North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Chad Knepp <pyg@galatea.org>]

pdftotext of
<http://www.mdac.state.ms.us/n_library/departments/bpi/pdf/bpi_news_09_2003.pdf>:


VOLUME 3 NUMBER 1 - LESTER SPELL, JR., D.V.M., COMMISSIONER - MIKE
TAGERT, DIRECTOR - SEPTEMBER 2003

Hunter help sought in tracking TSA sites By Patti Drapala
---------Mississippi hunters who purchased jointvetch seed from a
Florida manufacturer for turkey, quail or deer food plots may need to
keep a watchful eye on the plants that emerge. Individual shipments of
jointvetch seed manufactured in March and April of 2003 by Wise Seed
Company of Frostproof, Fla., and distributed by Pennington Seed
Company of Madison, Ga., have been found to be infested with tropical
soda apple (TSA). TSA is a noxious weed that can rapidly overtake
wildlife habitats, pastures and turf. "The preservation of our
wildlife habitat is important to the state's economy and recreational
industry," said Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell. "We
must do what we can to prevent TSA from spreading and establishing in
new areas."  continued on back page

Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell wants to protect
wildlife habitat from noxious weeds. Immature berries of tropical soda
apple are shown in a photo (right) by Charles Bryson, USDA-ARS.

MDAC, Ag Aviation Board sign agreement on application regs By Tommy
McDaniel ---------Pesticides and pesticide applicators are regulated
in Mississippi under five separate state laws. The Mississippi
Department of Ag riculture and Commerce, through the Bureau of Plant
Industry, administers four of these laws. T he Agricultural Aviation
Board of Mississippi (AABM) administers the fifth law, which is called
the Agricultural Aviation Licensing Law. The purpose of this law is to
regulate all commercial agricultural aviation applications within the
state for the public good. The law requires persons engaged in the
aerial application of pesticides to be licensed. It also requires all
commercial agricultural aircraft to be registered. The department has
recently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the aviation
board to enforce all regulations pertaining to the aerial application
of pesticides. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of each
organization in the investigation of complaints involving aerial
applications of pesticides. It designates the Bureau to manage
investigations of such complaints. The agreement stipulates that:
1. BPI field inspectors will investigate any complaint that involves
the aerial applicontinued on back page

INSIDE BWE assessments adjusted Denise Clanton, Page 2 EPA streamlines
fertilizer regs Spell secures use-exemptions Beekeepers buzz on
meeting No unusual EEE outbreaks Personnel announcements

Har r y C. Ballard, Page 2

Tommy McDaniel and Dale Brown, Page 3 Har r y Fulton, Page 3

Miss. State Dept. of Health, Page 4 Patti Drapala, Page 4

Mississippi fights WNV bite Tips to reduce mosquitoes

Miss. State Dept. of Heath, Page 5


Eradication assessment adjusted for North Delta By Denise Clanton
---------Cotton farmers in Regions 1A and 2 of the Boll Weevil
Eradication Program for the State of Mississippi have been given some
welcome news. Participants in the two regions have received a
reduction in their 2003 assessment payments. T h e Mississippi Boll
Weevil Manag ement Corp. submitted a reduction request to the United
States Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e - Fa r m Service Agency
(USDA-FSA), the government agency that must approve assessment
reductions. FSA approved the request this summer. Assessments are paid
by growers to participate in the eradication program each
year. Growers are sent acreage reporting packets twice a year. The
packets contain information about assessments. Region 1A's initial
assessment rate for the first payment in 2003 was $18 per acre. That
rate was reduced to $13 per acre. Region 2's initial assessment rate
for the first payment was $12 per acre and was reduced to $9.75 per
acre. Mississippi is divided into five eradication zones. Regions 1A
and 2 are located in the Delta (western) section of the state. The
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce issued letters
through the Bureau of Plant Industry to individuals in Region 1A and
Region 2 notifying them of the reduction. Growers were advised to
adjust their second payment to reflect the reduction. Growers who had
already made full payment (Region 1A at $18 per acre and Region 2 at
$12 per acre) will receive a refund check from the Bureau of Plant
Industry upon written or verbal request. Any grower in need of a
refund must contact the Bureau of Plant Industry at 662-325-3390. No
refunds will be issued by the Bureau without a request from the
grower. The refunds will take from two to three weeks after a request
is received. ---------Denise Clanton is Branch Director of Boll Weevil
Eradication. E-mail: Denise@mdac.state.ms.us

EPA updates regs on industrial waste fertilizers By Harry C. Ballard
---------Most fertilizers used in agriculture contain three primary
plant nutrients: nitrogen, phosphor us and potassium. Some fertilizers
also contain micronutrients such as copper, iron, zinc and other
metals necessary for o p t i mu m plant growth. M a n y of t h e s e m
i c r o nu t r i e n t fertilizers are derived from i n d u s t r i a
l hazardous waste. Most micronutrient fertilizers made from recycled
hazardous waste contain zinc and are applied sparingly when used. The
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a
careful look at fertilizers made from hazardous waste, especially zinc
fertilizers, because they make up the majority of the waste-derived
fertilizers. Zinc sulfate is the most-used source of zinc
fertility. Zinc-ammonia complexes and zinc oxides are also
used. Ammoniated solutions of zinc sulfate and zinc chloride are
usually applied with other liquid fertilizers directly to the
soil. Zinc oxide is not water soluble and its immediate effectiveness
in granular form is low, but it can be applied as a dust to trees. In
this method the zinc acts as a fungicide and also provides available
zinc immediately. Zinc oxysulfates have been widely used due to their
lower cost, but the zinc oxysulfates have a low water solubility and
are not effective immediately. EPA studies have concluded that, in
general, fertilizers are safe. The agency has worked to update and
strengthen its regulations that apply to the micronutrient fertilizers
made from hazardous waste. EPA has encouraged proper recycling of such
hazardous waste to make sure that fer tilizers being manufactured are
safe and environmentally beneficial. EPA is streamlining its
restrictions on the industry in hopes of strengthening environmental
protection, increasing industry accountability and providing
incentives for safe legitimate recycling. Manufacturers have modern
technologies available to process and filter contaminants from the
waste materials for production of clean, high-quality fertilizer
products. Demand for lower-quality fertilizers made from steelmaking
dusts has been steadily declining over several years. Zinc oxysulfate
fertilizers made from these dusts were previously exempt from the
regulations. These types of fertilizers must now meet contamination
standards and are being slowly phased out of production because they
can't meet the contamination limits. EPA has set stricter limits on
contaminants in all other zinc fertilizers made from waste
products. The new limits on heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic,
mercury and chromium) are based on purity levels that are not
achievable with modern production technologies. The regulations also
set a dioxin limit of eight parts per trillion, which is the average
level of dioxin in the United States. The new r ule puts more
accountability on industry through a new system of testing, reporting,
record keeping, storage and handling practices. EPA expects the
streamlined regulacontinued on back page

The Plant Industry Messenger is published quarterly (March, June,
September and December) by the Bureau of Plant Industry, a division of
the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Subscriptions
are free. For new subscriptions or changes of address, contact Patti
Drapala either by e-mail at Patti@mdac.state.ms.us with "Newsletter
Subscription" in the e-mail subject line, or by telephone at (662)
325-3393. You can also access the Plant Industry Messenger on the
Internet at http://www.mdac.state.ms.us. Click on the Publications and
Forms link. BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY P.O. Box 5207 Mississippi State,
MS 39762 Phone: (662) 325-3390; Fax: (662) 325-0397 ADMINISTRATION
Lester Spell, Jr., D.V.M. - Commissioner Mike Tagert - Agency Director
NEWSLETTER Deputy Director - Butch Alpe Patti Drapala - Public
Relations Director Jon Morris - Graphic Artist

SEPTEMBER 2003

PLANT INDUSTRY MESSENGER

PAGE 2


Commissioner Lester Spell gets exemptions for farmers By Tommy
McDaniel and Dale Brown ---------T he Mississippi Department of
Agriculture and Commerce has been able to assist growers with sudden
outbreaks of pest problems by taking a leadership role in obtaining
emergency exemptions and special registrations for pesticide products
from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. "Agriculture
is big business in our state," said Mississippi Agriculture
Commissioner Lester Spell. "It's our goal to help growers obtain what
they need when they need it in order to have a successful production
year." The department's main contact in working with EPA to secure
exemptions and special registrations for pesticide products has been
the Bureau of Plant Industry. Personnel within the Bureau's Pesticide
Division do much of the day-to-day legwork in preparing exemption and
special registration applications to EPA. Far mers have reaped the
benefit of the department's hard work. The department received nine
Section 18 emergency exemptions from EPA for 2003. These exemptions
were granted on: 1. Niclosamide (Bayluscide) to control snails, and
diuron (Nautilis and Diuron 80) to control bluegreen algae in catfish
ponds. 2. Coumaphos (CheckMite+) and Thymol (Api Life Var) to control
Varroa mites and/or small hive beetles in honey bee
hives. 3. Tebufenozide (Confirm) and bifenthrin (Capture 2EC) to
control worms, and 5-metolachlor (Dual Magnum) to control weeds in
sweet potatoes. 4. Methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) to control wor ms in
soybeans. 5. Spinosad (Tracer) to control worms in forage grasses and
pastures. Emergency exemptions are granted by EPA under authority of
Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) when there are no products available to control a problem pest
that will cause a significant economic loss on a specific crop. EPA
grants special local-needs registrations under the authority of
Section 24c of FIFRA when a registered product or registered-use of a
product is not available. A state may register an additional use of a
federally-registered pesticide product or a new end-use product to
meet special local needs. The state must meet certain criteria
established by EPA to obtain a Section 24c. Section 24c registrations
were granted to Mississippi in 2003 on: 1. Clomazone (Command 3ME) to
allow pre-emergence treatment on rice by aerial application on a
limited basis. 2. Propiconazole (PropiMax EC) for control of diseases
in wheat caused by Puccinia spp. and Septoria spp. 3. Etridiazole
(Terramaster 4EC) for control of Pythium and Phytophthora root rot in
greenhouse tomatoes by drip irrigation. 4. Carfentrazone-ethyl (Aim
EC) as a har vest-aid treatment in field corn and soybeans. Products
containing glyphosate, paraquat and/or sulfosate, which have
directions for use as pre-plant burndown herbicides, were again
required to have 24c labels that restrict the use of these products by
aerial application except by permit during 2003. All pesticide
registrations in Mississippi expire Dec. 31 of the current year and
must be re-registered annually. ---------Tommy McDaniel is Pesticide
Division Director. E-mail: TommyM@mdac.state.ms.us Dale Brown is
Branch Director of Pesticide Registration. E-mail:
Dale@mdac.state.ms.us

Beekeepers generate good buzz on association meeting By Harry Fulton
---------Persons interested in learning how to manage honey bees for
honey production or pollinating gardens are encouraged to attend the
annual meeting of the Mississippi Beekeepers Association on Nov. 7 and
8 in Hattiesburg, Miss. Wholesale honey prices are at an all-time
high, which indicates a good opportunity for individuals to get
interested in beekeeping as a profession or as a way to earn some
extra income. "Honey bees play a major role in pollinating the wide
variety of field and garden crops grown in our state," said
Mississippi Ag riculture Commissioner Lester Spell. "They are
important for agriculture." The meeting begins Friday,
Nov. 7. Research results of tests on the new miteresistant Russian and
SMR strains of honey bees will be discussed by presenters from the
United States Department of AgricultureAgriculture Research Station
Bee Breeding and Genetics Laboratory at Baton Rouge, La. Other topics
of discussion on Friday include Africanized honey bees, honey
marketing and quality control, history of beekeeping in Mississippi
and queen rearing. A basic beekeeping workshop for beginners and
hobbyists is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 a.m. Speakers are
Harry Fulton, state apiarist, and Dr. Clarence Collison, head of the
Entomology and Plant Patholog y Department at Mississippi State
University. They will present topics on getting started, costs of
production, sources of nectar and bee management. Registration fees
for the meeting will be waived for newcomers who attend. Interested
persons are encouraged to pre-register by contacting Harry Fulton at
(662) 325-7765 or by email at Harry@mdac.state.ms.us. ---------Harry
Fulton is State Entomologist. E-mail: Har r y@mdac.state.ms.us

Honey promotion is one of the many bee topics to be discussed at the
upcoming meeting.

SEPTEMBER 2003

PLANT INDUSTRY MESSENGER

PAGE 3


EEE outbreaks not spreading in Mississippi Editor's Note: This article
appears courtesy of the Mississippi State Department of Health
(MSDH). ---------Eastern Equine Encephalitis, transmitted by the bite
of infected mosquitoes, is not new to Mississippi. In 2002, 11 horses
tested positive for EEE. In June 2003, Mississippi health officials
reported the first case of EEE in a horse from Lamar County. Through
late July, individual horses in at least five more counties had tested
positive for the illness. The disease is seen more commonly in the
equine population, and rarely in humans. Since 1964, there have been
153 human cases of EEE in the United States, four of which were from
Mississippi. The state reported three human cases of EEE in 1989 and
one in 1993. "Horse owners should not be overly alar med since it is
not unusual for Mississippi to have several cases of EEE each
year. However, EEE can be prevented," said Jim Watson, D.V.M., who is
the state veterinarian with the Mississippi Board of Animal
Health. Watson said horse owners are encouraged to vaccinate their
animals not only for EEE but also for West Nile Virus (WNV). Both
vaccines are safe and effective when given according to label
directions. Horses

A group of horses enjoy the fresh air in their outdoor pen. Horse
owners should vaccinate their animals for EEE to prevent illness.

infected with EEE or WNV are not contagious, and therefore do not pose
a health risk to other animals or people. However, owners should take
proper precautions to prevent exposure to mosquitoes that spread the
disease from infected birds and to eliminate areas of standing water
where mosquitoes can breed. Mosquito-borne virus infections such as
EEE and West Nile can be prevented, health officials say. The public
can help prevent the

spread of mosquito-borne diseases by cleaning up areas of standing
water where mosquitoes breed, removing all debris, disposing of used
tires, and repairing damaged or torn window and door screens that stay
open. For more information on mosquitoborne illnesses, the public can
log onto the Mississippi State Department of Health Web site at
http://www.msdh.state.ms.us or call Health Info toll-free at
1-800-489-7670.

Personnel additions, promotions for Bureau of Plant Industr y
announced Dale Brown has been promoted to Branch Director of Pesticide
Registration Programs. Brown was a district inspector with the Bureau
and has been a technical representative in the farm chemicals industry
for several yeras. He is a graduate of Delta State University. Brown's
promotion was effective Aug. 1. Heather Langford of Starkville, Miss.,
has been hired as Pesticide Registration Assistant. A native of
Webster County in Mississippi, Langford previously worked for the
Bureau as Secretary for Private Applicator Certification Programs. Her
employment was effective July 21. Tommy McDaniel has been promoted to
Pesticide Division Director. An employee of the state agriculture
deparment for 25 years, McDaniel has served as Branch Director for
Private Applicator Certification and EPA Prog rams. A native of
Dublin, Miss., McDaniel is a graduate of Mississippi State
University. His promotion was effective July 1. Keith Pouncey of
Gautier, Miss., has been named Coordinator of Noxious Weed Prog
rams. An employee of the Mississippi Depar tment of Ag riculture and
Commerce for 29 years, Pouncey was Director of the Grain Inspection
Division before his transfer to the Bureau earlier this spring. He is
responsible for survey and monitoring prog rams involving cogongrass
and tropical s o d a apple. Po u n c e y will be based in Gautier. He
began his new duties July 1. -- Contributed by Patti Drapala

BPI Environmental Scientist Rusty Crowe continues a tour of duty in
Iraq with the 3rd ACR of the United State Army.

SEPTEMBER 2003

PLANT INDUSTRY MESSENGER

PAGE 4


Mississippi fights bite of West Nile Virus Editor's Note: This article
appears courtesy of the Mississippi State Department of Health
(MSDH). ---------Mississippi public health officials are in the middle
of "fighting the bite" this mosquito season. In June, the Mississippi
State Department of Health, along with "We are not surprised that West
Nile Vir us has made an appearance," said State Health Officer Brian
Amy, M.D., M.H.A., M.P.H. "It is following an expected course, and we
are applying knowledge gained last year." Amy said the new public
health campaign materials are geared at prevention. Gov. tors;
community leaders, mosquito-control personnel, senior citizens, day
care centers, summer camps and schools. Amy has encouraged the public
to visit the agency Web site, a vast resource for WNV information,
including links to many other Web sites such as the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). According to Sally Slavinski, D.V.M.,
M.P.H., who is an epidemiologist with MSDH, the department has already
initiated partnerships with the Mississippi Municipal League, the
Mississippi Board of Supervisors, the Mississippi Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory, local officials, state agencies and individuals
to reduce the potential impact of West Nile Virus. "By defining and
communicating roles that individuals and communities can play in the
response to West Nile, the public is a capable ally in promoting
public health," said Slavinski. Slavinski said WNV materials are being
distributed to the public through county health departments, churches,
libraries, retail stores, senior service centers and recreation
areas. "Community leaders are encouraged to work with the Mississippi
Municipal League and the Board of Super visors who have taken the lead
in Mississippi's fight against West Nile by supporting and advocating
the health department's mosquito control workshops and promoting the
campaign," said Slavinski. In 2002, Mississippi, along with the rest
of the nation, experienced one of the largest outbreaks of WNV ever
documented. In Mississippi alone, 193 human cases were reported in
2002, resulting in 12 deaths. There were more than 4,000 cases and 284
deaths reported nationwide. A WNV hotline is available for the public
to ask questions or report a dead bird by simply calling
1-877-WST-NILE. outdoor pet food and water dishes that are not being
used. Close garbage can lids. Be sure water does not collect in the
bottom of cans. Check around construction sites to ensure that proper
backfilling and grading prevent drainage problems.  Remove

Ben Palmer, left, looks for insects to collect for a school project
while Tanner Clanton prepares to play baseball. Both boys know to
apply a mosquito repellent to avoid getting bitten when outdoors.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, unveiled the West Nile Virus (WNV) public
education campaign, "Fight the Bite." "Fight the Bite" education
campaign materials that include television and radio public service
announcements, cooperation with community leaders throughout the
state, and a Web site focus have placed Mississippi in the forefront
in public awareness on the mosquito-borne illness.

Musgrove has encouraged a shared vision of individual and community
involvement in the protection and prevention of WNV. In addition to
the radio and television public service announcements, additional
"Fight the Bite" materials have been available on the state health
department Web site: htt p://www.msdh.state.ms.us. Materials are
geared to various audiences: physicians and health care workers,
educathe water in bird baths weekly. over-the-counter larvicides sold
at home improvement stores. Eliminate pools of standing, stagnant
water, especially with organic debris. Repair damaged or torn window
and door screens that stay open.  Change Use

Measures to reduce mosquito populations in and around homes, yards and
outdoor areas:

or dump any source of standing water around the home. Dispose of
containers and debris which can collect or hold water. Remove all leaf
debris. Dispose of used tires. Clean rain gutters and swimming pools.
Drain

SEPTEMBER 2003

PLANT INDUSTRY MESSENGER

PAGE 5


Hunter help on TSA finds continued from front page Hunters who bought
jointvetch and have already planted food plots for wildlife should
check for the emergence of TSA. Individuals who find TSA should
contact the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce through
the Bureau of Plant Industry at (662) 325-3390. Individuals who have
bought jointvetch seed but have not planted should also contact the
department as soon as possible. TSA can grow from 3 feet to 6 feet in
height, and has thornlike prickles on the leaves, leafstalks and
stem. The noxious weed can be identified by the physical
characteristics of unripe green-and-white striped berries, mature
yellow berries, and flowers with five white petals and white-to-cream
stamens. TSA is spread to new areas by livestock and wildlife that
graze on the fruits and then pass seeds through the digestive
tract. ---------Patti Drapala is Public Relations Director. E-mail:
Patti@mdac.state.ms.us

Enforcement agreement continued from front page cation of pesticides,
regardless of whether the complaint was received initially by the
board or the department. 2. The department will refer any
investigation that reveals violations of the ag aviation law or
regulations to the board for enforcement action. ---------Tommy
McDaniel is Pesticide Division Director. E-mail:
TommyM@mdac.state.ms.us

Waste-based fertilizers continued from page 2 tions to lower costs to
industry and lower the price of the fertilizers to
farmers. ---------Harry C. Ballard is Branch Director of Feed,
Fertilizer, Lime and Plant Amendments. E-mail: Har r
yB@mdac.state.ms.us For Plant Industry Messenger subscriptions, send
an e-mail to: Patti@mdac.state.ms.us. Put "Newsletter Subscription" in
the subject line.

Shown above are the leaves of the tropical soda apple plant, as
photographed by Char les Bryson, USDA-ARS.

SEPTEMBER 2003

PLANT INDUSTRY MESSENGER

PAGE 6

P.O. Box 5207 Mississippi State, MS 39762 

-- 
Chad Knepp
python -c 'import base64;print base64.decodestring("cHlnQGdhbGF0ZWEub3Jn")'