Crop Protection
What will California’s strawberry industry do without methyl bromide?
For many years, California growers relied on methyl bromide to kill a wide range of soil-borne pests, from fungi to insects to weeds, before planting crops. 2016 marks the last year in which the highly... more »
USDA seeks comments on exotic fruit fly eradication program
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comment on an updated environmental impact statement (EIS) that analyzes the effects of exotic fruit fly eradication programs in the United States and its territories.... more »
Vestaron completes $18 million financing round
Vestaron Corporation has completed an oversubscribed Series D round of financing totaling $18 million dollars. The round was completely funded by existing investors in the company. The biological insecticide company will introduce its first product, SPEAR-T,... more »
AgroFresh opens two new service centers, expands field support
AgroFresh Solutions, a global supplier in produce freshness solutions, has opened two new service centers and added 50 seasonal workers worldwide to enable apple and pear growers to gain the fruit quality benefits of Harvista pre-harvest 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) technology... more »
Solid-set canopy delivery system on track
If a solid-set canopy delivery system proves to be an efficient way to apply chemicals and other crop control measures, researchers are confident tree fruit growers would benefit immensely through reduced application costs and significant... more »
Felsot to serve as ESA’s pesticide expert liaison
Allan Felsot, a professor and extension specialist at Washington State University, has been selected to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) and liaison with the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (EPA-OPP). ... more »
Bayer to halt future sales of Belt insecticide
The EPA's Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) has upheld an earlier EPA decision to cancel registration for Bayer’s insecticide flubendiamide, marketed in the U.S. as Belt, but is allowing sales of existing stocks to growers. The EAB... more »
Pennsylvania expands spotted lanternfly quarantine
Pennsylvania's spotted lanternfly quarantine has been expanded to Lower Macungie Township, Alburtis and Macungie Boroughs in Lehigh County and New Hanover Township in Montgomery County after small populations of the pest were found. The most... more »