2008 Annual Report

Resource Roundup

New resources and updates from UC IPM in 2008 are:

• Integrated Pest Management for Strawberries manual
• Field fumigation study guide
• Pest Management Guidelines—revisions to 18 crops, plus a new year-round IPM program for table grapes
• Pest Notes—9 revised and 5 new (soil solarization, nettles, squash bugs, woody weed invaders, and Spanish version of Pesticides: Safe and Effective Use)
• IPM for pests of flowers—pests of 32 common landscape flowers
• Quick Tips—5 new (mosquitoes, peach leaf curl, powdery mildew, spider mites, and thrips), plus 7 new Spanish translations
• Training courses—Introduction to Pesticides for Retail Employees; IPM for Schools (DVD)
• WaterTox: Water-related Risks of Pesticides—database of potential pesticide hazards due to loss of a pesticide by leaching or runoff from a selected soil type
• About UC IPM—updated information about the UC IPM Program

Pest management guidelines now updated more frequently

UC IPM has initiated a new review and revision process for its Pest Management Guidelines (PMGs) that increases calls for updates to annually. The change was made to make sure new research results and changes to pesticide registrations are routinely incorporated, allowing UC IPM to offer the public more timely information about pest management.

PMGs are available for 43 crops or crop groups that describe the best management practices on how to manage pests. New PMGs for pomegranate and eggplant are under development.

Most PMGs contain sections on invertebrates, plant diseases, nematodes and weeds. A few have new sections on vertebrate pests.

Complete revisions of PMGs will be conducted every 5 years.

UC IPM produces study guide for new DPR field fumigation licensing requirement

In response to concerns about air quality problems resulting from volatile organic compounds, California Department of Pesticide Regulation has issued new regulations on the use of soil fumigants used in agricultural fields, including the establishment of a new licensing category for field fumigation applicators. This new licensing requirement goes into effect in January 2009.

To prepare applicators for the licensing exam, UC IPM staff compiled Field Fumigation, Volume 9 in UC IPM's Pesticide Applicator Compendium series. An advisory team of technical and regulatory experts assisted in the effort. With eight chapters, more than 100 pages and numerous illustrations, the book promises to be the most comprehensive practical volume on the subject of soil field fumigation available.

The book was available online in mid-December 2008 to meet regulatory deadlines for the new licensing category.

The manual will cover the following areas:

• California regulatory requirements related to field fumigation
• Fumigant materials
• Preapplication considerations and pests controlled
• Application methods
• Soil surface treatment and sealing methods
• Hazards associated with field fumigation
• Protecting people and the environment
• Pesticide emergencies

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