New Pesticide Recordkeeping Laws:

In an effort to comply with the recommendations of the 2008 Governor’s Task Force on Preventing Agricultural Pesticide Exposure and to implement the requirements of Senate Bill 847: “Prevent Agricultural Pesticide Exposure” The North Carolina Pesticide Board has adopted changes to the application information that is required under the Federal Worker Protection Standard, as well as requirements for Commerical Applicators & Public Operators. The changes will now require growers making applications that fall under the scope of the Worker Protection Standard to add the actual “end time” of application to the records. This is in addition to the “time of the application” that is required to be posted before the application takes place under the current WPS Regulations. Also each day of applications shall be recorded as a separate application record.

The application information must also now be maintained for a period of two years, this coincides with the USDA Requirements for Restricted-Use Pesticides. So to comply with the regulations growers must keep the information posted at a central location for 30 days after the re-entry period expires (if workers are present on their establishment) and then maintain the records for a period of two years to allow for inspection by Pesticide Inspectors with NCDA&CS.

Downy Mildew In N.C.

Downy Mildew has been identified on a field of cucumbers in Franklin County, North Carolina. Downy mildew, caused by the fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis, is found annually on squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and muskmelons grown in all areas. Symptoms of disease on cucurbits, other than watermelon, show up as small yellowish areas on the upper leaf surface. Later, a more brilliant yellow coloration occurs with the internal part of the lesion turning brown.

Usually the spots will be angular as they are somewhat restricted by the small leaf veins. When the leaves are wet, a downy white-gray-light blue fungus growth can be seen on the underside of individual spots (lesions). On watermelons, yellow leaf spots may be angular or non-angular, and they will later turn brown to black in color. Often on watermelons, an exaggerated upward leaf curling will occur.

Downy mildew is a very destructive disease and progresses rapidly under favorable conditions. Fungicides are much more effective when applied well before symptoms are visible. Initiating a downy mildew control program after symptoms have been detected is much more likely to fail. For further information on control and how to track the movement of downy mildew throughout North Carolina go to the following website. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/cucurbit/

Twospotted Spider Mites

The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is an important pest of ornamental and food crops. They feed on over 100 species of plants by sucking the fluid out of cells in leaves and needles. This “stippling” damage can rapidly cause entire plants to take on a bronzed appearance. It is important to scout for twospotted spider mites now because they reproduce most rapidly in hot dry weather. Under these conditions they can mature from egg to reproducing adult in 5 days! Look on the underside of leaves on susceptible hosts or beat foliage on a white piece of paper to scout for spider mites. If you notice mites or their damage a range of control options are available, the best of which are several new miticides that provide long residuals and efficacy against all mite life stages. For more information and product suggestions, visit the newly revised Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note No. 25 on the web at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/flowers/note25/note25.html.