A study out of Mississippi State University evaluated the impact insect pest management strategies have on the economic return of small-scale tomato production. The results of this evaluation are published in the article Economic Effect of Insect Pest Management Strategies on Small-scale Tomato Production in Mississippi in the open access online journal HortTechnology.

Ronald Stephenson and a team of researchers scrutinized strategies including management based on a calendar spray schedule, conventional pesticide management based on action thresholds, and management based on action thresholds using organic controls in order to better determine the effects of these strategies on economic return for growers of tomatoes.

Due to difficulty in monitoring insect pests, applications of insecticides are frequently conducted on a calendar schedule. However, seasonal variability in pest populations leads to these calendar schedules being inefficient. Improperly timed pesticide applications are both expensive and may worsen problems by affecting beneficial insect species without effectively controlling target pests.

Concern regarding impacts of pesticides on the environment and human health has led to the development of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. A component of these programs involves the use of observation of pest populations in the field to direct timing of pesticide applications. Central to the concept of IPM is the use of an economic threshold of a population level where an application of a pesticide is advisable.

IPM programs have been widely successful in reducing pesticide use increasing profitability for growers. Economic thresholds require an understanding of crop market value. Because of unpredictability and variability of markets, economic thresholds can be difficult to apply. As a result, action thresholds have been developed as levels of pest density that result in loss of crop quantity or quality.

Threshold-based insect management strategies, including use of thresholds with conventional pesticides and with use of organic pesticides only, were compared with a conventional calendar approach for yield, management cost, and production value of tomatoes.

To evaluate economic benefit of management strategies, cost of inputs related to insect pest management were recorded. Cost of all pesticide treatments was calculated by measuring volume of pesticides applied. The amount of time involved in insect sampling and applying pesticides was recorded and labor cost was calculated. Insect management strategies were evaluated for their impact on yield, management cost, and economic return for small-scale tomato production in Mississippi.

These factors were compared for spring and fall seasons during two production years. Greatest total and marketable yields were obtained for use of conventional pesticides according to action thresholds. Use of organic insecticides according to thresholds did not affect yields in comparison with a calendar-based approach.

Proportion of fruit rated unmarketable was greater with the use of organic insecticides due to reduced efficacy and residual of control. Production costs for the organic threshold-based approach proved greater due to an increased number of insecticide applications required. Economic return for both conventional and organic threshold-based insect pest management was greater than for the conventional calendar method.

Increased economic return for conventional threshold-based management was due to increased yields. Increase in return for organic threshold management was based on premiums received for organically grown tomatoes. Adoption of conventional threshold-based insect pest management by small-scale producers has the potential to increase production efficiency and value, as well as increase environmental sustainability of production. Economic feasibility of organic production requires access to markets willing to pay significant premiums for organic produce. Price premiums for organic tomatoes were sufficient to result in greater economic return in comparison with calendar-based management, although the effect of increased price was partially counteracted by increased cost of organic insect pest management.

Both conventional and organic threshold treatments resulted in greater gross margins in comparison with the calendar spray treatment. Conventional threshold-based pest management resulted in increased yield of tomatoes, lower insect management costs, and improved economic return in comparison with other strategies.

Adoption of threshold-based insect pest management strategies has the potential to increase profits for small-scale producers, while also reducing the amount of pesticides applied. Insect pest management is one part of the overall picture for sustainability and further work will allow us to identify other practices that will benefit vegetable producers, said Stephenson.

For more information:American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)ashs.org

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The economics of pest control - hortidaily.com

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Pests are more than just an inconvenience for the agriculture industries they pose devastating risks to farmers. Agricultural pest control is vital to dealing with infestations that you may encounter.

According to this study, over the next five years the Agricultural Pest Control market will register a xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach US$ xx million by 2024, from US$ xx million in 2019. In particular, this report presents the global revenue market share of key companies in Agricultural Pest Control business, shared in Chapter 3.

This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares and growth opportunities of Agricultural Pest Control market by product type, application, key companies and key regions.

This study considers the Agricultural Pest Control value generated from the sales of the following segments:

Segmentation by product type: breakdown data from 2014 to 2019 in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2024 in section 10.7.

Rats Control

Mice Control

Birds Control

Slugs Control

Snails Control

Ants Control

Cockroaches Control

Others

Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2024 in section 10.8.

Grains

Fruits

Vegetables

Flowers

Others

This report also splits the market by region: Breakdown data in Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Americas

United States

Canada

Mexico

Brazil

APAC

China

Japan

Korea

Southeast Asia

India

Australia

Europe

Germany

France

UK

Italy

Russia

Spain

Middle East & Africa

Egypt

South Africa

Israel

Turkey

GCC Countries

The report also presents the market competition landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendor/manufacturers in the market. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in in Chapter 3.

Rentokil

Ehrlich

Western Exterminator Company

BASF

Critter Busters Inc

Swift Pest Control LTD

Twilight Pest Control

Heath Pest Control

Al Naboodah Group Enterprises LLC

Nightshift Pest Control

Dealey Pest Control

Steffel Pest Control Inc

McLaughlin Gormley King Company

ISCA

FMC

National Cleaning Company

Adama

In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, the challenges and the risks faced by key players and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development.

Research objectives

To study and analyze the global Agricultural Pest Control market size by key regions/countries, product type and application, history data from 2014 to 2018, and forecast to 2024.

To understand the structure of Agricultural Pest Control market by identifying its various subsegments.

Focuses on the key global Agricultural Pest Control players, to define, describe and analyze the value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years.

To analyze the Agricultural Pest Control with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.

To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).

To project the size of Agricultural Pest Control submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).

To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches and acquisitions in the market.

To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.

Table of Contents

2019-2024 Global Agricultural Pest Control Market Report (Status and Outlook)

1 Scope of the Report

1.1 Market Introduction

1.2 Research Objectives

1.3 Years Considered

1.4 Market Research Methodology

1.5 Economic Indicators

1.6 Currency Considered

2 Executive Summary

2.1 World Market Overview

2.1.1 Global Agricultural Pest Control Market Size 2014-2024

2.1.2 Agricultural Pest Control Market Size CAGR by Region

2.2 Agricultural Pest Control Segment by Type

2.2.1 Rats Control

2.2.2 Rats Control

2.2.3 Birds Control

2.2.4 Slugs Control

2.2.5 Snails Control

2.2.6 Ants Control

2.2.7 Cockroaches Control

2.2.8 Others

2.3 Agricultural Pest Control Market Size by Type

2.3.1 Global Agricultural Pest Control Market Size Market Share by Type (2014-2019)

2.3.2 Global Agricultural Pest Control Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2014-2019)

2.4 Agricultural Pest Control Segment by Application

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Global Agricultural Pest Control Market 2020 | Increasing Demand, Technology Development, New Innovations, Future Projections and Forecast 2025 - News...

Have you ever tried to explain a paper, class, or even your overall major to someone who just doesnt get it? It can be hard trying to tell people why youre so interested in a subjectespecially if that subject happens to be creepy-crawly insects. Yet the study of insects, also known as entomology, is crucial to our society. Like any other field of study, entomology provides an endless variety of opportunities for you to pursue. You just have to know where to look. If youre interested in entomologyor if you just want an explanation to give your friends and familyhere are some of the reasons why its important to study insects.

When youre in college, your future career is always at the back of your mind. This is good news for any aspiring entomologists because there are endless careers you can find through the study of insects. Its not all about pest control, either (although pest control consultants for homeowners and industrial companies are always in high demand). You can help the police by becoming a forensic entomologist. Have you ever considered a career in the arts? Become a consultant for artists, writers, or designers, or create your own work with the knowledge you gain.

The agricultural industry also depends on the study and knowledge of insects. There are a variety of jobs you can have that benefit farmers and their products. You might study the diseases that insects can spread to livestock, as well as preventative measures. Perhaps you lean toward pest control and how we can protect crops and food products from harm. Another major example is the study of pollinators like honey bees, which are invaluable to farmers and their crops.

Despite their size, insects are an essential part of the ecosystem. One of the biggest reasons why its important to study insects is the positive environmental impact you can have. You can work for and with federal government organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency to help advocate for endangered species and their environments. Whether youre protecting natural habitats from big industry or preventing pests from harming forests and other environments, your work as an entomologist can have a major impact on the natural world.

See the article here:
Why Its Important to Study Insects - The Free Press of the University of Southern Maine

LANSING Michigan Craft Beverage Council (MCBC) today announced that 14 projects will receive funding through its 2020 research grant program.

MCBC recommended more than $400,000 in project support the largest annual research contribution from the Council to date. Five of the proposals selected are continuation projects from the 2019 grant program that are all in good standing. In total, MCBCs competitive grant program received 22 applications requesting more than $800,000.

These project awards were identified with the future of the industry in mind, said Gary McDowell, chair of the Michigan Craft Beverage Council. MCBCs Research Committee established timely research priorities, and the Council chose fitting and well-thought out proposals.

The 2020 research priorities of the Council: climate change impacts; crop quality including pest and disease management and soil health; water management and wastewater practices; market research; and new varieties for hops, fruit, barley, rye, and other agricultural inputs used in the craft beverage production.

Projects selected for 2020 research funding include:

Grapevine Cold Hardiness Research

Development of Red-Juiced Apple Cultivars for Michigan Hard Cider

Investigating the Terroir-Influenced Quality Attributes of Hops

Variety Selection and Agronomy Practices for Soft Winter Wheat Malting

Evaluation of Cereal Rye Varieties for the Michigan Craft Distilling Industry

Role of Planting Date and Seeding Rate in Optimizing Winter Survival, Yield and Quality of Malting Barley

Developing Integrated Pest Management Approaches for Bunch and Sour Rot Control in Michigan Vineyards

Optimizing Fungicide Inputs for Disease Management on Barley & Hops

Fermented Beverage Analysis

Investigating Winter Hardiness to Advance Winter Malting Barley as a Climate Adaptation Strategy in Michigan

Berries & Brews: Understanding the Market and Technological Processing Opportunities of Michigan Grown Fruit in the Craft Beverage Industry

Research Education for Michigans Grape, Wine and Cider Industry

Finding Solutions to Manage Plant-Parasitic Pests in Hopyards

Increasing Demand for Michigans Emerging Hard Cider Industry

At the close of the grant cycle, final reports will be posted to the Councils website research database. The new database is designed to contain research funded through the Michigan Craft Beverage Council and the former program, Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council. Searchable by keyword, author, year, category and crop, the database is designed to make the research of the Council easily accessed by industry members.

For more information about the Michigan Craft Beverage Council, including grants, grower connections, business support and tourism opportunities, visit MichiganCraftBeverage.com.

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Michigan Craft Beverage Council announces research grants for beer, hard cider, spirits and wine production | News, Sports, Jobs - Daily Mining...

Published: 16:32 Tuesday 03 March 2020

North Lanarkshire Council has been forced to deny that it has just one lone pest control officer for the whole of the authority.

The issue came to light after Scottish National Party MSP Clare Adamson spoke out on behalf of constituents amidst claims that numbers of rats and mice are alarmingly on the rise.

Stating that complaints to the council were simply going unheeded Ms Adamson said: The reducation in bin collections is a possible cause but my communications with the council suggests that a drastic reduction in the number of pest control officers, coupled with an end to proactive baiting, are significant factors that are not being given attention.

It is highly distressing to have a home invaded by rats or mice

One pest control officer to cover the whole of North Lanarkshire is entirely inadequate

A council spokesperson said: Although the council has reduced the number of pest control officers it employs directly, we have commissioned a private pest control firm to ensure that residents receive the same service within the same time period.

To say that we only have one pest control officer to cover the entire council area is misleading.

Where there is identified rodent activity within private land, the council has powers to identify the owner of the land and require them to take steps to have the area treated.

The council provides a three weekly bin collection which is the maximum volume of uplift recommended by the Scottish Government, as part of its Household Waste Charter. If residents utilise the four bin system correctly there should be sufficient bin capacity.

See the rest here:
Why cant you tackle mice and rats in Motherwell area says MSP - Motherwell Times

By The Canadian Press on March 4, 2020.

EDMONTON Health Canada is moving forward with a ban on the use of the deadly pesticide strychnine to kill gophers.

The Health Canada website says an evaluation of scientific information confirms there are risks to other animals, including species at risk, for products registered to control Richardsons ground squirrels.

In 2018, Health Canada cited concerns about animals including the swift fox and the burrowing owl in its proposal.

Gophers, which burrow underground, can damage crops and their burrows can injure livestock.

Health Canada says it made the decision after reviewing comments from agriculture groups, governments, environmental groups and members of the general public.

The governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan expressed concerns about a ban and groups including the Canadian Cattlemens Association and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities opposed it.

Based on the evaluation of currently available scientific information, Health Canada has concluded that the environmental risks associated with the use of strychnine and its associated end-use product to control Richardsons ground squirrels were not shown to be acceptable when this product is used according to the label directions and required mitigation measures, the Health Canada decision says.

Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada is cancelling strychnine used to control Richardsons ground squirrels.

In 2018, Alberta Agriculture said producers were worried about the financial implications of a ban because strychnine is the only effective tool for controlling gophers.

The department noted that Alberta has about 24 million seeded acres of crop each year with an estimate of $5 billion of production value.

Richardson ground squirrel populations have the potential to explode in the absence of viable control options. This could result in huge financial impacts to agricultural producers, a government spokeswoman said at the time.

The Saskatchewan government said when used according to the label, strychnine is the most efficient and effective control measure for Richardsons ground squirrels and has limited environmental effect.

The cattlemens association had said that the regulated use of liquid strychnine should continue because it is an effective tool and there is no practical alternative.

Health Canada plans to phase out strychnine products used for gopher control.

People who are against the decision have 60 days to file an objection, which must be based on scientific grounds.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2020.

With file from CJWW

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Health Canada to ban strychnine to kill Richardson's ground squirrels - Medicine Hat News

Global Biological Pest Control Market 2020, presents a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the industry globally, providing basic overview of Biological Pest Control market including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. Historical data available in the report elaborates on the development of the Biological Pest Control market on a global and regional level. The report compares this data with the current state of the Biological Pest Control market and thus discuss upon the upcoming trends that have brought the Biological Pest Control market transformation.

Industry predictions along with the statistical implication presented in the report delivers an accurate scenario of the Biological Pest Control market. The market forces determining the shaping of the worldwide Biological Pest Control market have been evaluated in detail. In addition to this, the supervisory outlook of the Biological Pest Control market has been covered in the report from both the Global and local perspective. The demand and supply side of the Biological Pest Control market has been broadly covered in the report. Also the challenges faced by the players in the Biological Pest Control market in terms of demand and supply have been listed in the report.

Get a sample of the report from https://www.orbisreports.com/global-biological-pest-control-market/?tab=reqform

In Global Biological Pest Control Industry report, development policies and plans as well as market size, share, end users are analyzed. Growth prospects of the overall Biological Pest Control industry have been presented in the report. This industry study segments Biological Pest Control global market by types, applications and companies. However, to give an in-depth view to the readers, detailed geographical segmentation of Biological Pest Control market within the globe has been covered in this study. The key geographical regions along with Biological Pest Control revenue forecasts are included in the report.

The Biological Pest Control market is segmented on the basis of key players, types and applications.

The leading players of worldwide Biological Pest Control industry includes

BASFInVivoDudutechKoppertBiobest GroupArbicoApplied Bio-nomicsENTOCAREBioBeeAnatis BioprotectionRentokilBeneficial insectaryF.A.RKenya Biologics Ltd.XilemaSDS BiotechFujian Yan Xuan Biological Control TechnologyHenan Jiyuan Baiyun IndustryE-nema GmbHBiohelp

Type analysis classifies the Biological Pest Control market into

Predatory MitesInsectsNematodesOther

Various applications of Biological Pest Control market are

VegetablesTurf and GardeningCropFruitOther

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Global Biological Pest Control Market regional analysis covers:

The industry research presents Biological Pest Control market in North America mainly covers USA, Canada and Mexico. Biological Pest Control market in Asia-Pacific region cover-up China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia. Biological Pest Control market in Europe combines Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy. Biological Pest Control market in South America includes Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc. Biological Pest Control market in Middle East and Africa incorporates Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

The competitive framework of the market in terms of the Global Biological Pest Control industry has been evaluated in the report. The Biological Pest Control market top companies with their overall share and share with respect to the global market have been included in the Biological Pest Control report. Furthermore, the factors on which the companies compete in the worldwide Biological Pest Control industry have been evaluated in the report. So the overall report helps the new aspirants to inspect the forthcoming opportunities in the Biological Pest Control market.

Chapter 1, to describe Biological Pest Control product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market driving force and market risks.

Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Biological Pest Control, with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Biological Pest Control in 2018 and 2019.

Chapter 3, the Biological Pest Control competitive situation, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast.

Chapter 4, the Biological Pest Control breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales, revenue and growth by regions, from 2015 to 2020.

Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales, revenue and market share for key countries in the world, from 2015 to 2020.

Chapter 10 and 11, to segment the sales by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2015 to 2020.

Chapter 12, Biological Pest Control market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2020 to 2025.

Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Biological Pest Control sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion, appendix and data source.

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Orbis Reports is a frontline provider of illustrative market developments and workable insights to a wide spectrum of B2B entities seeking diversified competitive intelligence to create disruptive ripples across industries. Incessant vigor for fact-checking and perseverance to achieve flawless analysis have guided our eventful history and crisp client success tales.

Orbis Reports is constantly motivated to offer superlative run-down on ongoing market developments. To fulfill this, our voluminous data archive is laden with genuine and legitimately sourced data, subject to intense validation by our in-house subject experts. A grueling validation process is implemented to double-check details of extensive publisher data pools, prior to including their diverse research reports catering to multiple industries on our coherent platform. With an astute inclination for impeccable data sourcing, rigorous quality control measures are a part and parcel in Orbis Reports.

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Biological Pest Control Market 2020 | By Top Manufacturers, Growth, Emerging Trends, Size, Global Share Analysis and Forecast to 2025 - 3rd Watch News

Think back to the 1950s, when America was bouncing back from World War II and the Korean conflict. The GI Bill gave many veterans unprecedented access to education, and Americas land grant universities were the beneficiaries of talented young scientists. WWII was also the period where synthetic organic pesticides went from the laboratory to the field, with newfound applications in pest control.

The new pesticides were broad spectrum and highly effective and could be tweaked in the lab to create new products with slightly different spectrums of activity. A new era in pest control had begun, erasing 60 years of fighting a rear-guard action against declining efficacy of a meager handful of compounds. It was a heady time in pest control.

Despite the incredible success of the new synthetics, many entomologists began to see the downsides mostly in the destruction of natural enemies, leading to renewed pest problems. Even in those early days, pesticide resistance was an issue. By the late 1950s, the rose-colored glasses were no longer rosy as the unintended consequences began to manifest themselves.

The realization of these phenomena, and the ecological principles which underlaid them, became the birth of the integrated pest management movement. The visionaries of the time (many at the University of California, Berkeley) began to point out the deficiencies of a solely pesticide-based approach and built the framework of a new way of looking at pest management the realization that all of the components of an agroecosystem interacted and, therefore, must be taken into account in a management program.

Like any new theory, IPM in the 1950s was a bit revolutionary. The scientists being trained during this period, infused with these ideas and principles, were challenged to go forth into various cropping systems and turn the principles into practice. And that is exactly what happened in Pacific Northwest tree fruits, thanks in large part to the work of Washington State University entomologists Stan Hoyt and Everett Burts.

Stan graduated from UC Berkeley, the crucible of IPM, in 1957, just as the theory of IPM was taking form. He did a stint in the Korean War in a MASH unit working on hemorrhagic fever vectors and returned to Berkeley to finish his degree. His goal was forest entomology, but the opportunities were more plentiful in tree fruits, and so he completed a doctorate on woolly apple aphid, with entomologist Harold Madsen.

Because of his tree fruit experience, he was hired by WSU to work at the Tree Fruit Research Center in Wenatchee. He worked on all pests of apples, but one situation captured his attention: the influence of the codling moth program on spider mites. By the mid-1960s, he began pitching his (radical) new idea to the Washington tree fruit industry: that insecticides (and miticides) were the problem, not the solution, and that left alone, predatory mites (typhs) could keep pest mites below levels that caused injury.

Finessing the codling moth and apple thinning programs was part of the new integrated approach. But it took a bad frost year, when there wasnt enough of a crop to merit spraying, that really proved the point: Less is more when it comes to integrated mite control. The idea took hold and expanded throughout the 1970s, until it became the norm for apple growers. By the mid-1980s, growers and consultants were proactively protecting their typhs and bragging that they had not sprayed for mites in 25 years. Despite periodic disruption by new pesticides, the program still works today.

Stan Hoyt was born in 1927 in Oakland, California, and grew up in the Bay Area. He studied entomology as an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, and after a tour in the Korean War, returned to complete a doctorate in 1957, with Harold Madsen. He began his career at WSUs Tree Fruit Research Center in Wenatchee in the fall of 1957. He served as director from 1983 until his retirement in 1993.

Stan passed away on Nov. 30, 2019. He is survived by his wife, Beverley Hoyt; daughter, Kathleen (Mike Kentley) Hoyt; grandson, Kieran; son, David (Chris) Hoyt; granddaughter, Ariana; and brother, Jim Hoyt. He was preceded in death by daughter Kristine Hoyt.

Pear psylla has not always been the scourge of Pacific Northwest pear growers. Introduced from Eurasia in the 1800s, psylla was detected in the Spokane area in 1939, marking the beginning of a devastating march through Northwest pear orchards.

Both the relatively new organophosphate and the organochlorine insecticides had stopped working due to resistance development by 1958, the year Everett Burts began his work as the pear entomologist at Washington State Universitys Tree Fruit Research Center in Wenatchee. For the next 36 years, Burts worked to find both short-term fixes and long-term solutions for psylla, driven by the insects history of developing resistance.

Those who worked closely with him recall his contributions in areas such as: the introduction of areawide control programs for psylla; the challenge of fitting newly registered insecticides into existing control programs; utilization of natural enemies to control pear psylla; sampling treatment thresholds; and the role that cultural control measures such as tree washing, shoot removal and fertilizer programs could play in suppressing psylla.

While his work gained global recognition, Everett also understood the importance of helping people understand how best to apply this research. Pear industry leaders recall that he provided this information with a calm kindness and patience. It was this combination of technical expertise and commitment to outreach that helped to create in the 1990s what longtime Blue Star Growers horticulturist Greg Rains calls the golden age of pear pest management.

Everett Burts was born in 1931 and grew up at Horse Lake, west of Wenatchee, Washington. He attended the Wenatchee public schools and spent a year at Wenatchee Valley College before attending and graduating from Washington State College. He then went on to Oregon State College, completing his doctorate in 1958 and returning to Wenatchee to work for Washington State University until his retirement in 1994.

Everett passed away on Nov. 17, 2019. He is survived by Willow Burts, his wife of 65 years, along with two sons, James (Julanne) and Doug (Janet) and their families.

The original Burts homestead is now part of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trusts 1,500-acre Horse Lake Reserve.

The early days of IPM were shaped by the entomologists of the time. Stan and Everett laid the foundations for the Washington tree fruit industry: conserving beneficial insects, modifying spray practices, understanding the underlying horticultural systems in other words, seeing the big picture. We still embrace and practice these concepts today, and as a new generation comes up to bat, they will know what they are aiming at. And, they will improve on it in ways we have yet to discover.

by Betsy Beers and Mike Willett

Betsy Beers is a professor and entomologist at Washington State Universitys Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee. Mike Willett worked for Oregon State University, Washington State University and directly for the Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry over a 40-year career.

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Good to Know: Reflections on the elder statesmen of apple and pear IPM - Good Fruit Grower

A multi-billion-dollar expansion of Marylands sales tax to most services drew hours of impassioned opposition during a Monday afternoon hearing before a House committee tasked with finding ways to raise enough revenue to fund an ambitious and expensive education reform plan.

Lawyers, architects, real estate agents and car wash owners appeared by the dozens before the House Ways and Means Committee to oppose a measure from Majority Leader Eric G. Luedtke (D-Montgomery County) that would expand the states sales tax to most services.

Levying the tax on services would generate $3.7 billion in new tax revenue by fiscal 2025, while a 1% decrease in the overall rate would lower the states current sales tax revenue on goods by about $796 million. Taken together, the proposal would generate about $2.9 billion in additional state tax revenue by 2025.

Faced with hours of testimony about adverse economic impacts and difficulties in implementing the proposal, Luedtke said he was open to amendments on the bill, including to exempt more transactions from the expanded service tax or to further decrease the sales tax rate.

Health care, education and nonprofit social services are not included in the proposed expansion.

Businesses that would be subject to the tax testified that the expansion could be crushing to the economy, and even unworkable when it comes to multi-state businesses or complex transactions like home sales and legal services agreements.

Maryland Realtors argued that the tax expansion would complicate home sales, increase the cost of mortgages and push homeownership out of reach for some Marylanders at a time when ownership rates are already falling.

The bill also created interesting alliances, such as the joint testimony from the Maryland Association for Justice, Maryland Defense Counsel and Maryland State Bar Association. Together, the groups listed a litany of concerns about establishing such a misery tax, including how to discern who should pay in complex legal settlements, how contingency fees would be handled, and a warning that increased taxes could dissuade low-income Marylanders from seeking legal representation.

Kelly Hughes Iverson, on behalf of the Bar Association of Baltimore City, said the bill would hurt many of the very people it is intended to help.

We cannot forget in our well-intended efforts to address inequitable education funding that many of those who suffer from inadequate access to education also suffer from inadequate access to justice, she said.

Small business effects

Del. Wayne A. Hartman (R-Lower Shore) said he was concerned about the effect on small businesses, particularly those who would have to hire and pay a tax on services to accountants or other professionals to help them implement the services tax.

Luedtke conceded that many economists including one he invited to testify in favor of the bill agree that business-to-business services should be exempted and that hes absolutely open to that conversation.

However, as a state, Luedtke said, Maryland is already picking winners and losers in our economy by giving services-based businesses a tax advantage over goods-based businesses.

From a fundamental economics perspective, thats bad policymaking, Luedtke said.

Del. Jason C. Buckel (R-Allegany) said he thought Luedtkes arguments about treating different types of businesses fairly was interesting, and Im kind of OK with that concept that we should treat everybody the same way.

But, Buckel said, Luedtkes bill was introduced as a revenue generator. He suggested that the bill could be made revenue-neutral by expanding the tax base to services, but lowering the rate even further to something around 3% instead of the proposed 5%.

Would you be OK with that? Buckel asked.

If we find other sources of revenue for the Blueprint, Im perfectly happy to have a conversation about dropping the rate lower, Luedtke responded.

Unintended consequences

Business representatives listed a series of the bills potential unintended consequences if consumption of services decreases.

Representatives from the Mid-Atlantic Car Wash Association said more pollution could wind up flowing into the Chesapeake Bay from driveway washes if residents are driven away from their sophisticated car-washing operations, which recycle water and capture chemicals.

Andrea Brubaker of the Maryland State Pest Control Association noted that rodents and cockroaches can transmit dozens of diseases and bacteria, and that increasing taxes could lead to unsanitary conditions if restaurants or other retailers avoid pest control services.

We believe that increasing the costs of eradicating dangerous and deadly pests will only negatively impact food safety and public health in Maryland, she said.

Representatives of AAA Mid-Atlantic said the expanded tax could cause Marylanders to forego vehicle repairs, making the roads less safe.

James Doyle of the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association reminded the committee that death is not a luxury item.

Death is not a discretionary item, he said. But what it is is a hardship to the families that are going through it. Its a serious financial hardship in addition to everything else.

There are other practical issues with implementing the tax, including whether it should be assessed on prepaid funeral arrangements that may have been set years ago.

Governor opposes measure

The hearing became heated at times, as lawmakers pressed those who testified against the bill to offer different solutions for funding education reform.

Luedtke pressed a panel from Republican Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.s administration in particular.

Hogans deputy legislative officer Mathew Palmer said the cost of the sales tax expansion would be passed on to everyday Marylanders.

Ultimately when businesses have to pay that tax, it gets passed on, Palmer said. In some way, all of that money, all of that $3 billion will get to consumers. They will feel it.

Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz said the proposal would be dangerous not only to the existing business community, but would also hurt efforts to attract new businesses for the state.

Luedtkes bill is a big flashing neon sign that they should look elsewhere, Schulz said.

Luedtke asked the panel what revenue proposals the governor would be willing to support to fund education reforms.

I dont believe this bill hearing today is about education, Palmer responded at one point, after noting that the bill did not dedicate increased sales tax revenues to education. If you think it is, then we have a difference of opinion on what exactly this bill does.

Palmer later noted that a bill passed last year to tax online marketplace facilitators is expected to generate $1 billion in revenue above initial estimates within six years.

There are plenty of ways to fund [education reform], Palmer said. However, this bill is not one of them.

Luedtke said he rejected the notion the notion that the state cant afford to increase education funding.

We can figure out how to do it in the wealthiest state, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, Luedtke said. If we cant figure out how to provide a decent education for every kid in this state, nobody can.

Del. April Rose (R-Carroll) responded: We have very diverse areas in the state. While we may be a wealthy state, not every area is wealthy.

Few states tax services in the expansive way proposed in Luedtkes bill: Hawaii, New Mexico and South Dakota.

The committee also considered a bill on Monday from Montgomery County Dels. Lorig Charkoudian (D) and Julie Palakovich Carr (D) that would expand the sales tax in a narrower fashion, by taxing 13 specific services, including fur cleaning and storage, country club memberships, tattooing and piercing, art storage, interior design, dog walking, travel services and lobbying.

Taxing the additional services would generate about $72.1 million in additional tax revenue by 2025, according to a nonpartisan fiscal analysis.

Charkoudian said she sought to include services in her bill that are generally used by families with more resources, but was open to changing the particular additions based on suggestions from colleagues.

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As Businesses Oppose Tax Bill, Sponsor Willing to Deal - Josh Kurtz

A workshop to be held in Research Triangle Park on Feb. 12 will help set pest management priorities for the fledging sorghum industry in North Carolina and surrounding states.

The Southern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center has provided a grant to fund the event, and also to develop a pest management strategic plan for the Mid-Atlantic region. The grant was awarded to the Crop Commercialization Program (CCP) at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech). NCBiotech will also host the workshop.

The Southern IPM Center is housed at North Carolina State University in collaboration with the University of Georgia and Auburn University. It works with a variety of stakeholders including extension agents, growers, government agencies, and researchers to support pest management research, education and outreach in the South.

The CCP, which promotes new, high-value crop research in North Carolina, will coordinate the workshop and lead development of the strategic plan.

Our mission is to find opportunities to increase our farmers profits and strengthen our agribusiness sector to support rural economic development, said Paul Ulanch, Ph.D., MBA, executive director of CCP. Sorghum is not typically grown in North Carolina only about 18,000 acres were planted here in 2018, he pointed out. But its a crop that has the potential to expand significantly and to attract industry to the state. So its important now to focus on pest management.

A diverse group growers, extension agents, academics, regulators, and industry and commodity association representatives is expected to participate in the one-day workshop. Theyll examine production practices and pest management issues. The goal is to incorporate information from the meeting and other sorghum pest management studies into a strategic framework a pest management strategic plan (PMSP) that will guide future crop decisions and activities in the Mid-Atlantic region (North and South Carolina and Virginia).

The strategic plan will outline priorities for sorghum research, regulation and outreach, according to Sarah Frank, NCBiotechs project administrator for CCP. That includes guiding a wide range of activities, from the registration of pesticides by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the allocation of funds for research and other pest management activities. To date, a PMSP has not been developed for sorghum in the region, she said.

Danesha Seth Carley, Ph.D., director of the Southern IPM Center, said her organization is looking forward to working with NCBiotech to support the flow of information and resources for this important sorghum project. A well-thought-out pest management strategic plan is crucial to enhance environmental, economic and human health, she added.

The effort is the latest in a multi-year collaboration to investigate ways to expand sorghum production in North Carolina, both as a feed for hogs and other livestock and as a source of biomass for ethanol.

Sorghum grows tall like corn but is more drought resistant, so it can be a reliable alternative in those areas of the state where sandy soil cant hold enough moisture for corn during dry growing seasons.

Increasing the crops acreage also has the potential to make North Carolinas huge pork industry more self-sustaining. Farmers currently produce less than a third of the 300 million bushels of animal feed the states pork and poultry producers require annually. The remainder must be shipped from the Midwest and other locations.

Sorghum also allows for the application of different herbicides and can be used as a valuable rotational crop, particularly to control nematodes.

Crop rotation is one of a number of topics that will be discussed during the workshop, which follows close on the heels of two other multi-year sorghum initiatives led by NCBiotech. The Mid-Atlantic Feed Grain Project funded from 2015-2017 by the North Carolina Pork Council, the Golden LEAF Foundation and pork producer Murphy-Brown LLC focused on increasing production of animal feed from grain crops in the region by more than 50 percent.

Another three-year, $1.87 million grant from the United States Department of Agricultures Bioenergy Research Development Initiative supports the study of sorghum as biomass for fuel and high-value chemicals in North Carolina and surrounding states. CCP was the grant recipient. This project, which concludes in 2020, brings together North Carolinas two largest economic drivers agriculture and biotechnology to maximize fibrous sorghum stalk material for use as a high-value product.

Information from these two initiatives will be incorporated into the pest management strategic plan. Well be able to determine whats most important in terms of sorghum crop management, Frank said. And we can help set the priorities for what we hope will be a steadily growing agricultural segment in our state and the region.

Sorghum production opens the doors to new market opportunities and provides us with another key crop for rotation, Ulanch pointed out. We think it will have a positive impact on growers in our state in the future.

Excerpt from:
Pest management strategy next step toward increasing sorghum production in NC - WRAL Tech Wire