BeeCheck for Applicators Launched July 12th The pilot season for BeeWhere started quietly during Almond Bloom earlier this year as Beekeepers and County Ag Commissioners utilized BeeWhere in CalAg Permits and through the Fieldwatch interface to register hives. Waiting until higher registration numbers were reported, the BeeCheck function for applicators stayed off. As stakeholders have discussed how to set a successful pathway for the 2020 season, the BeeCheck function was activated on July 12th, alongside additional outreach for all beekeepers still in California to register and use the BeeWhere system before the end of the summer. BeeWhere was developed to bring a layer of technology to facilitate regulations that have been in place since the 1980’s to foster communication between beekeepers and applicators prior to pesticide applications. Advanced warning is mandatory per Per 3 CCR § 6654(a) Each person intending to apply any pesticide toxic to bees to a blossoming plant shall, prior to the application, inquire of the commissioner, or of a notification service designated by the commissioner, whether any beekeeper with apiaries within one mile of the application site has requested notice of such application.
01 BeeWhere Update 03 Seasonal sprayer adjustments 06 Impermeable film and oxyfluorfen 08 Respiratory system protection 11 2019 Events Calendar 14 Mobile app for incident reporting
Look for our Pre-Bloom issue coming in January 2020.
BeeCheck allows you to access: • Registered Beekeeper information based on one-mile proximity to application site • Registered Beekeeper Contact Information and Notification Preferences • Provides a timestamp of beekeeper information request to capture all currently registered/reported hives at time of request In future versions of the program, Applicators will be able to report Unmarked/Unregistered hives back to the County Ag Commissioners office. Additionally, BeeCheck will integrate into Crop Management tools after the pilot project is completed. https://beewherecalifornia.com/ █
AUGUST 2019 VOL. IV, NO. 2
IN THIS ISSUE:
This inquiry of the commissioner for information to provide a 48-hour notification is now an option through the BeeCheck feature. Based on the permit number associated with the application, you can access contact information for beekeepers who have requested notice of application with a mouse click or smart phone instead of waiting to call the Ag Commissioners office during business hours.
APPLICATOR ALERTS
BeeWhere Update
BRANDT Smart B
Smarter Boron Delivery New scientific discovery and formulation innovation offers up to 8x greater efficiency than conventional boron ■■
New foliar boron fertilizer with superior uptake, mobility and efficacy
■■
Corrects boron deficiencies quickly and effectively
■■
Compatible in virtually any tank mix - including phosphite, phosphate and calcium
To learn more or to find a BRANDT distributor near you, download the BRANDT Product Finder App today.
¹Source: BRANDT Field Trials 2015
UP TO
25%
YIELD INCREASE Brandt Consolidated, Inc. www.brandt.co
1
CAPCA EDITORIAL STAFF Ruthann Anderson - Editor Joyce Basan - Deputy Editor Dee Strowbridge - Membership/Conference Sylvia Stark - Advertising Sales Manager Rachel Taft - Executive Assistant Adam Barsanti - Outreach Relations Manager Ixchel Flannery - Office Administrator Graphic Design - Rosemary N. Southward southwardr@comcast.net
Lynn R. Wunderlich, UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor, Central Sierra Region
Your crop canopy doesn’t stay the same during the year, why should your spraying settings? Yet a recent survey of pesticide applicators, PCAs, growers and supervisors working in orchards and vineyards revealed that 38% of respondents do not change their sprayer set-up once the season begins. That’s a large number of folks who are wasting time, chemical and money by overapplying early in the seasonwhen canopy is small, and who might be underapplying later on-when canopy is full. Each spray job is unique. There are a few things that can be adjusted on your airblast sprayer to maximizing the efficiency of your spray job from dormant season to pre-harvest, ensuring good coverage and minimizing spray drift. FAN. I have a question I like to ask airblast applicators: “Is the sprayer fan your friend, or your foe?” The fan can be either your friend or your foe, depending on the settings you choose for the canopy at the time. Recall that the job of the fan is to move the spray droplets up into the canopy, to perturb the canopy to open it up to the spray, and to entrain the spray droplets into the fan airstream so the droplets resist cross-winds and air drag. The important factor in thinking about the fan is the volume of air the fan produces, which is dependent on the size of the fan, the pitch of the fan blades, the fan speed, and the tractor ground speed and canopy targeted. For dormant, delayed dormant, bloom/ budbreak and early seasonal sprays, you
need very little air since there is no to very little canopy. You may even be able to make the application without the fan on at all, in, for example, an application targeting pruning wounds in grapes for control of trunk disease. Most axial fan sprayers have a fan gear box that can be adjusted to either a “low” fan speed or “high” fan speed. Setting the fan into low gear, in combination with driving at a faster ground speed, are adjustments that can be successfully used for early season applications. Later in the season, when canopies are large, the gear box should be moved into the “high” fan speed setting, and the tractor ground speed slowed for effective canopy coverage. Driving too fast is the number one complaint of applicator supervisors when considering poor applications late in the season. Early in the season, when canopy is sparse, is perhaps the only time that tractor speed can be increased without compromising coverage (always check coverage with water sensitive paper or kaolin clay to be sure the tractor speed is not too fast!). The fan blade “pitch” can also be adjusted to increase or decrease the air volume that the fan is using. This can make a big difference on fan performance and takes little more than a wrench to adjust. How can you tell if your fan is adequately adjusted to match your canopy? Try the tip from Jason Deveau, author of one of my favorite spray application websites, “Sprayers 101” https://sprayers101.com/ adjust-the-direction-of-the-air-stream/ Tie some flagging tape ribbon on the outer Continued on next page
PURPOSE California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) is a non-profit voluntary mutual benefit association. CAPCA’s purpose is to serve as the leader in the evolution of the pest management industry through the communication of reliable information. CAPCA is dedicated to the professional development and enhancement of our members’ education and stewardship which includes legislative, regulatory, continuing education and public outreach activities. PUBLISHING INFORMATION Applicator Alerts is published by the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA), 2600 River Plaza Dr., Suite 250, Sacramento, California 95833. Web: www.capca.com, (916) 928‑1625. POSTMASTER: send address change to CAPCA. CAPCA has endeavored to include appropriate and accurate statements, but disclaims any and all warranties and/or responsibility for the statements or articles submitted to Applicator Alerts that may have additionally been edited for style, content and space prior to publication. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent CAPCA policies, or positions or endorsements. Editorial content of this publication is educational and informational in nature. No part of this publication, including images, may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. Contact CAPCA at (916) 928‑1625 for reprint authorization. PRINTING: Sundance Press Tucson, Arizona
FIND US ON LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/californiaassociation-of-pest-control-advisers-capca-
PRE-HARVEST ISSUE
Airblast sprayer adjustments for seasonal canopy changes
PRE-HARVEST ISSUE
canopy of the row you are targeting and have a partner observe how the flagging moves as you drive by at the ground speed and fan speed settings you think are correct. If the flagging sticks straight out or greater than a 45-degree angle, your fan volume is too great and should be adjusted down. If the flagging barely flutters as you drive by, the fan volume isn’t enough for the canopy, and adjustments need to be made to increase the fan volume. And again, always verify any sprayer adjustments using water sensitive paper or a spray marker like kaolin clay.
Always check any sprayer adjustments made with a tool like water sensitive paper placed in the tree or vine canopy.
NOZZLES. The number of nozzles you use and the flow rate of each nozzle selected can also be adjusted to match the target canopy. When the canopy is sparse, you can turn off unneeded nozzles, reducing the spray volume needed for an application. Lower overall volume means fewer trips to refill the tank and a more efficient application overall. Park the sprayer in the row adjacent to the canopy so you can tell which nozzles are needed. Bring the PTO up to 540 RPM and turn on the fan without water. Match the number of nozzles needed to the canopy by using a stick with flagging on the end of it (be sure the flagging is not so long that it gets sucked in by the fan), placed at the nozzle positionwhere the flagging goes is an indication of where the droplets will also move to. If the flagging is flying above or below the canopy, those nozzles can be turned off. If the flagging isn’t fluttering in the profile of the canopy, more nozzles need to be turned on or adjusted towards the canopy. Nozzle flow rate-gpm-at a defined pressure is indicated in the manufacturer’s catalog-most of these are available on the internet and often are available in several languages as well. Make sure you have the catalog spec. sheet for the nozzles you are using. Early season applications require lower spray volumes so smaller nozzles with lower flow rates can be used. Late season applications often require high flow rates to ensure complete coverage. Flow rate is pressure dependent, but it is not a 1:1 relationship and should be used to adjust flow rates with caution. In fact, if you want to double the flow rate, you must increase the pressure by the square of 2 (or by 4 times!). Therefore, it’s often best to change the nozzle to the desired flow rate and keep the operating pressure somewhere near the 100-psi range.
Flagging can be used to indicate fan air volume and nozzle positioning.
4
DROPLET SIZE. Pressure changes not only affect nozzle flow rate, but also droplet size: higher pressure means smaller droplets that are more prone to drift! In early season canopies, drift may be more likely to occur since there is less canopy to “capture” spray droplets. Early season is a good time to use larger droplets, formed by either a larger disc-core size (this would also mean greater flow rate, so you may need fewer nozzles overall), or by a “drift reducing” nozzle such as the air induction (A.I.) nozzles that are now available for airblast applications. Larger drops may also better penetrate a dense canopy and are much less likely to evaporate when temperatures are high and relative humidity is low; so, A.I. nozzles could be a good choice for late, large canopy applications made in the hotter summer months. There is very little research comparing the efficacy of control in a crop-pest situation using A.I. (medium-coarse drop) nozzles compared to standard (fine to very fine). However, growers in the EU have been using A.I. nozzles for many years and they could have a good fit in your spray program-don’t be afraid to try something new!
Air induction nozzles, producing medium to coarse drops, are now available for use in airblast sprayers. Photo: Lynn R. Wunderlich, UC Regents
ADVERTORIAL
Marrone Bio Innovations’ BioUnite program offers new solutions to California growers TM
BioUnite program enables California growers to address mid-season pest management needs. California growers are gaining an edge as they address mid-season pest control issues through the implementation of the company’s novel BioUnite program.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
BioUnite provides growers with integrated pest management programs that harnesses the power of biology with the performance of chemistry resulting in a more efficient food production system that is affordable, sustainable, safe, and easy to use. BioUnite provides specific biological prescriptions that growers integrate into their operations, taking the guesswork out of using biologically derived materials with their standard crop protection program. Marrone Bio supports the BioUnite program with research that spans from initial discoveries through hands-on field trials. Almond growers are currently treating for navel orangeworm larvae, BioUnite Family Of Products
SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE
which bore into and consume the nut fruit, damaging quality, and yield, and reducing the value farmers receive for their crop. In extensive 2018 field trials, Marrone Bio Innovations’ Venerate® biological insecticide, when tank mixed with a standard insecticide, reduced nut damage by an additional 2% as compared with the standard insecticide program. This Venerate BioUnite program results in a 6-to-1 return on investment to the grower. In grapes, the BioUnite concept integrates Haven® plant stress manager into the grower vine management program. Field trials demonstrated Haven resulted in an 18% yield increase, delivering a 6-to-1 return on investment. Also in grapes, when Regalia® biofungicide was added to the growers’ disease management program, Regalia provided a 57% improvement in disease control as compared to the standard treatment. “BioUnite helps growers around the world that are faced with the challenge to meet diverse consumer demand for greater choice, affordability, and availability,” said Kevin Hammill, Chief Commercial Officer for Marrone Bio Innovations.
Breakthrough efficacy against downy mildew, white molds & Botrytis
Broad spectrum biological control of economically-damaging nematode eggs, juveniles & adults; strengthens roots
J AG © 2019 Marrone Bio Innovations. All rights reserved. BioUnite, Venerate, Haven, Regalia, and Grandevo are registered trademarks of Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc.
LEARN MORE NorCal: Jenna Combs, 530-902-0974 North Central Valley: Noel Cornejo, 530-304-8870 Central Coast: Collin Briley, 805-212-6699 South Central Valley: Alex Jackson, 559-903-8694 SoCal: Brian Guess, 949-316-9936 Cultivated Garden: Matt Brecht, 503-577-0604
marronebio.com
5
PRE-HARVEST ISSUE
Is oxyfluorfen safe in strawberry when impermeable film is used? Oleg Daugovish and Steve Fennimore, UC-ANR We have established over years of research that oxyfluorfen herbicide can provide very good broadleaf weed control in strawberry and high-density polyethylene film (HDPE) plastic film protects strawberry transplants from potential injury. Oxyfluorfen can co-distill, that is: travel with water vapor from wet soil, lift off the ground and potentially injure plants that get on the way. But HDPE film prevented that. However, there have been a couple reports of oxyfluorfen injury in beds with ‘totally impermeable film’ (TIF). Can oxyfluorfen herbicide behave differently under TIF compared to HDPE? To assess that we evaluated oxyfluorfen and flumioxazin (another common strawberry herbicide that does not co-distill) in fallplanted strawberry at Salinas and Santa Paula. We used two rates under either HDPE (1.5 mil) or TIF black plastic films. We sprayed oxyfluorfen a 0.25 and 0.5 lbs a.i./A and flumioxazin at 0.05 and 0.1 lb a. i. /A on bed tops and installed plastic films within 24h after application of herbicides. Strawberry was transplanted into all plots: ’Fronteras’ At Santa Paula 45 days later, and ‘Cabrillo’ at Salinas 30 days later. Fig 1. Strawberry plants after pre-plant oxyfluorfen application under HDPE film (top) and TIF (bottom)
Injury to strawberry plants was significant at Salinas with high rate of oxyfluorfen under TIF but not with HDPE (which was not different from untreated check). At Santa Paula there were no statistical differences among treatments although both rates of oxyfluorfen tended to have higher injury scores under TIF compared to HDPE but were generally safe. As expected, flumioxazin injury scores were not different from untreated check at either location. Plant stands were slightly reduced at high oxyfluorfen rate under TIF compared to the same rate with HDPE at Salinas, but no other differences were observed among treatments and none were significant at Santa Paula. Fruit yields (full –season) at both locations were similar in all treatments and in untreated check. In this project and in previous trials we observed that even with significant oxyfluorfen injury strawberry recovered and plants ‘grew- out’ of it without negative impacts on fruit production. Why is there greater injury potential with TIF compared to HDPE? Although we did not measure herbicide concentrations in soil in this study at the time of planting it is likely that TIF retained oxyfluorfen more so than HDPE and may have resulted in greater concentrations of herbicide in planting holes at punching time and planting. We have seen this trend with fumigants applied under TIF compared to HDPE. Even with TIF, oxyfluorfen injury is not common in strawberry and when detected likely will not affect fruit production, however, to prevent potential injury and assure safety one may consider: • Use of lower rates of oxyfluorfen and greater than 30-day pretransplant interval • If oxyfluorfen is used with TIF: punching planting holes a day or more ahead of planting, allowing any residual herbicide to escape before strawberry planting. • Use of flumioxazin that provides similar spectrum of weed control but does not have lift-off potential and is normally safe when applied under plastic film 30 days pre-transplant.
Fig 2. When oxyfluorfen comes in contact with strawberry it can damage plant cell membranes and affected areas on leaves appear dry and discolored.
6
CAPCA’s 45 Annual Conference & Agri-Expo th
AT THE CENTER OF PLANT HEALTH
November 3-5, 2019 Grand Sierra Resort - Reno, Nevada
Conference Registration and Hotel Accommodations can be made at
CAPCA.COM/CONFERENCE Hunting for Solutions
Questions - Contact Dee Strowbridge 916-928-1625 x 3 or dee@capca.com
Infiltration
of Water & Nutrition means Moisture Retention Which means less watering, plant hydration & nutrition on demand Resulting in less costs with improved plant vitality, product grade, yield & ROI
WaterSOLV™ Solutions Minerals and bound up nutrition in water and soils, made available Hardness converted to nutrition - Sodium stabilized to be inert, non-toxic Management of aerobic soil conditions by organically inhibited peroxide and dissolved oxygen In just 3 years - over 2 million acres ag under treatment and 700 water wells rehabilitated – mostly City Drinking Water Wells
Breakthrough Technology Best grapes in this valley in 20 years – It’s just the best thing I’ve ever seen I think it will not only save us money, but actually make us more For your nearest certified PCA, call or email (888) 788-5807 – info@hctllc.com Registered with NSF 60 for offline use and the California Department of Food & Agriculture - Well-Klean©, WaterSOLV™ and Water Treatment to Agronomy are Trademarks of HCT, LLC
PRE-HARVEST ISSUE
Top 8 things you can do to protect your respiratory system when applying pesticides Lisa Blecker (Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator) & Anna Katrina Hunter (Pesticide Safety Writer), UC Statewide IPM Program 1. Always check the label to determine if a respirator is required It cannot be stated enough how important it is to check the pesticide label(s) for any respirator use requirements before making an application of a single pesticide or in combination. If the personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements described in the precautionary statements of the product label indicate to use a respirator, then you must wear one. If the precautionary statements recommend to “avoid breathing dust, vapor, or mist,” and a respirator is the only way to achieve this - you must wear one. 2. Identify the correct respirator to wear for your situation Keep in mind that filtering facepieces such as the popular “N95” mask are a type of respirator. N-95 particulate respirators are rated to protect against up to 95 percent of the particles in the air, but not gases, oils, or vapors, and are intended for low hazard levels. Follow the label instructions to identify the correct respirator for your use. Other types of respirators that offer higher levels of respiratory protection are • A particulate respirator rated “R” is similar to an “N” particulate respirator except that it offers protection from some oil particulates. P-rated particulate respirators offer greater protection against oils. • A non-powered half or full-face respirator with chemical cartridges works by filtering chemical gases and particles as you breathe. • Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR)– this type of respirator physically passes air through “HE” rated cartridges thereby trapping particles unaided by the user.
N, R, or P-rated filtering facepieces are a type of respirator. Photo courtesy: Cheryl Reynolds, UC Statewide IPM Program
Find the type of respirator that you are most comfortable working with that is also compliant with the requirements of the label to avoid adjustments during an application. 3. Get a medical evaluation. Breathing through a respirator can be hard for people with health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or lung disease and interfere with wearing a respirator safely. Some employees may be unaware of an existing health condition. This is why a medical evaluation is required before handling pesticides that require a respirator and your employer must receive a doctor’s approval beforehand. Some companies provide these kinds of services exclusively and are mobile to worksites. 4. Next, go get fit tested and mind the facial hair! Once an employee has been cleared by a medical professional to wear a respirator, an annual fit test is required. As a rule, pesticide handlers wearing tight-fitting respirators like an N-95 or chemical cartridge respirator cannot have hair wherever the mask makes contact to the face to maintain its seal and prevent the inhalation of pesticides. It is important to let employees know prior to fittesting to come clean-shaven, as any facial hair including stubble, will result in an automatic test failure and require re-testing. 8
A powered air-purifying respirator filters particles by mechanically forcing air particles through the cartridges without the assistance of the individual wearing the respirator. Photo courtesy: Ferdinando Martino, UC Statewide IPM Program
Avoid facial hair that interferes with the seal of the respirator to the face. Photo courtesy: Evett Kilmartin
“WHEN QUANTIX IS DONE FLYING I can look at the Quick-Look images immediately and get some answers right away. It’s going to make us more efficient and make
BETTER MANAGEMENT
DECISIONS.” —NICK GATZMAN, Tavaille & Phippen, CA
Learn more
Quantix-AVDSS.com MAXIMIZE EVERY ACRE
A Photos A&B: A handler performing a positive fit test check (A) and a negative fit test check (B) while wearing a half-face chemical cartridge respirator. Photos courtesy of Ferdinando Martino, UC Statewide IPM Program 5. Do a fit check of the respirator every time before starting the application. Employers must demonstrate to employees as part of an annual respirator safety training how to properly wear a respirator and check the seal prior to use. There are two seal checks the user of a tight-fitting respirator should always make prior to a pesticide application. a) Positive fit check - remove or close off the exhalation valve and gently exhale into the facepiece. The fit is satisfactory if a slight positive pressure can be built up inside the facepiece with no outward leakage of air at the seal. b) Negative fit check - close off the inlet of the canister or cartridge by covering with the palm of the hand, inhale gently, so that the facepiece collapses slightly, and hold your breath for ten seconds. If the facepiece remains in its slightly collapsed condition and no inward leakage of air is detected, the tightness of the respirator is considered satisfactory. 6. Know when to dispose of single-use respirators and pieces Are you perhaps baffled in knowing when it is okay to dispose of a filtering facepiece, chemical cartridge, or cartridge pre-filter? That is because the information regarding when to change is not likely to be on the label or on the respirator packaging.
B
Here are some key tips to keep in mind: • If you notice a smell, taste, or irritation while wearing a respirator, that means it isn’t working properly. Re-don the respirator and repeat the positive and negative fit checks. If you still notice a smell, taste, or irritation, then replace the particulate respirator, cartridge, or filter. For filtering facepiece respirators, chemical cartridges, and cartridge pre-filters: i. N and R types – dispose after 8 hours or at the end of the day, whichever comes sooner. ii. P-type – dispose at the end of the day. iii. Chemical cartridges– dispose at the end of the day. iv. Pre-filters for chemical cartridges are rated just like filtering facepieces – follow the recommendations above. 7. Properly maintain your reusable respirator Inspect the facepiece, head straps, valves, tubes, cartridge canisters or filters to make sure all parts are functioning properly. Store your respirator carefully and routinely wash and disinfect respirators following the manufacturer’s instructions. Take care to clean around gaskets and valves to remove the build-up of pesticide residues. Your employer should provide training on proper care of all respirator types that will be used. 8. Learn the company respiratory program If your employer requires the use of a respirator for pesticiderelated tasks, then you must wear one. All employers are required to develop a written respiratory protection program outlining the procedures for respirator selection, medical evaluations, fit-testing, proper use of respirators in routine and emergency situations, scheduling of cleaning, storing, inspections and maintenance, respirator limitations and other criteria. This provides an opportunity to communicate with your employer any concerns that you may have about the respiratory equipment available or company procedures.
10
A handler removing an N-95 pre-filter from a chemical cartridge; pre-filter cartridges are rated for disposal similarly to filtering facepieces. Photo courtesy: Ferdinando Martino, UC Statewide IPM Program
2019 CAPCA Ed & Chapter Events Please visit www.capca.com/events for registration and event details. DATE
LOCATION
EVENT TITLE
SPONSOR
08/01/19 08/15/19 08/22/19 09/05/19 09/10/19 09/10/19 09/11/19 09/12/19 09/18/19 09/19/19 10/08/19 10/09/19 11/03-05/19 11/07/19 11/14/19 11/14/19 12/04/19 Dec. TBD
La Quinta Simi Valley Atascadero Sacramento San Jose Bakersfield Santa Paula Fresno Irvine Modesto San Ramon Arcadia Reno, NV Tulare Fresno Imperial Escondido TBD
Desert Valleys CE Meeting CAPCA Ed CE Meeting Central Coast Chapter CE Meeting CAPCA Ed CE Meeting SF Bay Chapter CE Meeting Kern County Chapter CE Meeting Ventura Chapter CE Meeting Fresno-Madera CE Meeting SoCal CAPCA CE Meeting CAPCA Ed CE Meeting SF Bay CAPCA CE Meeting CAPCA Ed CE Meeting CAPCA 45th Annual Conference Tulare-Kings Chapter CE Meeting Fresno-Madera Label Update Desert Valleys CE Meeting San Diego Laws & Regs Seminar Woodland Chapter CE Meeting
Desert Valleys Chapter CAPCA Ed Central Coast Chapter CAPCA Ed SF Bay Chapter Kern County Chapter Ventura Chapter Fresno-Madera Chapter SoCal Chapter CAPCA Ed SF Bay CAPCA CAPCA Ed & UC ANR CAPCA State Office Tulare-Kings Chapter Fresno-Madera Chapter Desert Valleys Chapter San Diego Chapter Woodland Chapter
RELEVANT. SIMPLE. RELIABLE. BRANDED - GENERIC PESTICIDES ATTICUSLLC.COM
ADVERTORIAL 2019
Healthy Plants with Less Water Innovative Solution to Water Management Challenges Proper water management is by far the most important factor in plant health. When plants do not receive sufficient moisture from rainfall or irrigation, the ensuing moisture stress can do more damage than all other environmental factors combined. By supplying roots with microscopic droplets in between periods of rainfall or irrigation, Hydretain can help minimize or even eliminate the effects of moisture stress, while also reducing the costs associated with frequent irrigation. Unique Technology Hydretain should not be mistaken for a surfactant, wetting agent or superabsorbent polymer. The Hydretain technology is unique in its ability to convert subsurface humidity into plant usable water droplets. Once applied, Hydretain forms a thin film around plant root hairs. This film, consisting of hygroscopic humectant compounds, attracts individual water molecules from the soil and condenses those molecules into plant usable water droplets. By making use of water vapor that would otherwise be lost to evaporation, Hydretain enables plants to thrive with up to a 50-percent reduction in watering frequency. University Proven & Field Approved Hydretain has been proven to reduce overall watering requirements and minimized moisture stress through US and international university research, independent trials, and several years of use in the turf, ornamental and agricultural industries.
Application Flexibility Available in both liquid and granular options, Hydretain can be applied at any point in a plant’s life. In addition to reducing overall watering requirements and helping to minimize the effects of moisture stress, Hydretain is also beneficial for seed and sod establishment. Applied immediately after seeding, Hydretain increases germination rates by keeping seeds from drying out. Furthermore, Hydretain aids in establishment and root growth by keeping more water available for the developing roots of seedlings and transplants. Environmentally Friendly Formulated from food-grade materials and containing no hazardous chemicals, Hydretain is environmentally friendly and safe to use on all types of agriculture and landscapes. Hydretain ES Plus has received USDA BioPreferred Certification at 93% biobased content.
Untreated
Dawn Fluharty, Northwestern Regional Technical Manager 650-996-8291 • dfluharty@arborjet.com • PCA #126831 12
Treated
FERTIGATION Education for the 21st Century ITRC and the California Department of Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fer�lizer Research and Educa�on Program (FREP) are proud to announce updates to our educa�onal offerings for fer�ga�on! Second edi�on of popular FerƟgaƟon book Updated short courses and classes
Learn more at www.itrc.org/fer�ga�on
IRRIGATION TRAINING & RESEARCH CENTER California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
MEET US AT BOOTH #317 45TH ANNUAL CAPCA CONFERENCE & AGRI-EXPO NOVEMBER 3-5, 2019
DO YOU NEED AN EFFECTIVE BIOPESTICIDE THIS SUMMER? THINK TETRACURB . ™
Healthy crops start with TetraCURB. Upgrade your IPM program and protect your crops against spider mites with our sustainable, botanical oil-based miticides and repellent solutions... All year long! Learn more: kemin.com/cropprotection/tetracurb
CONVENIENT TO USE
WORKER SAFETY
NO PHYTOTOXICITY
MRL EXEMPT
NO KNOWN MITE RESISTANCE
croptech@kemin.com I P: 626-372-1153 I 1900 Scott Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50317, United States Always read and follow label direction I ©Kemin Industries, Inc. and its group of companies 2019 all rights reserved. ® ™ Trademarks of Kemin Industries, Inc., USA
13
CASPIR - A Mobile Application for California’s Pesticide Incident Reporting System INTRODUCTION In June 2019 the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) launched a new mobile app – CASPIR (California’s System for Pesticide Incident Reporting) which provides a quick and easy way to report pesticide incidents in California from mobile phones and tablets. DPR’s mission is to protect human health and the environment by regulating pesticide sales and use and by fostering reduced-risk pest management strategies. DPR and county agricultural commissioner (CAC) response to pesticide incidents, complaints and questions is a critical component of California’s pesticide regulatory program. Various methods, including email and telephone, are currently available to report pesticide incidents and concerns. Recognizing that some pesticide incidents, including injuries and illnesses, may go unreported, CASPIR offers another convenient way to report a pesticide illness, incident or concern, quickly, 24 hours-aday. HOW IT WORKS As designed, CASPIR receives incoming reports of pesticide incidents and then routes them to DPR’s Enforcement Branch and the appropriate county agricultural commissioner. Features of the mobile app include the ability to attach photographs and videos, capture GPS coordinates, allow incident status tracking, and provides the ability to report anonymously, 24 hours a day. It is available in both English and Spanish. The initial outreach for the app focuses on farm workers in the agricultural setting. However, DPR expects this tool to be valuable in non-agricultural settings as well since nearly two-thirds of all pesticide illnesses investigated in California occur in such places as homes, institutions, factories, restaurants and swimming pools. BACKGROUND With partial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region IX, DPR contracted to develop the app and then engaged a broad range of interest groups to review and provide input for CASPIR. Numerous suggestions and ideas from worker advocates, CAC’s and agricultural interests have contributed greatly to the version that is currently in use. Initial response from DPR’s soft launch earlier this year was very positive and DPR anticipates many more downloads as more become familiar with the app. As use and awareness of the app increases, DPR anticipates that new ideas and suggestions will continue to improve the value and usefulness of the app. Traditional methods of reporting pesticide incidents remain available including contacting a local county agricultural commissioner http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/exec/county/countymap/, DPR or California EPA by email or phone. Anyone may also call the Poison Control System at 1-800-222-1222. However, CASPIR endeavors to take advantage of the expanding use of mobile technology for pesticide incident reporting and it offers a means for people to report incidents more quickly, securely and with more detail. In a pesticide emergency, always dial 9-1-1. Links to download the free app is available on the department’s website: www.cdpr.ca.gov and at Google Play and the App Store (for Apple iOS devices). 14
LET’S PUT
ABILITY IN
SUSTAINABILITY.
™
We’re all working to create a sustainable future for our nation’s food supply. Let us help you get there faster. We’re Valent Sustainable Solutions. We stand for science-based, modern
agriculture with proven products and methods to help achieve a more sustainable, viable and profitable operation that is both resilient and enduring.
valentsustainablesolutions.com Always read and follow label instructions.
LET’S BREAK NEW GROUND.™
The Valent Sustainable Solutions Logo, Let’s Put Ability in Sustainability and Let’s Break New Ground are trademarks of Valent U.S.A. LLC.
APPLICATOR ALERTS
PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Tucson, AZ Permit No. 271
Lynn R. Wunderlich, UC Regents
CAPCA 2600 River Plaza Dr., Ste 250 Sacramento, CA 95833
PR E-H A RV ES T ISSUE AUGUST 2019 / VOL . IV, NO. 2
APPLICATOR ALERTS