BIRC’s latest publication is New Biopesticides for IPM and Organic Production.

This IPM Practitioner publication reviews the latest biopesticide products. Biopesticides are either living organisms or have their origins in living organisms. They are often target specific, benign to beneficial insects, do not pose air or water quality problems, and risks to human health are low. Insects are not resistant to them, and some formulations are certified for organic production. The publication includes a list of EPA registered products and suppliers.

Biopesticides include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and nematicides. A new bioinsecticide called Grandevo™ should be useful in management of the destructive Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. Another bioinsecticide called MET52™ has potential as a non-chemical treatment for tick control. This product should be good news in areas overrun by Lyme disease.

Phaseout of the soil fumigant methyl bromide has led to registration of toxic and carcinogenic materials such as 1,3-dichloropropene for nematode control. New biopesticides such as Econem™, Melocon™, and DiTera™ are now available that provide a non-chemical alternative for nematodes.

Biofungicides such as Rootshield™, Mycostop™, and Soilgard™ provide non-chemical alternatives for soilborne pathogens. Products such as Regalia™, Serenade™, and Sonata™ provide treatment for plant diseases. Regalia and many of the other products are certified for organic production.

New bioherbicides have been developed that can help control weeds without the environmental pollution seen with some chemical herbicides. Some of these are commercially available, others are in the last stages of EPA and California registration.

If you would like to read this publication, click here.

Hard copies are $8 each including postage. California residents add 9% tax. Quantity discounts are available until supplies run out. If you would like to order the publication, click here.

Previous Posts:

Protecting Raptors from Rodenticides, a new publication from BIRC

 

January 2013: About 13,000 to 20,000 people each year are poisoned by rodenticides, and most of these are children. About 80% of the hospitalizations are due to second generation anticoagulants, mostly brodifacoum. Of the 95,000 pets poisoned each year, about 74% is due to brodifacoum. This type of rat poison is also causing widespread poisoning of wildlife, including raptors.

Brodifacoum is a longlasting poison, and rats can accumulate 30 to 40 times a lethal dose before they die. Raptors that eat these rats die of secondary poisoning. The problem is widespread, and may kill 10-20% of raptor populations in areas where the baits are used. Sublethal effects include bleeding and disorientation leading to accidents. Poisoned raptors are also more susceptible to disease.

BIRC’s new publication reviews the problem and proposes effective, practical alternatives that will provide effective rat management without killing raptors.

If you would like to read this publication, click here.

Hard copies are $8 each including postage. California residents add 9% tax. Quantity discounts are available until supplies run out. If you would like to order the publication, click here.

August 2012: BIRC’s latest publication reviews the problems resulting from the extensive use of genetically engineered (GE) crops and systemic pesticides. Production of GE crops (Roundup Ready™) resistant to the herbicide glyphosate has resulted in a number of environmental problems, including an 81% reduction of Midwest monarch butterfly populations.

Excessive glyphosate applications may be impacting amphibian populations and increasing populations of soil pathogens. Soil pathogens are making systemic seed treatments with fungicides necessary.

Extensive reliance on GE crops with systemic insecticides from Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is leading to insect resistance. The resulting seed treatments with systemic neonicotinoid insecticides are causing deaths of honey bees.

Dependence on glyphosate for weed management in GE crops has led to creation of superweeds. The agribusiness solution is a repeat of the pesticide treadmill—crops engineered for resistance to multiple herbicides. Planting of these new crops will at least triple the amount of 2,4-D and other controversial herbicides being used in agriculture.
A better solution is a return to IPM principles that allow both sustainable crop production and environmental protection.

If you would like to read this publication, click here.

Hard copies are $8 each including postage. California residents add 9% tax. Quantity discounts are available until supplies run out. If you would like to order the publication, click here.

June 2012: BIRC’s latest publication reviews honey bee death and decline due to extensive use of pesticides. Chemical analysis of hives in 23 states show bees, pollen, and wax combs are extensively contaminated with pesticides.

Contributing to the problem is the use of systemics in field crops, especially corn. Use of systemics means that pesticides are always present in the plant and mitigation strategies are impossible. About 45% of U.S. cropland is treated with systemics and use is increasing each year. In many cases, systemics are not needed because IPM alternatives are available that manage pests without killing bees.

This issue also includes an update on urban farming, the EcoWise IPM Certification Program for pest control professionals, and the latest information on bed bug pheromones and traps.


If you would like to read this new publication, click here.

Hard copies are $8 each including postage. California residents add 9% tax. Quantity discounts are available until supplies run out. If you would like to order the publication, click here.