“WHAT’S HAPPENING

IODOMETHANE IS NOT LIKELY CARCINOGENIC

Submitted by Gene Burgess

In a new and historically unusual move, the EPA has classified the soon-to-be registered soil fumigant iodomethane as “Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans at doses that does not alter rat thyroid hormone homeostasis.” There is compelling evidence indicating that iodomethane induces thyroid follicular cell tumors through an antithyroidal mode of action (MOA). Although the fumigant has been shown to be mutagenic in vitro, the weight of evidence supports the antithyroidal MOA, as evidence by the observation that only male rodents exhibit increases in thyroid tumors, a common response for this MOA. In addition, the increases of cell growth (hyperplasia) progressing to follicular cell tumors were only seen in the presence of thyroid/pituitary hormone changes, thus exhibiting a pattern of both dose and temporal concordance. Do to this classification, and the fact that the material is quickly degraded or metabolized into nontoxic degradates, the EPA has granted an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for iodomethane when applied as a pre-plant fumigant for pepper, strawberry, and tomato.

AGRIPHAGE BACTERIA

Submitted by Gene Burgess

In mid-February, OmniLytics, Inc. announced final EPA registration for its AgriPhage bacteria control product lines. The material can be used in the greenhouse or field and can be used as a preventative as well as curative treatment. At a current price of $12/pint, a recommended treatment (two pints) equates to a treatment cost of $24/acre. It is approved for use in tomato and pepper. (OmniLytics Press Release, 2/15/06).

EXOTIC PEST REWARD OFFERED

by Beth Long

A list of "Most Wanted Exotic Pests" has been created to further support the ongoing USDA Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) project in Tennessee. Many of you have assisted this program by monitoring for various exotic insects, diseases, nematodes or weeds in your county. Two recent project examples are soybean aphid which we now have found across most of the state, and soybean rust. As you will recall, soybean rust was found only once in the late fall of 2004, then it evidently froze out and the airborne spores did not become established in Tennessee last summer.

To encourage you in this effort and to help support the county Extension programs, we would like to offer a reward of $500 to county Extension field personnel for the first reported find in Tennessee for any of the “Most Wanted” pests listed below. When awarded, these funds will be transferred to the county to be used to purchase supplies or pay for travel. Note: Reward funds are not available to Specialists, only county or area field personnel are eligible.

It must be noted that some of these pests may trigger federal or state regulatory action in order to eradicate the pest population. These are invasive agricultural pests and the purpose of the survey is to find the pest as soon as possible. This may mean allowing TDA or USDA to take official measures to conduct an eradication program to protect agricultural land from further invasion. This action will assist our growers in ongoing pest control efforts on their crops and will also help allow the import and export of Tennessee products nationally and internationally. While the goal is to find these pests if they are present, negative results allow us to document that certain pests of regulatory concern are not present in the state.

The “Most Wanted Exotic Pests” are as follows:

1. Achatina fulica (Giant African Snail)

2. Pomacea canaliculata (Channeled Apple Snail)

3. Imperata cylindrica (Cogongrass)

4. Salvinia molesta (Giant Salvinia)

5. Inula spp (British Yellow Head or Yellow Starwort)

6. Agrilus planipennis (Emerald Ash Borer)

7. Anoplophora glabripennis (Motchulsky) (Asian Longhorned Beetle)

8. Agrilus biguttatus (Metallic Beetle)

9. Commelina benghalensis L. (Tropical Spiderwort)

10. Sirex noctilio (Wood Wasp)

11. Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Soybean Rust)

12. Maruca vitrata (Soybean Pod Borer)

13. Tomicus piniperda (Pine Shoot Beetle)

14. Halyomorpha halys (Brown Marmorated Stink Bug)

15. Platypus quercivorus (Oak Ambrosia Beetle)

Pest information sheets on these 15 exotics (plus other pests we are currently surveying for in the state) were part of the information that has already been distributed to the agents in the red Homeland Security folder. This was recently sent out to each county office and to the Regional Directors. More exotic pests may be added to the list as new invaders come toward our area. Contact my office at (865) 974-7957, (865) 566-7516 cell, or ealong@utk.edu for more information or with any questions.

EVITO ® FLUOXASTROBIN

Submitted by Gene Burgess

Arysta LifeSciences recently received EPA registration for Evito® (fluoxastrobin), a strobilurin fungicide. It is labeled for potatoes and tuber vegetables, leafy vegetables (petiole subgroup only), and fruiting vegetables. It should be managed similarly to other Group 11 fungicides such as azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, and pyraclostrobin. (The Grower, March 2006).

GUTHION(AZINPHOS)

Submitted by Gene Burgess

The second round of azinphos (Guthion®) cancellations have been announced by EPA. The uses for cotton, potato, peach/nectarine, and southern pine seed orchards will be phased out in September 2006, The sale of products labeled for these uses was permitted through the end of March 2006, and the use of these stocks on these crops is permitted through the end of September 2006. (Federal Register, 3/29/06)

EPA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PAGE

Submitted by Gene Burgess

The U.S. EPA recently announced a new Hispanic environmental health page on pesticides in its Spanish-language portal. The new page discusses health and environmental issues associated with the proper use of pesticides and informational resources in Spanish and English. This Hispanic Web site is part of the agency’s continuing expansion of outreach to the Hispanic community in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Hispanic environmental health page, “El medio ambientey su salud,” focuses on the agency’s overall efforts to educate Hispanics, researchers, and health care providers on how environmental health issues affect the different Hispanic communities. The page is updated regularly with new information on developments and policy. Since its laufdnch last year, this popular page has covered issues such as asthma, mold and carbon monoxide. This segment of EPA’s Spanish-language portal will feature other environmental issues such as green technology and drinking water in the near future.

INDOOR APPLICATORS AND IPM - MAINE

by Gene Burgess

The State of Maine may be the first state to adopt a rule which would require that indoor pesticide applicators make every possible effort to pursue Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and that residents and workers in private group homes, apartment buildings, and public and private office buildings are notified 24 hours in advance of any chemical applications. Specifically the applicators ‘must undertake pest management activities using appropriate elements of IPM,” and that ‘in all cases any chemical application will be conducted in a manner to minimize exposure and human risk to the maximum extent practicable using currently available technology.”

2006 TOBACCO PEST CONTROL SP91

by Darrell Hensley

A typo was found in the new printing of SP91 "Tobacco Pest Control" revision date of 4/06. In the section titled "Disease Control in Plant Beds" for Pythium Root Rot preventative control using Terramaster 4EC. The sentence should read "first application: 1 fl oz/100 gals. float water. Follow-up applications 1 fl oz/100 gals. float water". The sentence indicates 10.7 fl.oz. which is not correct. You may visit http://www.greenbook.net and search for Terramaster for a copy of the full label. Sorry for the inconvenience.

OTHER UT NEWSLETTERS WITH PEST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

Fruit Pest News

http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/fpn/fpn.htm

Tennessee Crop and Pest Management Newsletter

http://www.utextension.utk.edu/fieldCrops/cotton/cotton_insects/ipmnewsletters.htm

This and other "What's Happening" issues can be found at http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/whatshap.htm

Disclaimer Statement

Pesticides recommended in this publication were registered for the prescribed uses when printed.

Pesticide regulations are continuously reviewed.Should registration or a recommended pesticide be canceled, it would

no longer be recommended by the University of Tennessee.

Use of trade or brand names in this publication is for clarity and information; it does not imply approval of the

product to the exclusion of others that may be of similar, suitable composition, nor does it guarantee or

warrant the standard of the product.

Precautionary Statement

To protect people and the environment, pesticides should be used safely. This is everyone’s responsibility,

especially the user. Read and follow label directions carefully before you mix, apply store or dispose of a pesticide. According to laws regulating pesticides, they must be used only as directed by the label.

Persons who do not obey the law will be subject to penalties.

Visit the UT Extension Web site at http://www.utextension.utk.edu

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and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture,

U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating.

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