Bhabesh Dutta
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The comment period for the review of pyrethroid insecticides has been reopened. IF PYRETHOIDS ARE IMPORTANT IN PRODUCTION OF YOUR CROPS, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO EPA ON THIS EVALUATION. The current deadline is July 7, 2017. EPA particularly needs to know why and specifically how you use pyrethroid insecticides. Your…
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Hi all: I have been tracking cucurbit downy mildew outbreaks in Florida and the most recent outbreak was reported from the Citrus county FL. If the trend continues, we may expect Downy mildew within two weeks in south GA counties. Considering forecast of rain on Monday, I would recommend to start protecting our cucurbits especially cucumber, and squash with a recommended fungicide…
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Florida watermelon growers are reporting problems with squash bug, with young transplants being killed in some situations. They have reported the problem appears to be more severe where they are planting grafted watermelons. This has some potential explanation as grafted plants are on squash rootstock and squash is a more favored and more susceptible plant;…
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A while back it was announced that DuPont would be bringing back Vydate (active ingredient oxamyl). DuPont is scheduled to return to the market first with the cotton formulation and then reintroduce the vegetable formulation later in the year. A new player in the oxamyl game is also bringing an oxamyl product to the market.…
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We have been getting reports of bad squash bug problems in Florida and suggest that growers keep their eyes open. North Florida has not experienced as bad of problems, so I wouldn’t anticipate severe problems but I would watch. They are having problems in watermelon and report it to be possibly worse in grafted melons.…
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EPA announced that they will not revoke, and will in fact retain, all of the current food use tolerances for chlorpyrifos (Lorsban and multiple generic products). This does not mean the battle is over. The real challenge (in my opinion) to continued use of chlorpyrifos centers on “uncertainty surrounding the potential for chlorpyrifos to cause…
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There will be an agent training at Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center, Lyons, GA on March 30. The following speakers will be featured: Drs. Bhabesh Dutta, Timothy Coolong, and Stormy Sparks. Topics including disease diagnosis and management of important vegetables in SE Georgia, pest management on onion, sweetpotatoes, and whitefly transmitted viral diseases, varietal updates…
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Because of this cold weather and freeze last night, Sclerotinia sp. can be a problem in our cabbage, cauliflower, collards and other leafy brassicas. I would recommend 5-day rotation with following fungicides; (Fontelis ; at labeled rate) and (Endura; at labeled rate).
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All behind the scenes indications are that the comment period for the pyrethroids risk assessment will be extended. However, it appears that this cannot be officially approved and completed under the current Executive Order that limits regulatory activity. The governmental web pages (including EPA’s) that were set up to accept comments show the comment period…
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ALL pyrethroid insecticides (bifenthrin, Warrior/Karate, Mustang Max, Baythroid, Asana, Permethrin, etc.) are currently undergoing registration review at EPA. Nine are specifically being evaluated, but serve as surrogates for all 19 active ingredients. The preliminary evaluation shows that all pyrethroids exceed “Levels of Concern” for exposure to aquatic invertebrates. THIS IS MAJOR. If LOCs are exceeded,…