Red palm mite causes concern for California
California growers should be looking for red palm mite (Raoiella indica Hirst), said Jim Bethke, San Diego County floriculture and nursery farm adviser. The bright-red mite is very small and is easily moved from workers brushing against infested foliage. Infestations may not be seen until significant damage has occurred. The mite has been confirmed in the Caribbean islands and is expected to eventually move into Florida, where many of California's palms originate.
USDA rules in favor of tomato shipper
USDA has ruled that UglyRipe tomatoes can be sold outside of Florida. The tomato debate, which has been ongoing since 1999, centered on the fact that UglyRipe tomatoes, although tasty, did not meet the "marketing grade requirements" for Florida produce. These standards for size, shape and color were set by the Fla. Tomato Committee (FTC), a federal marketing order that controls the state's tomato industry. Although the FTC granted an exemption for the tomatoes to be exported, it expired in 2003. Joe Procacci, who developed the hybrid tomato, sought the USDA ruling.
Sun Gro acquires manufacturer's assets
Sun Gro Hort. Canada Ltd. has acquired all of the operating assets of Santa Maria, Calif., hort. growing mix producer Kellogg-Rich Grow for $900,000, along with current inventory for $200,000. The transaction was Sun Gro's 2nd California acquisition in less than 2 weeks. Sun Gro acquired all of the outstanding shares of Sacramento-based growing mix and bark producer Sun-Up Hort. for $4.3 million. The Kellogg-Rich Grow purchase adds a modern peat-mixing plant to Sun Gro's N. America network of 20 production facilities.
Mealybug proves to be a tough pest
Phenacoccus madeirensis is rapidly moving to the head of the pack of greenhouse pests, reports Md. Co-op. Ext. It has no accepted common name, but some entomologists are calling it the Madeira or false Mexican mealybug. This mealybug has an equal number of males and females; hence, a larger number of pupal cases are found on plants. Egg sacs are long. Nothing controls the mealybug once it's established. Univ. of Ga. entomologist Ron Oetting had good, but not outstanding, results with Distance IGR (pyriproxyfen), Duraguard (chlorpyrifos) and Talstar (bifenthrin).
SAF pest conference to focus on innovation
New Directions: Innovation in Pest and Disease Management is the focus of Society of American Florists' 23rd annual Conference on Pest and Disease Management for Ornamentals, Feb. 22-24, in Portland, Ore. Topics include: Internet pest management resources, miticide trials and new controls, new viruses, new pests and invasives, management of disease pathogens in recycled irrigation water, integrating biological controls into pest management programs, Q-biotype whitefly trials and new pests of calibrachoa.
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