace
elements. The mechanism is not known, but there is substantial research
that
indicates applying these materials with trace,
elements increases trace element absorption. Try to spray when
the stomates are open, preferably, during a cooler time of day.
Some industries like to spray at night, and that can be useful in some
situations. Try also to coat both the upper and lower leaf surfaces
where practical, as many times the spray stays wet on the leaf longer,
and there are more stomates to facilitate absorption on the lower leaf
surfaces of many plant varieties.
The use of wetting agents or surfactants also
aids in absorption, by spreading out the spray from droplets into a broader
shape,
increasing contact with the foliage. Surfactants
also reduce the angle at which the spray material enters the leaf, which
can be
useful. it is generally useful to thoroughly
wet the foliage when applying nutritional sprays.
Low volume sprayers may not be as effective in
some cases. You should spray to run off, and once again cover the
lower leaf
surfaces. Finally, do not get too high
on your rates. Going higher on the rates of chemicals applied can
actually reduce
absorption, as can mixing too many nutritionals
in the tank at a time.
Foliar nutritional sprays can be a very useful
technique, especially when you understand the principles behind it.
Nutritional
sprays enable you to correct deficiencies, strengthen
weak or damaged crops, speed growth and overall grow better plants,
which is of course, the bottom line.
Spray Tips
July 1999
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As of press time, EPA announced it is eliminating
specific uses of methyl parathion and significantly lowering allowable
residues
for azinphos methyl on a wide variety of fruits
and vegetables. These two organophosphates are used on apples, peaches,
wheat, rice, and cotton, all of which are frequently
eaten by infants and children. For growers of these crops, the question
is
whether or not an alternative chemical exists.
Entities Outraged
There is a battle royal raging over the implementation
of FQPA. In April, seven environmental activist groups serving on
an
EPA advisory panel on the reassessment process
resigned en masse. Critics contend the EPA delayed taking action
because of
pressure from agriculture interests. These
activists have since filed a lawsuit against EPA alleging that the agency
has failed to
reassess the riskiest of pesticide tolerances
as intended by Congress. The above decision has frustrated and outraged
House
Agriculture Committee members who accuse the
EPA of the improper implementation of FQPA. A bill has been
introduced-H.R. 1334-that would direct EPA to
use sound science, seek public input, and gather additional data before
eliminating pesticides. As a result, the
American Crop Protection Agency, American Farm Bureau Federation, and 23
others, have filed suit against EPA in order to demand support of sound
science in EPA’s implementation
policies.
Order the FQPA Action Kit by calling 800-572-7740,
ext. 109, fax 440-942-0662, or e-mail fqpakit@meisternet.com
Visit
http://www.meisterpro.com/fqpa/
for updated information.
Kris Sweet
Florida Grower
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Cash receipts from all crops increased 4.7% from
1997, and cash receipts from all livestock and livestock products increased
by only 0.6%.
As in previous years, the leading crop commodities
were oranges, foliage and floriculture, tomatoes, and sugar cane.
The
leading livestock commodities were milk, cattle
and calves, and broilers.
FloridAgriculture
September 1999
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Comprehensive Information for the Watermelon Industry |
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The National Watermelon Promotion Board has invested
$3,000 to develop a new database with Oklahoma State University
researchers at the South Central Agricultural
Research Lab in Lane, OK.
The Watermelon Website at http://www.lang-ag.org includes the following topics:
· Watermelon cultivar
database, including availability and characteristics of over 300 cultivars
· Images of watermelon
cultivars (over 180 images are available)
· Directory of watermelon
seed distributors
· Watermelon trial
evaluations
· Watermelon production
and pesticide practices.
The Watermelon Market Report
September 1999
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Two older, Widely Used Pesticides |
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“Our nation enjoys the safest, most abundant food
supply in the world,” said EPA Administrator Carol Browner. “I want
to
emphasize that for children and adults alike
the benefits of a diet that includes fruits and vegetables far outweigh
the risks of
pesticides.
“Nonetheless, as our scientific understanding
of the health risks and environmental effects of pesticides improves, it
is becoming
increasingly clear that foods can be made even
safer, especially for children. Our actions today will protect children
from the
adverse effects of exposure to pesticides commonly
used on foods. The Agency also is on schedule to meet all deadlines
for
ensuring safer pesticide use under the new Food
Quality Protection Act.
EPA’s actions are being taken after an extensive
scientific review of the risks posed by these chemicals. EPA has
worked
closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and the agricultural community to ensure that our decisions will not disrupt
the
growing and marketing plans of farmers.
As adjustments are made to reduce pesticide risk, EPA and USDA also are
working
together to ensure that farmers will have alternative
pest management tools and substitutes.
The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which
was passed unanimously by Congress under the leadership of the Clinton
Administration and based on recommendations from
the National Academy of Sciences, provides the public, especially
children, with unprecedented protection from
the risks of pesticide exposure. Under the Act, which the President
signed in
1996, EPA is to apply, for the first time, a
comprehensive set of new, more protective health-based standards.
These
standards incorporate the most current scientific
knowledge available on pesticide risks, and include an additional 10-fold
safety
factor to address the special risks of children’s
exposures to pesticides.
The reductions EPA is making today will address
the unique risks children face when exposed to pesticides. For example,
it is
known that some pesticides pose a greater risk
to infants and children because their bodies and internal organs are still
developing, which makes them much more susceptible
to the effects of pesticides. Children also ingest greater quantities
of
food and drink relative to their body weight,
as compared to adults, which increases their exposure to pesticides.
Based on its concerns, EPA is today eliminating
the continued use of methyl parathion-one of the more potent
organophosphates - on apples, peaches, pears,
grapes, nectarines, cherries, plums, carrots certain peas, certain beans,
and
tomatoes, among other fruits and vegetables.
For azinphos methyl, also considered to be a pesticide of concern, the
Agency is
reducing application rates and requiring practices
that will result in significant reductions in allowable residues on apples,
pears
and peaches.
The major manufacturers to enter into these agreements
are, for methyl parathion, Cheminova Inc., Wayne, N.J., and Elf
Atochem North America Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.
For azinphos methyl, the two primary manufacturers are Bayer Corp., Kansas
City, Mo., and Makhteshim-Agan, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
In addition to significantly reducing the use of methyl parathion and
azinphos methyl on foods popular among children,
EPA has taken a number of additional measures to reduce pesticide risks,
as
called for by FQPA, including:
EPA: Headquarters Press Release
August 2, 1999
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The Vice President’s words, so encouraging when
the agriculture community first heard them earlier this year, have a hollow
sound today. On August 2, having fulfilled
none of the preliminaries Gore prescribed, the EPA moved to restrict applications
of
parathion and azinphos-methyl (Gunthion).
Florida farmers won’t be crippled by the restrictions
on these two chemicals. They don’t use them much, and alternatives
are
available. Nevertheless, they were justifiably
chilled by the EPA’s announcement, which seemed to signal that something
had
gone very wrong with the FQPA implementation
process. Many in agriculture viewed the action as a calculated affront
to the
principles set forth in the Gore memo:
“...Decisions should be based on the best science
and data available.” The agency, under political pressure, acted
on these two
products based on worst-case, rather than realistic
risk scenarios. Important tests and risk assessments had not been
concluded.
EPA should continue to seek peer review and public
review of its methods and approaches for analyzing potential risk...”
In
fact, at the time it took the action, EPA had
not fully developed the science policies that were to guide key decisions
on FQPA
implementation and so peer and public review
could not take place.
“...particularly with models, exposure scenarios,
and use of scientific inferences.” As of August 2, not a single FQPA
rule,
policy or even guidance document had been finalized
by the agency. The decision was premature, and was based on theories
rather than data and on political science rather
than pure science. In accordance with the Gore Memorandum, EPA established
a transparent forum and advisory committee (TRAC)
for stakeholders. The TRAC has promoted understanding of the
reassessment process
and provided an avenue for stakeholder comment
as EPA releases policies for comment. Now, however, EPA is soliciting
comments from a select group of stakeholders-the
environmental community-that earlier walked away from TRAC.
The Gore memorandum warrants a thorough re-reading
and a commitment by EPA to return to the principles and processes it
put forth. Only in this way can EPA and
the administration restore their credibility with the agricultural community.
FloridaAgriculture
September 1999
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Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.
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Added to this, the producer had not even taken
the first step toward training his agricultural workers in accordance with
the
Worker Protection Standard (WPS). None
of his workers possessed an approved Worker Protection worker training
certificate.
The use of the Ambush inconsistent with its label
issue is unlawful under Section 487.031(10) of the Florida Statutes.
The use
of a restricted-use pesticide without a license
is unlawful under Section 487.031(9) of the Statues, and the WPS problem
is a
violation of Title 40 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, Parts 170.130 and 170.230.
Therefore, this producer is subject to administrative
action, including fines up to $10,000 per violation. Additionally,
he may be
subject to additional penalty provisions of FIFRA,
which are administered by EPA.
FDACS Communication; July
28, 1999
Chemically Speaking,
October 1999
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Pesticide Registrations and Actions |
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- Novartis’s trifloxystrobin, in or on cucurbit vegetables, pome fruit, grapes, peanuts, and peanut hay.
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Invent Device to Test Watermelon Ripeness |
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Green watermelons-a serious economic threat to
growers and a disappointment for consumers are automatically rejected by
this
new machine.
The prototype takes into consideration what one
needs to test for ripeness the old-fashioned way: A hand to thump
on the
melon and an ear to listen for the telltale,
hollow sound. Only this machine uses a mallet as a metal arm to rap
the melon. A
microphone picks up the sound and transfers it
via electric signal to a laptop computer, which analyzes the acoustic signal.
On watermelons tested so far, the frequency of
the echo appears to correlate closely with how ripe it is. The prototype
reports
a ripeness reading in 12 seconds. The machine
weighs about 18 lbs. and costs less than $1,100 to build.
The computer-controlled ripeness sensor ultimately
could result in huge savings for the watermelon industry, according to
William Watson, NWPB executive director, and
Ed Kee, a UD extension specialist. “Among our members, our research
has
shown that the number one thing that keeps popping
up is that there needs to be a device to help anyone harvesting or buying
a
watermelon to determine ripeness,” said Watson.
“This invention can only help the whole watermelon industry.”
Kee says watermelon growers need an automatic
ripeness sensor because “it’s not at all unusual for a 40,000-pound truckload
of watermelons to be rejected at the marketplace.
An entire load can be rejected if 10 melons are green.”
The prototype isn’t ready for the market just
yet and inventors Matt Behr, Dave Bartoski, Allan Cohen and Jason Firko
are
working on testing their invention in the field.
The Watermelon Marketer
August 1999
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New Address and Phone Number |
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Pesticide Certification Office
3125 Conner Blvd., Bldg. 8 (L29)
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
(850)488-3314
Please note, if you are a licensed restricted-use
pesticide applicator and have changed your address since your license was
issued, you need this information.
In order to renew your license the Bureau needs
to send you a renewal notice. If your address has changed, they cannot
contact you at the time of renewal. if
your license expired, your only choice is to RETAKE THE EXAM.
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The paradox of our time in history is that we
have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower
viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but
enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences,
but less time; we have more degrees, but less
sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems;
more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly,
laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too
late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch
TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced
our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've
learned how to make a living, but not a life;
we've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air,
but polluted the soul.
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We
write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned
to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers
to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less
communication.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;
tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic
warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that
do
everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the show window
and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter
to
you, and a time when you can choose either to
share this insight, or to just hit delete.
George Carlin