In this issue:

Corn Earworm Migration Continues

CEW - Frequently Asked Questions

How to Monitor for CEW

Cabbage Looper Still Active

Pesticide Residues and IPM

Email Access and Pest Info

Pesticide Residues and IPM

Re: some recent questions about insecticides, residues, customer relations, etc…

I have had several questions this year about growers being concerned about using ANY insecticide for insect pest control in sweet corn. If you use conventional insecticides, applied as per the label, adhering to the labeled rates and pre-harvest interval, the food you produce for your customers is safe! All labels have been developed by EPA with a "risk-cup" concept, that builds in protection against public dietary exposure to individual pesticides. Many residue studies show that most produce reaching U.S. markets have no residues, or residues well below the tolerance levels set by EPA. A recent Michigan State University study on many fruit and vegetable crops, found no pesticide residues, on most commodities tested. More information on this study, a brief summary, and asparagus info. is available in the June 6, 1999 MSU Vegetable Newsletter at
http://www.msue.msu.edu/ipm/CAT99_veg/V06-02-99.htm#Pesticide

Also see other June 1999 Newsletter issues (MSU) for summaries on other crops. The complete 91-page study is available to download (PDF format) at:http://www.msue.msu.edu/ipm/

Ideally, it might be desirable to be able to tell the customer that no insecticides were used. However, a 2nd option, and equally viable approach is to communicate/promote an IPM approach, (Integrated Pest Management),... i.e., some insecticides are used, only when needed, as part of an IPM program, where crop rotation, biological control, pest-resistant varieties, and many complementary methods are used to best manage insect/disease/weed pests, as recommended by university and Minnesota Extension Service specialists. In reality, the years when you can get by with no pesticide use, still reflects an IPM approach, because you still have other control tactics in place to minimize the impact of pest populations.

Co-Editors: Bill Hutchison, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota
Jeanne Ciborowski, IPM Program, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Production Editor: Rebecca Hines, Research Associate, University of Minnesota

Disclaimer
Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer

Last Revised November 11, 1999.
The University, including the Minnesota Extension Service, is an equal opportunity educator and employer.©1999 Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Contact copyright@extension.umn.edu for information on reproduction or use of this material.