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Plant Health Protection Update  |  March 12, 2018
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Specialty Growers, Pesticide Applicators Can Protect Sensitive Crops By Working Together


Specialty crops add diversity and value to Nebraska’s agricultural industry, which is why the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) encourages growers and outdoor pesticide applicators to work together to protect sensitive commercial specialty crops and pollinators from pesticide use. Pesticides include all categories of pest control products such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.

“Many non-traditional crops, like grapes and hops, are especially sensitive to pesticides that are critical for producing traditional crops like corn and soybeans,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman. “In order to protect sensitive crops, commercial growers and pesticide applicators need to communicate with one another throughout the planting and growing season to raise awareness of specialty crops and beehives in the area.”

View the full press release here.

Dicamba Training for Applicators, Mixers and Loaders 


The labels for the three dicamba-tolerant soybean herbicides were revised as Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs). This designation requires all applicators of the RUP label herbicides to be certified and licensed applicators, as well as obtain dicamba-specific training prior to using the RUP herbicides. In addition, mixers, loaders and other handlers of any RUP dicamba product must also take the dicamba-specific training prior to mixing, loading or otherwise handling the herbicides. This would not include handling unopened containers, but would include handling any opened or partially used containers or mini-bulk tank of the herbicides.
 
More information on the product labels, training programs offered and best management practices for using dicamba products can be found at NDA’s Dicamba Information page.

DriftWatch for Applicators


There are 3 ways you can utilize this service:
  • Frequently visit the public map (free of charge) to see/access:
    • All crop sites.
    • Most beehives (beekeepers have the option to display hives only to registered applicators).
  • Register with FieldWatch as an applicator (free of charge) to see/access:
    • All crop sites.
    • All beehives.
    • And receive email notifications when new sites are added.
  • Member data subscription ($100) – contact FieldWatch for more information.
    • All sites, including all beehives.
    • Periodically download sites to your mapping software or receive live stream through your software provider.
View the full infographic here.

Nebraska Groundwater


Use these 12 Nebraska groundwater posters to learn more about groundwater, potential contaminants, costs of treatment, and what we as Nebraskans are doing to help. See the Groundwater Foundation’s file (40MB PDF) or Nebraska SWCS’ Facebook.
Related UNL CropWatch Stories:

Can We Manage Dicamba Applications in 2018?

Removing Dicamba Residues from Your Sprayer: A Tricky Task

Potential Off-Target Dicamba Movement from Corn Applications
Pesticide applicator testing and training is in full swing!

Information on how to obtain a pesticide applicator license, including taking initial certification tests, recertification training, and the full list of testing and training sites, including computer testing locations, can be found at the NDA Pesticide Program page.
Spray Drift Webinar

A Strategies for Managing Pesticide Spray Drift Webinar will be held March 15, 2018, 10:30 a.m-12 p.m. CDT. This webinar is tailored for growers, pesticide applicators, and other interested stakeholders who work with pesticides and pesticide application equipment. The presenter will be Greg Kruger, Weed Science and Application Technology Specialist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
A thistle, by any other name...

Did you know there are native, non-invasive thistles in Nebraska? Learn more about these beneficial plants in this recent native thistle article in the Nebraska Weed Watch newsletter

In addition, take a look at the Xerces Society’s Native Thistles: A Conservation Practitioner’s Guide, containing resources and information on the natural history and ecology of native thistle species.
Platte thistle (courtesy of the Weeds of the Great Plains).
NDA Plant Health

Program Links


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Copyright © 2018 Nebraska Department of Agriculture, All rights reserved.


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