PEP-Talk, April, 2003

Pesticide Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Vol. 7, Issue 4

In This Issue

Community Mosquito Conference (Note the date has changed to May 2!!)

Community officials and administrators are invited to a Community Mosquito Management Conference on May 2, 2003, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Ohio State University campus at the Agriculture Administration Building Auditorium. The conference is for people who will be overseeing and managing mosquito control for townships, counties, parks and agencies.

The cost is $10/person and registration can be done on the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu. Topics to be covered include a panel of Ohio county administrators discussing the challenges of mosquito control on a local level, industry representatives focusing on equipment and materials for control, an update from the Ohio Department of Health and an overview of the State of Ohio surveillance program.

Please encourage local departments of health, county commissioners, township trustees, park and campground managers, fairground managers and anyone else involved with managing community and public outdoor areas to attend.

Container Recycling Schedule Released

The 2003 Pesticide Container Recycling Schedule has been posted on the web. To access the schedule, go to the Pesticide Education Program website and look under "General Information." The schedule is listed by county. For questions about the schedule, call Larry Berger, Ohio Department of Agriculture, (614) 728-6392.

Atrazine Comment Period Begins

EPA has published the atrazine interim risk management decision document in the Federal Register which begins an open comment period until April 29, 2003. More information about the document is available.

Part of the risk mitigation for atrazine's reregistration includes enhanced monitoring of selected watersheds. Some of these watersheds are located in Ohio. More information on the enhanced monitoring is located on the Pesticide Education Program website under the "Agent Information" page. Primarily used to control weeds in corn, atrazine was first registered in the late 1950's. The reregistration process is part of the Food Quality and Protection Act which requires older registered pesticides to be re-evaluated. More information about EPA's interim reregistration eligibility decision (IRED) for atrazine is available. (Source: U.S. EPA website, http://www.epa.gov)

Ozone for Stored Grain

Researchers at Purdue University are exploring ozone as a protectant for stored grain. Primarily, fumigants and chemicals have been used to prevent molds, mycotoxins and insect damage in stored grain. The research is focusing on ozonation as part of an integrated pest management system. This research comes on the heels of phase out in 2005 of a methyl bromide, a fumigant traditionally used to protect stored grain. More information is available about the grain ozonation on the Purdue website. (Source: Purdue University Extension)

Garden Center Reminder

Retailers need to be reminded that it's illegal to sell home use products that contain chlorpyrifos (Dursban), except for ant and roach bait products in child-resistant packaging. The EPA agreement with manufactures included a chlorpyrifos stop-sale date for retailers of December 31, 2001. An information sheet for retailers about chlorpyrifos is located on the Pesticide Education Program. Also, diazinon labeled for indoor use can no longer be sold. Retail sales of indoor products were to stop on December 31, 2002. This includes diazinon labeled for homes, schools, stores and other enclosed areas. Diazinon for outdoor uses on landscape/lawns can continue to be sold until December 31, 2004.

Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer has spread into Lucas County in Ohio. Previously, the ash-destroying pest had been reported in southeastern Michigan. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has quarantined parts of Lucas County to prevent spread of the insect.

An exotic pest from Asia, the emerald ash borer belongs to a group of insects known as metallic wood-boring beetles. Adults are dark metallic green in color, 1/2 inch in length and 1/16 inch wide and are visible only from mid-May until late July. Larvae are creamy white in color. The pest will typically kill an ash tree in two to three years. Pictures of the pest are available and damage pictures and information are also available.

If OSU Extension agents positively identify an emerald ash borer in their area, they need to contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture Plant Industry Division and talk to Tom Harrison or Darbha at (614) 728-6400. (Source: Ohio Department of Agriculture)

Satellite Conference Received National Attention

"Educating the Public about West Nile Virus and its Prevention" was a satellite conference sponsored by OSU Extension and the Ohio West Nile Virus working group on March 19. In addition to being shown in OSU Extension county and district offices around the state, the conference was downloaded in other states such as Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee and even as far away as the state of Washington. The audience viewing the conference included OSU Extension, Department of Health and others. The results are still coming in, with over 430 people having watched the satellite conference.

Organic Pesticide Product Labels

EPA has published the labeling rules for pesticides that can be used in organic production. The statement, "For organic production" should appear on the front panel of the label, close to the product name for products (synthetic or natural) that can be used on organic crops or animal production. Other statements could be used, but have to be approved by EPA before being put on the label. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances will be used by EPA as the guide for pesticides that can be used in organic production. A list of substances is available. The list was developed by the USDA for the National Organic Program rule. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 19)

Mosquito Magnet Fined

The manufacturers of the Mosquito Magnet, a mosquito control device marketed to homeowners, was fined $1 million by EPA for allegedly adding a potentially toxic chemical to the device and mislabeling it as environmentally friendly. Allegedly, the company labeled the device with a false EPA registration number for the pesticide octenol, a mosquito attractant. The propane-fired Mosquito Magnet attracts and destroys mosquitoes by emitting carbon dioxide, heat and moisture which are the same things that attract mosquitoes to humans and animals. Octenol is added to the device's exhaust to increase mosquito activity and is listed by the EPA in the second-most-toxic class of chemicals. The company that manufacturers the Mosquito Magnet has applied and received a viable EPA registration to add the octenol to the device with the proper labeling. The fine is in relation to the past misleading labels. (Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Regulation)

Fish-Tissue Study Looks at Long-Term Effects

EPA is conducting a four-year study of the persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals in fish. The National Fish Tissue Study is looking at priority chemicals such as chlordane, DDT, mercury, PCBs, dioxins and furans, alkyl-lead, aldrin/dieldrin, bonzo(a)pyrene, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, octachlorostyrene and toxaphene. After the first year of study, the freshwater fish are testing positive for a large number of these chemicals, according to preliminary results. Fish are sampled from 500 lakes and reservoirs in 47 states and four tribal jurisdictions. The lakes are divided among six size groupings that range from 2.5 to 900,000 acres. The study will end in 2004.

Dead Birds in Georgia Baiting Incident

Georgia state officials suspect pesticide misuse in a case of baiting. More than 3,000 doves, ducks, geese, hawks and other birds were found dead on farmland in northern Georgia. Officials suspect the birds were killed by larvacide-laced corn left out as bait to kill nuisance wildlife. The corn was left around the dam of a pond on a local farm. The investigation is continuing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and EPA since the use of pesticides and the protection of migratory birds are regulated by federal statute. In Georgia, poisoning wildlife is punishable with up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for each animal harmed, in addition to any federal charges. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 15)

Pesticide Crop Watch

Insecticides

Distance (pyriproxyfen) - Valent has added to their label the control of euonymous scale, fungus gnats, stone flies and the suppression of mealybugs

Enstar II (kinoprene) - Wellmark International has added to their label the control of thrips on ornamentals

MSR Spray Concentrate (oxydemeton-methyl) - Gowan has added to their label the usage on Spanish onions.

YieldGard (Bacillus thuringiensis) - Monsanto has received registration for YieldGard Rootworm insect protection from corn rootworm larvae. Growers will be required to plant a 20 percent refuge of non-YieldGard Rootworm corn adjacent to or within the YieldGard Rootworm cornfield.

Herbicides

Avadex (triallate) - Monsanto is closing the world's only production for this product due to declining sales. There should be enough product in inventory to supply for two more years.

Miscellaneous

Agway has sold its agronomy and Seedway seed business to Growmark Amvac has signed an agreement to acquire the crop protection business of Pace International Tributyltin - This active ingredient is part of a voluntary phaseout. Tributyltin was used in antifouling coatings for marine use.

(Sources for Pesticide Crop Watch: C.O.R.N. newsletter - Ohio State University Extension, March 4, 2003; Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 282; Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, February, 2003).

Upcoming Events

Pesticide Education Program Advisory Council
April 4, 2003, 9:30 a.m.
Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg

Community Mosquito Management Conference
May 2, 2003, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Agriculture Administration Bldg. Auditorium
Ohio State University, Columbus

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

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