CA Department Of Pesticide Regulations Finalized Pesticide Use Around Schools
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has adopted the official regulations regarding the use of agricultural pesticides near schools and licensed child daycare facilities. The regulations took effect on Jan. 1.
The new rule prohibits most applications within a quarter mile around schools and daycare facilities from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays when school is in session. Additionally, the regulations require growers within the quarter mile radius to provide an annual notification no later than April 30 of pesticides they expect to use between July 1 of the current year through June 30 of the next year.
Growers who plan to use pesticides that require use but are not included on the annual notification must provide notice at least 48 hours prior to their use. Fumigant application must be completed at least 36 hours before start of class at a school or daycare facility. Here is a breakdown of distance and application restrictions.
Prohibited applications within a quarter mile:
• Aircraft.
• Airblast sprayer or other ground application equipment that delivers spray into an air stream created by fan.
• Sprinkler chemigation.
• Dust or powder, unless injected into the soil.
• Fumigant, including fumigation of stockpiles in orchards but excluding fumigation on huller/processor sites.
Prohibited applications within 25 feet:
• Ground rig sprayer.
• Field soil injection equipment.
• Drip or flood chemigation.
No distance restriction:
• Application made within closed space (except fumigant).
• Bait stations.
• Dust or powder injection into soil.
• Application of granule, flake or pellet (except fumigant or aircraft application).
• Backpack sprayer (except if it incorporates airblast or is used to apply dust/powder).
• Hand-pump sprayer (except if it is used to apply dust, powder or a fumigant).
LATMC Details Announced For February Meeting
The Louisiana Agricultural Technology & Management Conference, sponsored by the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association, is Feb. 14-16 at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana.
A pre-conference Soil Fertility & Health Workshop will be held Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 8 a.m. until noon. Workshop topics range from the benefits of cover crops for soil nutrition to interpreting soil analyses.
In addition to conference presentations, such as Managing High Yield in Soybeans and Corn, there will be specific crop breakout sessions on cotton, rice and sugarcane. More than 30 sustaining members will be exhibiting, and most will be participating in one of the two Emerging Technologies sessions.
Technical presentations during meals (breakfasts and luncheons) will be held by sponsoring sustaining members.
LACA will also co-sponsor its traditional networking reception on Wednesday evening, Feb. 14, which is a great “greet and meet” event. Networking is one of the most important aspects of the annual conference.
This meeting provides recertification of consultant and commercial applicator licenses. CCA CEUs are also available. The preliminary program will be posted at www.laca1.org.
Contact Denise Wright, executive director, at denise@laca1.org or 337-945-3694 for more information.
2018 Farm Bill Landing Page Will Provide Latest Updates
Ahead of the 2018 Farm Bill, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) has announced the launch of a new online resource that can be accessed through the committee’s current website, https://agriculture.house.gov/farmbill.
This landing page is designed to provide updates and information related to the 2018 Farm Bill.
Following its launch, Conaway, says, “I’m committed to completing a Farm Bill on time. We have spent the past three years preparing — holding 113 hearings and six listening sessions around the country. We recognize what’s at stake. We’re working on getting the policy right and will use this site as a resource as we advance the next Farm Bill.”
Advanced Guidance And Data- Sharing Technology From Deere
John Deere has introduced its latest advanced guidance and machine data-sharing technology.
The guidance additions include AutoTrac Turn Automation, AutoTrac Implement Guidance and AutoTrac Vision for Tractors. Deere also added In-Field Data Sharing applications, which are bundled activations for the John Deere 4600 CommandCenter or bundled subscriptions for 4640 Universal Displays.
AutoTrac Turn Automation makes end turns smooth, consistent and comfortable for operators during tillage, planting, seeding or other pre-emerge applications when using straight-track guidance modes.
AutoTrac Implement Guidance enables the tractor to move off the intended path or guidance line in order to achieve expected accuracy of the implement.
AutoTrac Vision can be used to detect the crop row and provide input to the machine’s AutoTrac system to keep wheels or tracks between the crop rows. This level of precision can be beneficial when side-dressing fertilizer, postemerge spraying and cultivating.
In-Field Data Sharing makes it easier for producers to coordinate multiple machines working in the same field.
Operators can use the application to share coverage, application, yield and moisture maps along with straight tracks and circle tracks with up to six other machines. Each application is compatible with the John Deere 4640 Universal Display and with Gen 4 4600 CommandCenter displays.
Activations and subscriptions are available for ordering. Delivery will begin in February.
For more information, visit your local John Deere dealership and go to www.JohnDeere.com.
NCC Thanks U.S. Trade Representative For Support
National Cotton Council Chairman Ronnie Lee thanked the leadership of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the U.S. negotiating team for their support of U.S. farmers at the World Trade Organization’s 11th Ministerial Conference held recently in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Lee, a Georgia cotton producer, says, “We appreciate Ambassador Lighthizer and his team of negotiators from USTR and USDA for their efforts and their insistence that the WTO remain focused on the long-term goal of a balanced outcome that will expand trade.
“This was especially important for cotton, as some WTO members continue to call for concessions above and beyond the reforms we have already made, without anything in return.”
Lee says in the semi-annual dedicated discussions established by the WTO in December 2013, cotton is the only agricultural commodity with an explicit mechanism that allows for the evaluation of domestic support, export subsidies and market access.
Global Seed-Applied Technology Agreement Announced
DuPont and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Limited have announced a global agreement. They will collaborate on the development, registration and commercialization of seed-applied technologies for use in key crops around the world.
Collaborations will focus on the North American region with potential expansion opportunities to multiple crop markets globally.
The companies formed the collaboration out of a shared objective to accelerate development and commercialization of novel seed-applied technologies to improve early plant growth and yields.
Combining the pipeline from Sumitomo Chemical with DuPont’s technology and capability, provides an opportunity to evaluate these technologies together, at much earlier stages, to understand the complementary characteristics of various product combinations. This will enhance current and future commercial products for seed-applied technologies.
CCGGA Recognizes Michael Hooper
After 41 years in the cotton business, the last 27 of which were as Manager of Farmers Cooperative Gin Inc., Michael Hooper is retiring. Hooper began his career working for CalCot in 1976, and then returned to the family’s mote business in 1981. In 1988, he became the assistant manager of Farmers Cooperative Gin Inc. and subsequently was named the manager in 1991.
Hooper was elected to the board of the California Cotton Ginners Association in 2000 and was chairman of the Association from 2005 to 2006. He was extremely active for the association, serving on the Safety, Gin Trash, Elections, Ginners School, Executive, Employee Compensation, Annual Meeting and Joint Steering Committees. At one point, Hooper served as chairman of the Safety, Gin Trash, Elections, Employee Compensation, Executive and Joint Steering Committees.
Hooper also represented the association on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service Pima Cotton Standards Review when it was held in Memphis, Tennessee. More importantly, Hooper was a member of the National Cotton Ginners Association Board of Directors and served as chairman in 2002-2003. During his tenure with the NCGA, Hooper served on numerous committees and regularly attended the NCC Beltwide Cotton Conferences and NCC Annual Meetings.
Association President/CEO Roger Isom says, “Mike Hooper is the epitome of true industry involvement and represented Farmers Coop, the Association and the entire California cotton industry with the utmost regard and dignity possible. The industry will sorely miss him and the guidance and direction he provided over the years. We all wish him the best of luck as he moves into the next phase of his life.”