Cooperative Extension Service  ________________________________________________ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Dry weather, which began the period, was replaced by a return to a wetter weather pattern that has affected south Florida for much of the past two weeks.  Rainfall totals reported at FAWN weather stations ranged from 1.75 inches in Immokalee, 3.53 inches in Fort Pierce, 5.71 inches in Fort Lauderdale and 7.40 inches in Homestead.  Reports from growers indicate that localized rainfall amounts totals were much higher in all areas with some farms.  Temperatures at have been seasonable with daytime highs mostly in the mid to upper 80’s and lows in the mid 70’s.

Reports indicate that crops across the area are in fair to good condition.  Workers continue to prepare land and transplant as well as carry out cultural operations such as pruning, staking, tying and spraying as needed. Frequent showers and wet weather has left growers hustling in order to maintain planting schedules and has hindered spraying in many places.  Several respondents indicate that recent winds and rain has caused tomato and pepper plants to drop blooms.

FAWN Weather Summary

Date	Air Temp (°F)		Rainfall	Hours Below Certain Temperature          (hours)
	Min	Max	(Inches)	40°F	45°F	50°F	55°F	60°F	65°F	70°F	75°F
Fort Lauderdale
10/12-10/25/01	72.5	90.4	5.71	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.2	39.0
Fort Pierce
10/12-10/25/01	67.0	88.7	3.53	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	9.3	n/a
Homestead
10/12-10/25/01	67.3	90.5	7.40	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.8	5.9	122.5
Immokalee
10/12-10/25/01	63.7	90.1	1.75	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.9	23.1	153.9

Growers around Immokalee have started picking fresh market cucumbers. Pickle harvesting is underway in Dade County.  Harvesting of bell peppers and Italian type eggplant has started on the East Coast. Other vegetable crops available include tomatoes, sweet corn, okra, hot peppers, specialty peppers, squash and watermelons.

Forecast from the National Weather Service in Miami indicates that patchy light rain in the form of scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms can be expected across south Florida this afternoon as a cold front passes through the area today.   Behind the front skies will become clear and breezy and relative humidity and temperatures will fall.  On Saturday, highs will be in the low to mid 70’s with nighttime lows in the 50’s and will gradually warm through next week.  For additional information, visit the National Weather Service in Miami website at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mia/newpage/cgi-bin/master.pl?suite=home

Around southwest Florida, reports indicate that worms are going wild in a wide range of crops.  Respondents are reporting consistent very high worm pressure in most areas.  More than one scout has indicated that worm pressure over the past week is about as high as they have ever seen.

Fruitworms, southern armyworms, beet armyworms, fall armyworms and loopers are all in abundance.  According to some reports, beet and southern armyworms are most common.  Several growers have indicated finding substantial numbers of armyworm egg masses in crops and multiple ages of larva in crops.

Growers are obtaining good control with several products but within a few days are noting the appearance of egg masses and new hatches of worms.  In several cases, growers indicate they have had to bring out the big guns and go in with Lannate and pyrethroids to obtain control.

On the east coast, growers are reporting variable worm pressure on pepper, eggplant, tomato, and beans. In Palm Beach, reports indicate that armyworm egg masses are still being found.  On pepper, fall armyworms are increasing, while southern armyworms are holding steady with lower populations of beet armyworms.  Growers report having success managing worms with a rotation of B.t.’s and SpinTor along with relatively low rates of Lannate as an ovicide.  Fruit damage from worm feeding has been held to less than 1%.

There are a few big tomato hornworms showing up here and there but they are generally easy to spot and control.

The UF/IFAS research station in Immokalee and growers in the Devils garden area report heavy pressure from fall armyworm on sweet corn.

Respondents in southwest Florida are seeing both melonworm and pickleworms on cucurbits.  Pressure is high on many farms.

Low levels of diamondbacks continue to be seen on cabbage and other brassicas.

The first report of the season for pepper weevils has been received from Palm Beach. Pepper weevils have been found in fallen fruit of both bells and jalapenos, mostly in “hot spots.” No bloom feeding has been noticed as yet.  Growers report that Baythroid has been used for control.

Pepper weevils are also beginning to show up in southwest Florida.  Growers have been picking them up in sticky traps over the past two weeks and are beginning to see fallen pepper fruit in fields.

The pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii) adult is a small (1/6 inch) black or gray beetle with a long snout (proboscis) and elbowed antennae. Adults use the mandibles at the end of the proboscis to feed on leaf or flower buds. Females also use the mandibles to bore a small hole in developing fruit or flower buds. The hole is plugged with fecal matter (frass) after an egg is deposited. A tiny legless grub hatches from the egg and eats its way toward the seed core of the fruit where it feeds on seeds and pulp, passing through larval growth stages or instars. Damaged fruit become contaminated by insect parts, frass and rotted tissue, and will eventually fall from the plant. Pupation takes place inside the fruit within a small cell created by larval feeding. The emerging adult may feed within the fruit for a while before escaping through a circular hole chewed in the wall of the fruit.

Black nightshade can serve as a secondary host to maintain small numbers of pepper weevil during fallow periods. Since development times decrease as temperature increases and since adults will migrate readily from old fields to new plantings, populations generally build up during the season so that populations are greatest in later spring plantings. Since adults tend to move to lower, more protected and less visible plant parts as temperatures increase, scouting efforts should concentrate on a search for adults in leaf whorls, flowers and fruit during morning hours. Commercially available pheromone traps may also aid in early detection. Fruit and flower buds should be examined for damage and fallen fruit and buds examined for presence of larvae. If possible, all damaged and fallen fruit should be removed and destroyed.

Adjacent or nearby sequential plantings should be avoided. Crops should be deep-plowed immediately following harvest and after treating with insecticide to reduce adult movement into nearby fields and to reduce survival over the summer. Nightshade in and around fields should be controlled to reduce population survival between crops. Chemical control is difficult because all stages but the adult are protected within the fruit, so that only the adult weevil is vulnerable to insecticides. Frequent sprays may be necessary starting in the initial stages of infestation in order to avoid unacceptable levels of damage.  Vydate, Cyrolite, Neemix and various synthetic pyrethroids give varying levels of control. Actara, a newly labeled nicotinoid insecticide from Syngenta has demonstrated good control in trials, but growers are limited to 2 applications season.  Timing of usage for best results remains to be determined.

Growers in Palm Beach are beginning to report flights of winged aphids on pepper and oriental brassicas.  The aphids are being found in the tops of pepper plants and colony formation has been noted in daikon.  Scouts also report finding an unidentified aphid species (not green peach) observed in beans and peas with some colonization occurring.

Respondents in southwest Florida continue to see flights of winged aphids flying into brassicas, tomato, pepper, eggplant and cucurbits.   Incidence is spotty and populations are low but reports indicate that numbers seem to be increasing and some colony formation has been noted particularly in squash, pepper and brassicas.  Where Admire/Platinum has been applied they have not become a problem but in other crops control has been necessary.

Spotty but widespread occurrence of broadmites and pepper and eggplant are being seen on both coasts.

In Palm Beach respondents indicate that broadmites continue to be a concern and are still present on pepper and eggplant. The incidence of broadmite continues to increase, especially as more pepper begins to flower but is still mostly restricted to spotty infestations.  Some reports indicate that previous infestations on older pepper are mostly under control.

Around Immokalee, broadmites are still active in pepper and some eggplant.

East Coast growers indicate leafminer activity continues to increase and mines have been noticed on old as well as young tomato plants (as young as three weeks after transplanting.)  Scouts indicate that treatment may soon be needed on young tomato plants.  Some feeding damage has also been reported on young pepper.

Around southwest Florida, leafminers are increasing slowly with highest pressure being noted along border rows and row ends.  Agri-mek has been used successfully on tomato to knock back populations in some locations.

With the on-set of cooler weather across the area, growers across the state can expect to see an increase in leafminer pressure.  Leafminers attack many row crops but are particularly damaging on celery, crucifers, cucurbits, okra, potato and tomato.  Florida growers report that leafminers are the second most important tomato insect pest especially in south and central production areas. Leafminers are present for much of the year in Florida.  In south Florida, numbers typically peak between October and March.

The two major species of leafminer that cause problems in vegetables in Florida are the vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae) and most commonly (Liriomyza trifolii) - sometimes referred to as the celery leafminer but which has no approved common name. The adults are small yellow and black flies about the size of a gnat.  The female punctures or "stipples" the leaves with her ovipositor to lay eggs in the leaf tissue or to feed on sap.

Leafminer damage is easily recognized by the irregular serpentine mines in leaves that are caused by feeding larvae. Heavy leafmining damage can reduce photosynthesis and cause leaf desiccation and abscission.  The yellow maggots with black, sickle-shaped mouthparts feed on the mesophyll or chlorophyll tissue between upper and lower leaf surface leaving a winding trail or pattern through the leaf.   The tunnel is clear with the exception of a trail of black fecal material left behind as the maggot feeds.

There are three larval stages.  Each larval instar is completed in 2 - 3 days. The maggots feed approximately 7 days growing to about 1/10 to inch in length prior to exiting the leaf to pupate on the ground or mulch under infested plants.

Leafminer injury is readily visible to the grower but healthy plants can tolerate considerable damage without excessive loss of vigor and yield. The Florida Tomato Scouting Guide sets action thresholds at 0.7 larva per plant for young plants with less than 2 true leaves and 0.7 larva per 3 terminal leaflets for larger plants.  Heavily damaged leaves will often drop, due in part to entry of pathogenic organisms into old mines.

An integrated pest management program that stresses conservation of natural enemies is the primary tactic for the successful control of leafminer.  Chemical control is difficult due to the feeding habits inside the leaf of the host plant. Insecticides that specifically target the leafminer are recommended as use of broad-spectrum materials may decimate beneficial insects including those that attack leafminer.  This often results in a larger leafminer problem if the pesticide reduces field densities of leafminer parasites.

Fortunately, populations are usually prevented from reaching truly damaging levels by a number of parasites that attack leafminers.  Several parasites for this insect have been recorded in Florida, but parasitic wasps such as Opius, Diglyphus are most common.  Wasp larvae develop on or in the leafminer larva or pupa. The host ceases to feed and the parasitoid egg or larva is visible through the leaf epidermis using a hand lens against strong light.  In scouting fields, growers should be careful to note the number of parasitized mines before deciding to apply insecticides.

Due to its feeding habit, this pest is resistant to many insecticides.  Cyromazine (Trigard) alternated with abamectin (Agrimek) are effective against leafminer in tomato. Both of these products have limited crop registrations and must not be used on unregistered crops. Spinosad (Spintor) has also given good results and is labeled on a wide range of crops.  Some other materials that may be used to conserve beneficials include azadirachtin (Neemix) and insecticidal oils.  Both products are approved for use by organic growers.

Field sanitation is an important control tactic that is overlooked. When crops are not present in the fields, leafminers can survive on a variety of broad-leaf weeds. These plants serve as reservoirs for pest.

Growers across south Florida indicate low numbers of silverleaf whiteflies on tomatoes and eggplant.  Several respondents report that numbers are variable from day to day indicating that there are some adults are moving around.  At least one report indicates seeing active whiteflies and egg laying on older tomato – 9 to ten weeks post transplant.  Growers are encouraged to begin watching populations more closely as crops begin to mature and as the control from early season applications of Admire and Platinum begins to diminish with time.

To avoid resistance growers are advised to use nicotinoids at transplanting and rotate to other products of other chemical classes, such as Thiodan or the insect growth regulators Knack® or Applaud® as the control runs out.  (See previous issues for more on this topic.)

Whiteflies are also being widely detected in cucurbits although populations remain low.

Some thrips are being reported on both coasts.  These have been flower thrips from all accounts.

In southwest Florida, scouts continue to see a few stinkbugs and significant numbers of leafhoppers in some places.

Bacterial spot infection is being reported on tomato and pepper in all areas.  Occurrence varies widely with many growers indicate they remain relatively clean.

In some fields around Immokalee and Naples, infections have flared with multiple fresh lesions being seen all the way to the top of tomato plants.  In some cases, incidence is moderate to heavy and damage moderate.  There are some older plantings with heavy infections including some fruit lesions.  This past week some younger fields have also developed significant infections.  Nearly all reports of problems are in tomato, there have been few reports of peppers with the disease.  In these cases, mostly non-nonresistant varieties are involved.

Reports from Palm Beach indicate few changes in foliar disease incidence since the last hotline although bacterial spot continues to progress in previously infected pepper and tomato plants.

Around Immokalee, growers are beginning to see low levels of early blight and target spot on tomato.

In Palm Beach, the situation is similar although some traces of target spot have been detected on tomatoes and eggplant. Growers should watch carefully for this disease, especially if rainfall and heavy dews accompany the cooler weather expected in the weeks ahead.

Foliar symptoms of target spot are often difficult to distinguish from bacterial spot with out lab diagnosis.  Target spot is a polycyclic disease that develops rapidly under cool damp conditions.  Optimum conditions for disease development include temperatures of 68o to 82o F and long periods of high moisture. Initially small water soaked lesions appear on the upper leaf surface.  The lesions develop gradually increasing in size becoming round and pale brown with conspicuous yellow halos.  Petiole and stem lesions are brown and oblong and may girdle and kill individual leaflets.

The fruit lesions are quite distinct.  They first appear as dark pinpoint brown spots, which may enlarge and develop into sunken lesions with pale brown centers that often crack open.  Fruit lesions may be found anywhere on tomato fruit but are most often concentrated on the shoulders.

The heavy night dews and foggy mornings often experienced in the fall in conjunction with tomato canopy closure are optimal for the development of this disease.  Spray programs based on copper and manzate aimed at bacterial spot are ineffective in controlling target spot, chlorothalanil based compounds are recommended for control and should be rotated into a tomato disease control.

A few scattered reports of “tomato little leaf” have been noted in southwest Florida following rainy weather two weeks ago.  Some of these plants are beginning to recover.

Tomato little leaf is a non-parasitic disease of tomatoes that causes virus-like symptoms in tomato. Early symptoms of this condition are characterized by unusual growth consisting of interveinal chlorosis in young leaves. Subsequent growth becomes severely distorted with leaflets along the mid-rib failing to expand properly resulting in a “little leaf” appearance. In addition, leaflets are twisted and distorted.  Overall the appearance is reminiscent of viral or phenoxy herbicide symptoms.

It occurs on wet soils and is apparently caused by the release of amino acid analogs by soil microorganisms under wet conditions.  These compounds are taken up by plant causing the expression of virus-like symptoms. Control consists largely of managing soil moisture to avoid water logging.  Maintaining soil pH below 6.3 or less can also reduce development of the problem.  Affected plants generally resume normal growth once soil moisture levels become more favorable.

Dr Ken Pernezny Plant Pathologist at the Everglades Research and Education Center has reported receiving an interesting snap bean sample from an east coast grower.  It was diagnosed as Pythium blight.  The stems were affected and had a typical soft rot and collapse.  There was whitish mycelium evident to the naked eye.  Ken indicates that this is very often mistaken for the common bean disease white mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.  He notes that it is best to examine the fungal growth under the microscope to differentiate Pythium from Sclerotinia.  Pythium has no cross-walls in the mycelium that is observed under the microscope and it is often possible to observe abundant lobate sporangia.

Respondents from Palm Beach indicate that the incidence of Phytophthora remains light.  There is some spread of Phytophthora in areas of previously infected plants and some new incidences appearing in young fields. There have been no recent reports of phytophthora from southwest Florida.

Around Immokalee, pythium has slowed down with the return of drier weather.  Respondents in Palm Beach, also indicate that significant reductions in Pythium damp-off are being noticed.  Dr Pernezny observes that the expected cold front should do wonders for arresting the Pythium blight epidemic.

Palm Beach growers have communicated the first report of the season for wet rot in pepper, which has appeared almost over night in pepper blooms and upper branches in more mature plants.  Where it is worst, wet rot has infected 5 to 10% of the plants.

Wet rot or Choanephora blight has become increasingly more common and more severe in recent years. As early fall plantings of pepper continue to increase, growers may expect to see more damage from this disease.

The causal agent is the fungus Choanephora cucurbitarum. This fungus is ordinarily thought of as a “weak” pathogen; it colonizes dead or dying tissue before it actively invades living pepper tissue. Most of the time, it seems to start in senescing flower petals. Once established, entire flowers are overgrown, resulting in a brown to black mass of soft tissue. Flower stalks, buds, and leaves may subsequently be invaded. Spore production can occur between 77-86°F.

Diagnosis of wet rot in the field is based on the appearance of a silvery mass of fungus growth topped with a black ball made of great numbers of spores. The growth looks like whiskers growing out of the affected pepper tissue.

Control of wet rot can be difficult. The following measures can be used to reduce this problem.

1) Plant on well drained soils.
2) Avoid excessive plant populations.
3) When spraying fungicides be sure to use a nozzle arrangement and spray pressure that will deposit spray within the canopy.

There have been isolated reports of southern blight on tomato across the area.  Occurrence is spotty and occasional although some plants have been killed.

Scouts around Immokalee report that they are beginning to see low levels of fusarium crown rot in tomato.  Occurrence is sporadic and largely in fields with a history of problems.

Reports of powdery mildew on squash have come in from both coasts.  The first report of the season for powdery mildew on squash from Palm Beach was observed on a “patty-pan” type squash that was being grown among several other types, which have not shown symptoms of powdery mildew.

In Devil’s Garden and around Immokalee, growers are seeing both downy mildew and powdery mildew showing up on squash.

Respondents on both coasts continue to report finding tomato yellow leaf curl virus in a few widely scattered tomato plants.  Incidence is low – 1% or less in most cases and most indications are that fewer infected plants are being seen compared to previous years.  Growers and workers have become quite adept at identifying infected plants and are rouging them out on identification.  Some scouts have reported a slight increase in the number of infections noted in the past two weeks.

Dr Pam Roberts from the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee has diagnosed the occurrence of late blight (Phytophthora infestans) on an experimental planting of tomato.  The crop was severely damaged.  Pam indicates that the crop was flooded in heavy rains last month and that the pathogen apparently was disseminated by floodwaters.  This is an extremely early occurrence and it is hoped that it is not any indication of a bad late blight season.

Gummy stem blight has also been isolated in cantaloupes at the station.

Up Coming Meetings

Palm Beach County

October 30, 2001                           Vegetable Growers' Seminar on Sandea Herbicide Control
                                                        of Nutsedge and Certain Broadleaf Weeds in Florida Vegetables
                                                        Holiday Inn Catalina, 1601 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach
                                                        Lunch 11:45 - 12:30 PM, Program 12:30 - 1:30 PM
                                                        1.0 CEU's (Private, Aerial, Ag Row Crop, Demo/Res), 1.0 CCA credits
                                                        Contact Ken Shuler at 561-233-1718 or 1725

Southwest Florida

October 30, 2001                             Vegetable Growers Meeting  - Mycorrhizae, What They Are,
                                                          How They Function and the Potential for Vegetable Production
                                                          In Florida – 6:00 to   8:00 P.M.
                                                          UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
                                                          Hwy 29 N, Immokalee, FL
                                                          Contact Gene McAvoy 863-674-4092

November 1, 2001                           New Approach to Water Management Using Real-time Soil Water
                                                         Monitoring Devices – 10 AM to 12 Noon
                                                         UF/IFAS SW Florida Research and Education Center
                                                         Hwy 29 N, Immokalee, FL
                                                         Contact Gene McAvoy 863-674-4092

November 7, 2001                           Vegetable Growers Meeting
                                                         Sandea Herbicide - Control of Nutsedge and Certain Broadleaf Weeds
                                                         in Florida Vegetables – 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
                                                         UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
                                                         Hwy 29 N, Immokalee, FL
                                                         Contact Gene McAvoy 863-674-4092

November 8, 2001                            WPS -Handler Training
                                                           Dallas Townsend Agricultural Center
                                                           1085 Pratt Blvd., LaBelle.
                                                           Spanish and English classes available.
                                                           Contact Sheila at 863-674-4092 to register or for more information.

November 13, 2001                          Weather seminar - Short term forecasts
                                                           Weather by the Seat of Your Pants with Jim Clarke, meteorologist,
                                                           NBC-WBBH TV - 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
                                                           UF/IFAS - SW Florida Research and Education Center
                                                           Hwy 29 N, Immokalee, FL
                                                           Note: Lunch will be served to only those that RSVP.
                                                           Contact Sheila at 863-674-4092 to register.

Other Meetings

November 8-9, 2001                      17th Annual Tomato Disease Workshop
                                                        West Palm Beach, Florida.
                                                        Presentations and discussions on the occurrence and management of tomato
                                                        diseases. Both processing and fresh market tomato problems will be addressed.
                                                        For additional information visit: http://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/TDW.htm

November 20, 2001                     Irrigation Project Demonstration - Pacific Tomato Growers – 9 AM
                                                     Myakka City, Florida
                                                     Use Wauchula Road entrance approximately 1 ¼ mi north of SR 70

November 28-29, 2001                 The IV Americas Food and Beverage Show
                                                       The largest in the Western Hemisphere will take place on in Miami Florida featuring more
                                                       than 600 exhibits from 24 countries. This is a great opportunity for ag-products
                                                      (fresh and processed) for export to Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
                                                      For more information contact (305) 871-7910.

December 8-12, 2002                    Cucurbitaceae 2002
                                                        Naples Beach and Golf Club, Naples, Florida
                                                        Contact Don Maynard at 941-751-7636 ext 239 or dnma@mail.ifas.ufl.edu.

Spray Suit Shortage

Due to the recent anthrax scares - growers may be experiencing a shortage in spray suits, respirator equipment and related supplies. Manufacturers indicate that they are working 24/7 to meet demand but clients may still encounter delays in obtaining their shipment.

Minor Use Report

Minor uses of pesticides are those for which the total United States production for a crop is fewer than 300,000 acres. EPA has prepared a Report on the Minor Uses of Pesticides. The report describes actions taken by EPA to increase communication with minor use stakeholders and expedite registrations for minor use pesticides. To accomplish this, EPA has designated a minor crop advisor and a public health coordinator to increase responsiveness to minor use concerns. The report also describes the coordinated approach between EPA, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) required by FQPA for dealing with minor use issues.

EPA in partnership with USDA’s Interregional Research Project 4 (IR-4) has aggressively sought to increase pesticide registrations for minor uses, registering 814 new uses in 1999 and 901 in 2000. Over 80% of the new use registrations have been for reduced-risk pesticides.  For more on this topic or to down load the minor use report, go to http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/minoruse/

Consulting Services

Dr Joseph Knapp announces the establishment of Agricola International Inc – an agricultural consulting service.  Growers interested in learning more about this service can call 352-495-6970 or 352-317-8033.

Websites

Integrated pest management promotes minimized pesticide usage, enhanced environmental stewardship and sustainable systems.  The National Integrated Pest Management Network (NIPMN) is the result of a public private partnership dedicated to making the latest and most accurate pest management information available on the World Wide Web – http://www.reeusda.gov/agsys/nipmn/index.htm

Free music and video downloads - 16 Million downloads so far!  KaZaA is a media community, where millions of community member share their media files - audio, video, images and documents – with each other. You can search for and download media files at - http://www.kazaa.com/

Here is a cute blow up Bin Laden video based on the calypso song Day O - http://www.madblast.com/oska/humor_bin.swf

I Hate Computers Newsletter - BYTEing Humor by UF Entomologist Tom Fasulo - visit his Web page to travels down `the information dirt road.' - http://extlab7.entnem.ufl.edu/IH8PCs/

Quotable Quotes

Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy. -- Voltaire

Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth. -- Walt Whitman

Everybody is ignorant. Only on different subjects. – Will Rodgers

Attention Pesticide Applicators - Keep Records of Pesticide Applications

Record keeping for general use products is not a requirement but is recommended.  In addition, a new law in the Florida Statues states that if you keep records of all your pesticide applications (general and restricted use products), and you have used pesticides legally, you may be exempt from proceedings by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to recover costs associated with evaluation and remediation of pesticide-contaminated property. See this exemption below. It takes just a little extra time to keep detailed records but creating a historical reference of applications can be an extremely useful tool in your overall pest management practices! And, it's the law!

Section 487.081 - Exemptions.

(6) The Department of Environmental Protection is not authorized to institute proceedings against any property owner or leaseholder of property under the provisions of s. 376.307(5) to recover any costs or damages associated with pesticide contamination of soil or water, or the evaluation, assessment, or remediation of pesticide contamination of soil or water, including sampling, analysis, and restoration of soil or potable water supplies, subject to the following conditions:
(a) The pesticide contamination of soil or water is determined to be the result of the use of pesticides by the property owner or leaseholder, in accordance with state and federal law, applicable registered labels, and rules on property classified as agricultural land pursuant to s. 193.461;
(b) The property owner or leaseholder maintains records of such pesticide applications and such records are provided to the department upon request;
(c) In the event of pesticide contamination of soil or water, the department, upon request, shall make such records available to the Department of Environmental Protection;
(d) This subsection does not limit regulatory authority under a federally delegated or approved program; and
(e) This subsection is remedial in nature and shall apply retroactively.
The department, in consultation with the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, may adopt rules prescribing the format, content, and retention time for records to be maintained under this subsection.

Pesticide Labels

Pesticide manufacturers sometimes change important use information on their product labels. Make sure you read the label each time you buy a pesticide product, even if it's the same brand name you've purchased and used before. Adherence to the pesticide label is paramount to applying a product correctly and lawfully!

Pesticide Certification Office
September 2001

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE ............

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze
A young Marine saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought, how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?

How many Pilots' planes shot down?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, Freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
at the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, Freedom isn't free

--By Kelly Strong

Southwest Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline is now the South Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline

You may have noticed that the name of the hotline has changed to the South Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline.  In response to numerous requests from readers and in an effort to better serve growers and the vegetable industry, we are expanding coverage of the hotline to include southwest Florida and eastern Palm Beach County.  We hope to further expand our coverage over the next few weeks to include all of South Florida. Comments and suggestions are appreciated.  Let us know what you think.

Contributors include: Joel Allingham/AgriCare, Inc, Karen Armbrester/SWFREC, Jim Connor/SWFREC, Bruce Corbitt/West Coast Tomato Growers, Fred Heald/Farmers Supply, Sarah Hornsby/AgCropCon, Cecil Howell/H&R Farm, Bruce Johnson/General Crop Management, Leon Lucas/Glades Crop Care, Gene McAvoy/Hendry County Extension, Alice McGhee/Thomas Produce, Jimmy Morales/Pro Source One, Tim Nychk/Nychk Bros. Farm, Chuck Obern/C+B Farm, Dr Ken Pernezny/EREC, Dr. Pam Roberts/SWFREC, Nancy Roe/Farming Systems Research, Wes Roan/6 L's, Kevin Seitzinger/Gargiulo, Jay Shivler/ F& F Farm, Ken Shuler/Palm Beach County Extension, Ben Stanaland/Pacific Tomato Growers, John Stanford/LNA Farm, Mike Stanford/MED Farms, Dr. Phil Stansly/SWFREC, Eugene Tolar/Red Star Farms, and Dr.Charlie Vavrina/SWFREC, Donna Verbeck/GulfCoast Ag.

The South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline is compiled by Gene McAvoy and is issued on a biweekly basis by the Hendry County Cooperative Extension Office as a service to the vegetable industry.

Gene McAvoy
Extension Agent II
Vegetable/Ornamental Horticulture  863-674-4092 phone
Hendry County Extension Office  941-860-8811 mobile  - Nextel Agnet 28950
PO Box 68     863-674-4097 fax
LaBelle, Florida 33975   gmcavoy@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu

http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~gmcavoy/index.htm

Ken Shuler
Extension Agent IV
Vegetables
Palm Beach County Extension
559 N Military Trail    561-233-1718 phone
West Palm Beach, Florida 33415-1311 kds@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu

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