USDA introduces citrus nursery stock regulations
USDA's APHIS announced new rules restricting interstate movement of citrus nursery stock from Florida -- a move to limit the spread of citrus canker. There are some exceptions. Calamondin and kumquat plants, both resistant to the disease, may be moved interstate from quarantined areas to non-commercial-citrus-producing areas if they're shipped from the nursery in which they originated. Growers of these crops must also follow prescribed protocols and have crops certified canker free. The new rule became effective March 16.
Officials find apple moth in California
USDA confirmed the presence of light brown apple moth (LBAM) in California's Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The pest, Epiphyas postvittana, has a host range of more than 250 species including stone fruits, apples, pears, grapes, cherries and citrus. LBAM, native to Australia and also found in New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom and Hawaii, destroys or stunts seedlings, ruins the appearance of ornamentals and injures fruit crops. USDA and state officials are discussing control and survey options to prevent further spread. They're also developing appropriate regulatory actions to prevent the spread of this pest in association with the movement of host commodities, according to USDA.
Bailey launches Trees are Cool program
Bailey Nurseries, headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., launched a consumer marketing campaign, Trees are Cool. The program includes POP materials including educational tree tags. A media-relations program is aimed at teaching homeowners the benefits of planting trees, and a Web site will allow consumers to pledge tree-planting activities. To kick off the program, Bailey Nurseries donated 120,000 trees to school children in Minnesota and Oregon, through the United Nations Environment Programme 2007 Billion Tree Campaign. This campaign has a goal of getting governments, businesses and individuals across the globe to plant 1 billion trees this year.
Florida pesticide collection tops 1 million pounds
Fla. Dept. of Ag. and Consumer Services has collected more than 1 million pounds of pesticides over the past 12 years through Operation Cleansweep. The program collects canceled, suspended or unusable pesticides from Florida farms, nurseries, golf courses and pest-control companies. More than 1,500 companies have participated in the program, according to FDACS. Proper disposal of pesticides can be costly and a complicated regulatory burden for small farmers. Operation Cleansweep offers an opportunity to avoid these formidable barriers and promotes safe and environmentally sound pesticide use, handling and disposal. Operation Cleansweep also offers tips on purchasing pesticides, inventory control, pesticide rotation, labeling, storage, handling and safety.
Bayer, Arbor Day Foundation help reforestation
Bayer Advanced is teaming again with Nat'l. Arbor Day Foundation to help reforest U.S. land destroyed by insects. Last year Bayer Advanced donated 75,000 trees to NADF through the Restore America's Trees program. This year Bayer will donate up to 100,000 trees, or 1 tree for every bottle of 12 Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control and Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Granules sold between April 2 and July 31.
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