Crop Protection
USDA studies steam heat to target pests
Early in 2020, two colleagues in the Treatment and Inspection Methods Laboratory (TIML) of USDA’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program began researching vacuum steam as an alternative for methyl bromide treatment for fresh fruits.... more »
BioSafe Systems’ Michael Larose dies
Michael Joseph Larose, of BioSafe Systems LLC, has died. Larose, 40, died on Sept. 21. He was the eldest of the third generation of BioSafe’s founding family. Born Sept. 28, 1982, in Hartford, Connecticut, Larose... more »
Organic Growers Summit explores regenerative agriculture
“Regenerative agriculture” is a fast-growing term that is helping to reshape how food is grown, but what does it mean for the organic fresh produce industry? A panel of organic industry leaders will address the... more »
APHIS issues fruit fly quarantine in California
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have established an Oriental fruit fly quarantine in Santa Clara County, California. The quarantine includes portions of... more »
USDA Horticultural Research Laboratory adds vertical farming labs
AmplifiedAg, an agricultural technology company focused in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), was awarded the contract from the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Fort Pierce, Florida, to supply vertical farming research labs to the agency’s... more »
Fresh produce advisory committee accepts comments
The USDA's Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) will be taking comments in person and virtually at its November meeting. The committee, which advises the USDA on industry issues, will be meeting from 8... more »
Vismax biofungicide okayed for multi-crop use
Elemental Enzymes, a crop nutrient developer, has received Environmental Protection Agency approval registration of one of its biofungicides. Vismax, a patented proprietary biofungicide formulated for protection in a broad range of crops, is the first... more »
MSU researches drones to control vineyard pests
At the annual Viticulture Field Day in late July at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, winegrape growers assessed autonomous tools for tasks including pest management. “One of... more »