New cotton disease in Alabama comes from Brazil

Posted on May 4, 2018 by rhallberg

In Southeast Farm Press

by Patrick Shepard

A virus that is previously known to be vectored by aphids into cotton has been recently identified as the primary suspect virus from limited samples of cotton in Alabama. Similar symptomology has been reported in the coastal counties of Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.

“The cotton blue disease (CBD) symptomology was observed at the end of 2016 by one of my former graduate students, Drew Schrimsher, in his grower cotton variety trials,” says Auburn University plant pathologist Dr. Kathy Lawrence. Continue reading →

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IPM Success Stories from EPA

Posted on August 15, 2014 by rhallberg

Many school districts have already adopted an IPM program with measurable success!

Walla Walla School District. With only two groundskeepers, the Walla Walla district is successfully implementing an excellent IPM program at all 10 of its schools! The success of Walla Walla schools demonstrates that IPM practices can be implemented successfully with limited resources if staff are appropriately trained. http://www.ipminstitute.org/IPM_Star/ipmstar_profiles_wallawalla_wa.htm

Salt Lake City School District. When Salt Lake City Schools decided to implement an IPM program, they elected to use an innovative Web-based application called iPestManager for pest reporting and education. With the use of this program, the district saw pest complaints and pesticide applications decline by more than 90 percent within the first 3 years. https://aal.slcschools.org/pls/apex/f?p=118:1:1413189505891808 http://www.ipminstitute.org/IPM_Star/ipmstar_profiles_salt_lake_city.htm Continue reading →

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New Orleans pests beware: city’s mosquito, rodent and termite control board fights to make city’s buildings pest free

Posted on June 30, 2014 by rhallberg

I’ve written several stories about how IPM changes the environment of a school or building when pests are no longer harassing the people inside the building. I’ve also passed along recommendations from specialists on how people can make buildings uninviting for pests. So when I went to New Orleans in April to help present a Friends of Southern IPM Implementer Award to the New Orleans Mosquito, Rodent and Termite Control Board, I wanted to see for myself how their work in IPM has changed the city.

Continue reading →

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New Orleans’ Rat Fighters Go Beyond Baiting Traps

Posted on December 11, 2013 by rhallberg

On National Public Radio

Marvin Thompson knew he faced a difficult task when he was hired last year as principal at John McDonogh High School in New Orleans.

“The day that I pulled up to this building, I thought it was condemned,” Thompson says.

Continue reading →

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