TheU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted FMC Corporation registration for Vantacorinsect control in a range of crops including cotton, soybeans, corn, peanuts, potatoes, sweet corn, sugarcane and onions.

Vantacor is a highly concentrated formulation of Rynaxypyractive the industry standard for long residual control of Lepidopteran pests. It offers the same pest spectrum and activity as Prevathoninsect control powered by Rynaxypyrbut with a much lower use rate typically 0.7-2.0 fluid ounces per acre compared to 14-20 fluid ounces per acre. It also offers extended residual control of key worm species, reducing the need for multiple applications per season.

All the things growers know and love about Prevathon insect control extended control of Lepidopterans, tank-mix flexibility, no flaring of mites or aphids and preservation of many important beneficial insects are also conveyed by Vantacor insect control, says John McCool, FMC Insecticides Product Manager. In addition, the new formulation offers improved mixing, low use rates and less packaging. That means growers will spend less time handling and hauling jugs, shuttles and pumps to and from fields. Overall, it enhances growers productivity whether its in the form of time or fuel savings.

The list of Lepidopteran pests controlled by Vantacor includes:

FMC is committed to delivering products that maintain a safe and secure food supply with minimal impact on the planet. The company has pledged to invest 100% of its research and development spend on sustainably advantaged products by 2025.

Vantacor insect control is an example of FMC using its formulation expertise to shrink our environmental footprint while still delivering reliable insect control,says McCool. Thats a win for the grower, the environment and FMC.

More information about Vantacor insect control is available online or from your FMC Star Retailer.

Based on information provided by FMC Corporation

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EPA Approves Vantacor Insect Control for Cotton and Other Crops - Cotton Grower

ATHENS A unique study conducted by University of Georgia entomologists led to the discovery of a distinctive supergene in fire ant colonies that determines whether young queen ants will leave their birth colony to start their own new colony or if they will join one with multiple queens. Researchers also found that ants were more aggressive toward queens who dont possess the supergene, causing colony workers to kill them. This critical finding opens the door to new pest control methods that may be more efficient in eradicating problematic fire ant colonies.

Learning about the way fire ants behave is very important baseline information, Ken Ross, a long-time professor of entomology at the university, said. This information is key to helping us manage pest populations and predict what dissimilarities can happen in their environment.

A supergene is a collection of neighboring genes located on a chromosome that are inherited together due to close genetic linkage. Studying these unique genes is important to understanding the potential causes for differences among the social structure of fire ants, specifically for controlling the species and building upon the existing knowledge base.

Researchers focused on young queen fire ants embarking on nuptial flights. They compared the supergenes impact on the fire ants two primary types of social structures: monogyne, which is reproduction from queens that form a new nest, and pologyne, reproduction from queens that join an existing nest.

Ross initially worked alongside colleagues in his lab to discover a remarkable example of genetically encoded differences in social organization within the fire ant species Solenopsis invicta. The next step was to understand how these genetic differences result in complex behavioral and physiological variations among ants from single queen colonies versus colonies with multiple queens. Compounding this knowledge helps scientists further understand patterns of development in the species, increasing alternatives to combat invasive populations.

Led by a pair of UGA entomology graduate alumni, Joanie King, who earned her masters degree in 2017, and Samuel Arsenault, who earned his doctoral degree in 2020, the team developed an experimental design that utilized a collection of samples from two fire ant organs brain and ovarian tissues and the complete range of social chromosome genotypes and social forms within this fire ant species.

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The innovative study incorporated various scientific methods, leading to a collaboration of tools and resources throughout many different areas of the institution.

UGA was a very supportive environment to conduct this research, Brendan Hunt, associate professor of entomology, said. We received help preparing samples for RNA-sequencing from Dr. Bob Schmitzs lab in the genetics department, performed the sequencing at the Georgia Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, and utilized computational resources from the Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center to analyze the data.

These types of student-led projects give young researchers the chance to grow in a hands-on environment with mentorship and guidance from scientists with proven track records in the field.

The graduate students gained experience that helped them transition to the next stages of their careers, Hunt said. Both have gone on to continue their studies of ant genetics.

After earning their degrees and completing the research at UGA, King began pursuing a doctorate at Texas A&M University to study alongside Edward Vargo, and Arsenault works as a post-doctoral researcher with Harvard Universitys Buck Trible Lab.

To read the full published research, check out the Wiley Online Library digital archive. For more information on the UGA department of entomology, visit ent.uga.edu.

See the article here:
Discovery of 'supergene' in fire ants could help with pest control - The Albany Herald

Technavio has been monitoring the global pest control services market, operating under the industrials sector. The latest report on pest control services market, 2020-2024 estimates it to register an incremental growth of USD 5103.00 million, at a CAGR of almost 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201019005472/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Pest Control Services Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavios in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- & post-COVID-19 analysis. Download Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Analysis

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Competitors have to focus on differentiating their product offerings with unique value propositions to strengthen their foothold in the market. Market vendors also have to leverage on the existing growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Anticimex International AB, Arrow Exterminators Inc., Asante Inc., Dodson Pest Control Inc., Ecolab Inc., Massey Services Inc., Rentokil Initial Plc, Rollins Inc., SANIX INC., and ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc. are among some of the major market participants.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

View market snapshot before purchasing

Growing hospitality, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries have been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, the increasing availability of DIY pest control products might hamper market growth.

Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct & indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impacts

Pest Control Services Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Pest Control Services Market is segmented as below:

Based on geographic segmentation, over 45% of the market growth originated from North America during the forecast period. In addition, general pest control led the growth under the application segment. This report provides an accurate prediction of the contribution of all the segments to the growth of the market size.

Pest Control Services Market 2020-2024: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The pest control services market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the growing deployment of digital pest control services as one of the prime reasons driving the Pest Control Services Market growth during the next few years.

Story continues

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavios in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.

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Pest Control Services Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Application

Market Segmentation by End-user

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Vendor Landscape

Vendor Analysis

Appendix

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201019005472/en/

Contacts

Technavio ResearchJesse MaidaMedia & Marketing ExecutiveUS: +1 844 364 1100UK: +44 203 893 3200Email: media@technavio.com Website: http://www.technavio.com/

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Global Pest Control Services Market Will Exhibit Positive Impact During 2020-2024 | Growing Hospitality, Pharmaceutical, and Food Processing...

Global Pest Control Market Report describes the basic elements of the industry and market stats, the recent advances in technology, business plans, policies, possibilities for development and risks to the sector are being described. The two key segments of the report, namely market revenue in (USD Million) and market size (k MT) are presented in this report. The Scope of Pest Control industry, market concentration and presence across various region are described in detail.

The prominent Pest Control industry players are covered in the next section, their business profiles, product information, and market size. Also, the SWOT analysis of these players, business plans & strategies are covered. It covers the product definition, classification, type and price structures.

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Major players covered in this report:

Bayer CropScienceDowDuPontBell LaboratoriesEcolabTruly NolenAdamaTerminixSumitomo Chemicals Co. Ltd.Syngenta AGFMC CorporationAtalian ServestBASFPelGar International

Market Segmentation:

By Type:

InsectsRodentsTermitesWildlife

By Application:

ResidentialCommercialLivestockIndustrialOthers

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In this report Pest Control manufacturing value and growth rate from 2015-2019 will be provided at regional level. The nitty gritty evaluation of segments and sub-segments of emerging industries are clerified. It covers Pest Control industry plans & policies, financial status, cost structures and analyzes of the value chain. The Pest Control competitive perspective of the countryside, the production base, the evaluation of the production method and the upstream raw materials are assessed.

The gross margin, consumption pattern, growth rate of Pest Control is studied precisely. The top industry players are covered on a regional level and country level with the analysis of their revenue share from 2015-2019. Furthermore, forecast Pest Control industry status is determined by analysis of expected market share, volume, value and development rate. The forecast Pest Control industry view is presented from 2020-2026.

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Table of Contents:

Global Pest Control Market Size, Status and Forecast 2026

1 Pest Control Industry Overview

2 Pest Control Competition Analysis by Players

3 Company (Top Players) Profiles

4 Global Pest Control Market Size by Type and Application (2015-2019)

5 United States Pest Control Development Status and Outlook

6 EU Pest Control Development Status and Outlook

7 Japan Pest Control Development Status and Outlook

8 Pest Control Manufacturing Cost Analysis

9 India Pest Control Development Status and Outlook

10 Southeast Asia Pest Control Development Status and Outlook

11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2020-2026)

12 Pest Control Market Dynamics

12.1 Pest Control Industry News

12.2 Pest Control Industry Development Challenges

12.3 Pest Control Industry Development Opportunities (2020-2026)

13 Market Effect Factors Analysis

14 Global Pest Control Market Forecast (2020-2026)

15 Research Finding/Conclusion

16 Appendix

Explore Detailed Table Of Content With Table Of Figures: @

https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/life-sciences/global-pest-control-market-report-2020-by-key-players,-types,-applications,-countries,-market-size,-forecast-to-2026-(based-on-2020-covid-19-worldwide-spread)/155426#table_of_contents

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Global Pest Control Market 2020 Research : Detailed analysis of the Growth and other Aspects till 2026 - PRnews Leader

Rats are shown in this 2015 file photo.

Rats are shown in this 2015 file photo.

Photo: Sanjay Kanojia / AFP Via Getty Images

Rats are shown in this 2015 file photo.

Rats are shown in this 2015 file photo.

Report: Connecticut city is one of the 'rattiest' in the country

The fear of mice and rats is called musophobia, and anyone who has it might want to be wary of going to Hartford, Connecticut.

According to pest control company Orkin's annual ranking, Hartford has one of the biggest rat problems in the U.S. The "Top 50 Rattiest Cities List," ranks places based on "the number of new rodent treatments performed from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020."

Hartford comes in at number 27, and it's the only Connecticut city on the list. But experts say the state's rat problem may only be getting worse.

Pest control experts told Hearst Connecticut Media Group that the increase in rodent activity in Connecticut has been going on for a while, and the pandemic is having an effect on it because the food supply has changed since Connecticut went into lockdown in March.

No longer able to dine at the dumpster behind their favorite restaurants, the experts said, rats have been on the move, away from the closed businesses downtown and in the suburban shopping plazas and to the garbage cans behind our homes.

I havent been inundated with phone calls about rats, said Rocco Cambareri, owner of Insecta X in Norwalk. But I know for a fact that theres rats running around because of COVID.

It's an issue that's going on nation-wide, according to Orkin.

"In an unprecedented year, the visibility of rodents has increased, creating concern for homeowners and business owners alike. As reported in the Spring, the pandemic-driven closure of restaurants forced rodents to find new food sources," the site writes.

And even more troubling: "Without food waste to consume, these pests were seen scavenging new areas and exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior," Orkin reports.

One thing that hasn't changed is that Chicago is the rattiest city in the country at least according to this report. The windy city ranked No. 1 on the list for the sixth consecutive year. Los Angeles came in at No. 2 and New York City at No. 3.

Local rat experts as well as Orkin's experts said that as the weather gets colder, rat sightings will only increase in homes and businesses as the critters seek warmth.

Rats are rats. Its not like they hibernate, Cambareri told Hearst Connecticut. But you see more of them in the fall and winter because they need warmth.

Additional reporting by Ed Stannard.

More:
Report: Connecticut city is one of the 'rattiest' in the country - Middletown Press

This report studies the Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 market with many aspects of the industry like the market size, market status, market trends and forecast, the report also provides brief information of the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers. Find the complete Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 market analysis segmented by companies, region, type and applications in the report.

New vendors in the market are facing tough competition from established international vendors as they struggle with technological innovations, reliability and quality issues. The report will answer questions about the current market developments and the scope of competition, opportunity cost and more.

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The final report will add the analysis of the Post Impact of Covid-19 in this report Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 industry.

The following players are covered in this report:

Ecolab

Rollins

Rentokil Initial

Service Master

Massey Services

Arrow Exterminators

Sanix

Asante

Dodson Brothers Exterminating

Target Specialty Products

Pelsis

Killgerm

WinField Solutions

Univer

The report discusses the various types of solutions for Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 Market. While the regions considered in the scope of the report include North America, Europe, and various others. The study also emphasizes on how rising digital security threats is changing the market scenario.

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Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.

This report focuses on the global Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 development in United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, and Central & South America.

Breakdown Data by Type

Insecticides

Rodenticides

Other Chemical

Mechanical

Others

Pest Control Products and Services Breakdown Data by Application

Ants Control

Bedbug Control

Beetle Control

Bird Control

Mosquito & Flies Control

Cockroaches Control

Rat & Rodent Control

Termites Control

Others

Based on regional and country-level analysis, the Pest Control Products and Services market has been segmented as follows:

North America

United States

Canada

Europe

Germany

France

U.K.

Italy

Russia

Nordic

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

South Korea

Southeast Asia

India

Australia

Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Mexico

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

Turkey

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Rest of Middle East & Africa

The Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 market is a comprehensive report which offers a meticulous overview of the market share, size, trends, demand, product analysis, application analysis, regional outlook, competitive strategies, forecasts, and strategies impacting the Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 Industry. The report includes a detailed analysis of the market competitive landscape, with the help of detailed business profiles, SWOT analysis, project feasibility analysis, and several other details about the key companies operating in the market.

Have Any Query ask to our Expert @ https://beathanreports.com/get-expert-help/39925

The study objectives of this report are:

To study and forecast the market size of Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 in global market.

To analyze the global key players, SWOT analysis, value and global market share for top players.

To define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use and region.

To analyze and compare the market status and forecast among global major regions.

To analyze the global key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.

To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.

To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.

To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market

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.

The Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 market research report completely covers the vital statistics of the capacity, production, value, cost/profit, supply/demand import/export, further divided by company and country, and by application/type for best possible updated data representation in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs. These data representations provide predictive data regarding the future estimations for convincing market growth. The detailed and comprehensive knowledge about our publishers makes us out of the box in case of market analysis.

Key questions answered in this report

What will the market size be in 2026 and what will the growth rate be?

What are the key market trends?

What is driving this market?

What are the challenges to market growth?

Who are the key vendors in this market space?

What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Global Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 Market Overview

Chapter 2: Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 Market Data Analysis

Chapter 3: Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 Technical Data Analysis

Chapter 4: Pest Control Products and Services for Covid-19 Government Policy and News

More:
Soaring Demand Drives Pest Control Products and Services Market Growth During the Forecast Period, 2020-2028 - Eurowire

The report specifies the Global Pest Control Products Market share held by the significant players of the business and conveys a full perspective on the focused scene. The market is ordered into various sections with the complete examination of each concerning the topography for the investigation time frame. The report has turned the spotlight on the startling rise in verifiable investigation and evaluations in the Pest Control Products market with its future prospects.

This research focus on Top-down and Bottom-up research analysis progression, which will help investors to analyze the financial market and to perform desired operations to choose Pest Control Products market investments in the forthcoming year 2020-2025.

The Pest Control Products market has been predicted to expand at a growth rate during the forecasting years of 2020-2025, driven by various factors. For instance, the development of the market has been very crucial for the advancement of the Pest Control Products Industry globally.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.express-journal.com/request-sample/225178

Pest Control Products Industry Key Players:

Pest Control Products Market Competitive Analysis

The research report helps to identify business competitors and helps to evaluate their business strategies to define the key players strengths and weaknesses associated with the products and services offered by manufacturing industries. It includes a brief analysis of Pest Control Products industry competitors, competitors global and regional sell, competitors market share, past and current strategies, type of media to market product or services, and potential openings.

Market segmentation

Pest Control Products market is split by Type and by Application. For the period 2015-2025, the growth among segments provide accurate calculations and forecasts for sales by Type and by Application in terms of volume and value. This analysis can help you expand your business by targeting qualified niche markets.

Pest Control Products Market Types:

Pest Control Products Market Applications:

The report offers in-depth assessment of the growth and other aspects of the Pest Control Products market in important countries (regions), including:

Key questions answered in this report:

How much is the Pest Control Products industry worth?

Who is the largest exporter?

What is the goal of Pest Control Products market research?

What is the global consumption?

What are the largest Pest Control Products companies in the world?

What is the purpose and importance of the Global Pest Control Products Market analysis?

The content of the study subjects, includes a total of 15 chapters:

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

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

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

Chapter 4, the Pest Control Products 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, Pest Control Products market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2020 to 2025.

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

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Pest Control Products Market size and Key Trends in terms of volume and value 2020-2025 - Express Journal

McKnights Long-Term Care News and McKnights Senior Living will delve more deeply into the impact of COVID-19 on providers operations during its Online Forum on Thursday, Sept. 10. And attendees can receive continuing education credits for listening to each webinar.

Two sessions during McKnights Online Forum VII will examine different facets of senior living and care during this period. First is a session on telehealth. Telehealth and Care Collaboration: Unlocking New Possibilities for Virtual Care and Care Coordination will take place at 10:30 a.m. ET. Speakers are Colin Banas, M.D., vice president of clinical product solutions for DrFirst; Petros Karamanlakis, M.D., chief medical informatics officer of health information services for Northwell Health and a member of the Department of Hospital Medicine at Huntington Hospital; and Steven Maly, APRN, a medical informaticist.

Next is a webinar on pest control. Adapting Your Pest Management Services During COVID-19 will start at noon ET. The speaker is Glen Ramsey, senior technical services manager for Orkin.

Learn more and register here.

Read this article:
Upcoming 'McKnight's' Online Forum to examine impact of COVID-19 on telehealth, pest control - Events - McKnight's Long Term Care News

Holes found in baby food packaging was likely due to mice, according to officials in New Zealand.

Initial investigations also looked at the possibility of a manufacturing fault and involved New Zealand Police to ensure the damage was not caused deliberately.

Supermarket chain Woolworths NZ recalled squeezable baby food pouches from stores nationwide after holes were found in about 30 packets in its Auckland and Napier supermarkets.

The individual pouches of baby food with damaged packaging were found across six supermarkets in Auckland, and one in Napier. All these products have been removed from shelves. Woolworths New Zealand has also checked all baby food in their stores and distribution centers across the country to ensure no damaged product is still on shelves.

Damage due to mice infestationThe move follows the discovery of a mice infestation at two of Woolworth NZs Auckland distribution centers.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) reported no associated illness but advised anyone who had health concerns to seek medical advice.

Gary Orr, New Zealand Food Safety director of compliance, said: It now looks likely that the damage was caused by these mice infestations. However, we continue to work to rule out any other possible issues in the supply chain. In the meantime we are working with Woolworths NZ to ensure corrective actions are taken so that this doesnt happen again.

Product is being removed from Countdown, SuperValue and FreshChoice stores across the country.All dates, flavors and batches of Smiling Tums, Only Organics and Natureland brands sold at these stores are affected. None of these items were exported. Organics and Natureland are sold in 120-gram or 170-gram pouches. Smiling Tums comes in a 120-gram pouch.

Importance of pest controlOrr advised consumers who have any affected product to return it to retailers or throw it out.

Mice must be kept away from food because they can contaminate the food and packaging with harmful microbes from their saliva, urine and droppings. Any food contamination is serious, but for babies it can be particularly significant, so we ask that parents check every squeezable baby food pouch in their home to ensure it is not affected by the recall, he said.

Parents should routinely check baby food pouches for damage even if they are not affected by the recall, according to Orr.

You can do this by giving the packet a light squeeze to identify any holes or other damage. Of course, any product with any damaged packaging should not be consumed. Damage to packaging does occur from time to time as part of the process of manufacturing and distributing food, he said.

In all the damaged product found, the holes were prominent and easy to see without squeezing, according to officials.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here.)

Read more:
Packs of baby food damaged by mice leads to recall in New Zealand - Food Safety News

This is the second in a multi-part series

We are continuing on our integrated pest management journey this week with a discussion of mechanical and biological controls for home landscapes.

Mechanical control is the simple act of physically removing the problem from your landscape with the use of tools such as mowers, shovels, or your own two hands.

If you have limited mobility, there are many ergonomically designed tools available that will help make weed removal very easy.

Mechanical control is certainly more labor intensive than using herbicides; however, repeatedly hand-pulling weeds will often stress them to the point that they will no longer grow, or will get out-competed by other desirable plants.

For weed control in landscape beds, cardboard is an excellent, low-cost option you can put down before you mulch an area. It also has the added benefit of being compostable and can be laid each time you re-mulch landscape or vegetable beds.

I do get questions about landscape fabrics, and I would recommend avoiding those if at all possible for long-term weed control.

A main drawback for fabrics or plastic mulches is that they only block annual weed seeds already present in the soil; they do a poor job at controlling perennial weeds and, assuming you add some type of mulch or compost over the fabric, new annual weed seeds will have a perfect environment on which to grow in just a years time.

A better option is to apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch, which, in addition to cardboard, provides an excellent, biodegradable weed control option each year.

Coarse bark mulches are well-suited for weed control and, fun fact, hardwood mulches can help adjust soil pH slowly over time, which can be immensely helpful as we deal with our acidic mountain soils.

Destruction of old plant materials is a great form of mechanical control in vegetable or annual beds. By destroying left over plant materials, you will reduce the amount of habitat that pest insects like to lay their eggs in.

Tillage can be a great form of control for soil-dwelling insects like Japanese beetle grubs, as well as weed seeds. Exposing these pests to the soil surface will provide a bounty of food for many songbirds and other beneficial insects.

Remember too that cultural practices like crop rotation or cover crops can be used in conjunction with your mechanical controls and will provide even better control over weeds and insect pests.

Your yard is alive and teeming with an abundance of beneficial insects, many of which are predators or parasites of insect pests, and all of which rely on nectar and pollen as a part of their diet.

Providing a diversity of plants that flower at different times of the year is a great way to ensure that you have a sustainable population of beneficial insects each year. Insects like insidious flower bugs, big-eyed bugs, assassin bugs, and tiger beetles are just several of the beneficial insects you might find patrolling your garden throughout the season.

When selecting plants for pollinators, consider ones like cardinal flower, goldenrod, coneflower, joe-pye weed, crimson clover, and bee balm. These plants provide attractive additions to the landscape, but also serve as a year-round habitat for beneficial insects.

Thinking about what you want, doing some research ahead of time, and selecting plants more purposefully will give you a leg up in managing pests. Remember that you will have a greater population of beneficial insects if you choose perennial plants and plant in areas that receive little disturbance over time.

So far, we have discussed cultural, mechanical, and biological control options for pest management in home landscapes. By now, you can start to envision the type of system whereby you are using a variety of options to become more proactive about pest management.

Next time, I will cover chemical controls, including organic and traditional options for pest management.

To learn more about IPM, visit http://haywood.ces.ncsu.edu, where you can post your questions via the Ask an Expert link, or contact the Haywood County Extension office. For more information on home gardening in general, visit extensiongardener.ces.ncsu.edu.

Sam Marshall is the horticulture agent for the Haywood County Cooperative Extension Service.

Read the rest here:
Learn to Grow: Try these ideas to manage garden pests - The Mountaineer