UCONN EXTENSION AND DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE AND FRUIT CROPS NEWSLETTER VOLUME 11, ISSUE 3 — NOVEMBER 2015

C ROP TALK In This Issue

Problems with Septoria Leaf Spot on Tomatoes ....1, 3, 4

Trissolcus japonicus Found in Washington State………….2

Yellow Shoulder On Tomato...........................................5

2015 NEVF Conference.…………………………………….……..6, 7

CT Pomological Society Annual Meeting….…………………..7

Agricultural Worker Protection Standard….………….…8-11

Calendar of Events

December 1 - CT Pomological Society Annual

Meeting The Gallery Restaurant in Glastonbury, CT

For more information contact spielmankat@aol.com

December 15-16-17 – New England Fruit &

Vegetable Conference, Manchester, New

Hampshire. For more information, go to http://

www.newenglandvfc.org/

January 6 – Farming Smarter, Not Harder: Planning

for Profit, Middlesex County Extension Center

Haddam, CT. For more information, contact

Mackenzie.White@uconn.edu or 860-875-3331.

January 11 – Connecticut Vegetable & Small Fruit

Grower’s Conference, at Maneeley’s in South

Windsor, for more information contact

Mackenzie.White@uconn.edu or 860-875-3331

February 23- Spring Bedding Plant Meeting, at

Litchfield County Extension Center, Torrington, CT

contact Leanne.pundt@uconn.edu or 860-626-6240

February 25 - Spring Bedding Plant Meeting, at

Tolland County Extension Center, Vernon, CT contact

Leanne.pundt@uconn.edu or 860-626-6240

Problems with Septoria Leaf Spot on Tomatoes in 2015

Normally, about 30-40% of the tomato plantings in the state have

problems with Septoria leaf spot (SLS) in any given year. This past

season about 80-90% of the CT farms that I visited experienced dam-

age from this disease.

The fungal pathogen, Septoria lycopersici, overwinters on tomato

plant debris or that of another solanaceous weed host, such as horse

nettle, nightshade or jimsonweed. SLS can also be spread by infect-

ed seed. Infection and growth of the fungus are favored by heat

waves, with long stretches of high temperature and humidity, or

multiple periods of wet foliage, such as mornings with long dew peri-

ods in late August or early September.

Fig. 1. Septoria leaf spot: note ash-grey center of lesion with tiny

black pin-point dots (pycnidia).

The disease first appears on the lower, oldest leaves of the plant as

small (1/8”) dark spots with an ash-grey center, and spreads up the

plant to younger leaves as the season advances. It can also infect

and produce round lesions on the vines. Leaf spots can grow to

about 3/8” with ideal conditions, and the grey center of the lesion

Continued on page 3

By: Jude Boucher, UConn Extension, Commercial Vegetable Crops

The Asian micro-hymenopteran wasp, Trissolcus japonicus, is

considered the primary parasitoid of the brown marmorated

stink bug (BMSB) Halyomorpha halys, in its native region of

origin. Asian fruit growers consider BMSB as only a secondary

pest of apple, likely due to the suppression of native biological

controls that include Trissolcus japonicus.

After the severe tree fruit losses from BMSB in the mid-Atlantic

in 2011, a survey of parasitoids was conducted in Korea by a

team of USDA researchers including lead entomologist Kim

Hoelmer, who collected this species of wasp and has been stud-

ying this species under quarantine in the USDA laboratory’s in

Newark, Delaware. Trissolcus japonicus has been under quaran-

tine and has shown limited negative impact on our native pred-

atory stink bug complex, and is considered a viable biological

control candidate for release to control BMSB in the U.S.

In a 2014 survey of resident egg parasitoids of the BMSB by Don

Weber (ARS-Beltsville Area Research Center) using sentinel

stink bug egg masses revealed that T. japonicus was present in

the wild at one of his study sites in Beltsville, MD. Since then,

several T. japonicus wasp clusters have been found in Maryland

and Virginia over the past two years.

More recently, it appears that T. japonicus was found in Van-

couver, Washington, by a field technician with Washington

State University’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center,

according to entomologist Dr. Elizabeth Beers. Josh Milnes had

placed BMSB egg masses on the leaves of a maple tree in Van-

couver, first on Aug. 14 and again on Sept. 23. that had become

infested by T. japonicus.

In the article in WSU News, Dr. Beers stated that the discovery

implies the wasp was also imported to this country, possibly on

multiple occasions, much like the very stink bug it preys upon.

Kim Hoelmer offers the plausible explanation that T. japonicus

traveled here undetected in stink bug egg masses on plant car-

go shipped from Asia. It’s also possible that an adult wasp or

two hitched a ride on a jet and simply deboarded with the hu-

mans. Regarding the impact that this wasp may impose on our

native predatory stink bug complex Hoelmer states, “We don’t

want to introduce a non-native wasp that kills native stink bug

species beneficial to our crops,” he explained. So far, however,

the research (on T. japonicus) looks promising.

Entomologists across the mid-Atlantic will likely continue to

monitor T. japonicus to see how much it spreads in the field and

what impact on other beneficial insects this invasive may have.

Page 2

BMSB News: Trissolcus japonicus Recently Found in Washington

State By: Peter Jentsch, Senior Extension Associate, Cornell, originally published on “The Jentsch Lab” blog

Trissolcus-japonicus

Photo: Elijah Talamas, USNM

A female Trissolcus japonicus parasitoid wasp emerging

from parasitized Halyomorpha halys eggs (Image:USDA-

APHIS Quarantine Facility, Corvallis, Oregon.)

Page 3 VOLUME 11 , ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2015

Problems with Septoria Leaf Spot on Tomatoes in 2015 (CONTINUED)

becomes spotted with tiny black dots or pycnidia. The black pycnidia produce additional spores which cause secondary infec-

tions on nearby leaf tissue. Spores are spread by splashing rain, equipment, workers or insects, and produce fungal strands that

enter leaf stomata (breathing holes). Severely infected leaves wither and die, leaving fruit exposed to direct sunlight and possible

to sunscald. Foliage is often reduced to the point where yields suffer or plants are killed. SLS tends to be a little more aggressive

and harder to control than early blight.

Management

Hot water seed treatment can eliminate the pathogen on or in infected seed. Dr. Margaret Tuttle-McGrath will be speaking on

this subject at the CT Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers’ Conference at Maneeley’s in South Windsor on January 11th.

Crop rotation, away from tomatoes for 2-3 years, can help prevent the spread of spores from the residue of a previous tomato

crop. Shredding and burying the old plant debris after harvest helps decompose SLS spores. Controlling solanaceous weeds,

especially perennial weeds like horse nettle, is an important component of effective crop rotation.

Reducing leaf wetness time as much as possible also helps slow disease spread. Trickle irrigation should be used instead of over-

head irrigation. Pruning and trellising tomatoes

allows plants to dry quicker and reduces the contact

between plants and soil debris, and between lower

leaves and new growth. Choosing an open site with

good air circulation can also help dry foliage quickly.

This summer we witnessed one of the most effec-

tive control measures at Oxen Hill Farm in Suffield:

caterpillar tunnels. Caterpillar tunnels erected over

the field tomatoes stopped heavy dew in late sum-

mer, which all but stopped the SLS. Uncovered

plants immediately adjacent to the tunnels were

killed by the disease (see Fig 2 & 3). This happened

with almost no rain in July and August.

Resistant varieties are just beginning to show up on

the market. ‘Iron Lady’, a medium-sized slicer has

tolerance to early blight, and resistance to late

blight and SLS (High Mowing Organic Seeds).

‘Jasper’ is a large cherry tomato with the same com-

bination of “resistance” (Johnny’s Seeds). Cornell

and North Carolina State Universities have been

cooperating to produce these “triple-resistant” vari-

eties and more will be available in the catalogs

soon.

Fungicide applications that protect new growth are usually an important part of managing SLS. Applica-tions usually start soon after fruit begin to form and

can be timed using the Tom-Cast blight forecasting mod-el. Initial and follow up applications are based on leaf wetness time and near-optimum temperatures for dis-ease infection and development. Local data is available

Fig. 2. Tomatoes protected from SLS by a caterpillar tunnel

Fig. 3. Tomatoes defoliated by SLS in the same rows just outside

caterpillar tunnels (almost no rain)

Continued on page 4

from farms near you via the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) system (www.newa.cornell.edu) which will run the Tom-Cast model for you and tell you when to spray.

Fungicide applications can also be based on weekly field scouting which can pick up problems that the Tom-Cast model cannot,

such as bacterial diseases, viruses and insect infestations. The initial application for SLS usually starts when either SLS or early

blight are first detected, with followed-up applications on a 7-14 day intervals (average of 10 days), depending upon how wet or

dry the weather is. Effective fungicides include: Cabrio, Quadris, Dithane and mancozeb. Copper can provide some protection.

Page 4

Problems with Septoria Leaf Spot on Tomatoes in 2015 (CONTINUED)

UConn Extension Educator Jiff Martin Recognized at the White House

On Monday October 26th, the White House recognized 12 individuals from

across the United States as White House Champions of Change for Sustaina-

ble and Climate-Smart Agriculture. One of these twelve was our very own

UConn Extension Sustainable Food System Associate Educator Jiff Martin.

Jiff Martin is the Sustainable Food System Associate Educator for UConn

Extension, which is part of the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural

Resources. Jiff has worked for over 12 years on food and agriculture issues

in Connecticut, helping residents discover local agriculture, connecting kids

to healthy, whole foods, and researching community food security in Con-

necticut’s 169 towns. Jiff was previously State Director for the American

Farmland Trust and Food Policy Director at Hartford Food System.

Her recent work includes leading a team of Extension Educators to assist

new farmers through a program known as Scaling Up For Beginning Farmers; a UConn Extension program assisting new and be-

ginning farmers in Connecticut. Launched in 2012, with support from the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development

Program, and in partnership with New CT Farmer Alliance, this program provides a combination of whole farm planning, farm

business management training, and assistance with farmland evaluation and leasing.

Jiff directs two AmeriCorps service learning programs; FoodCorps and Connecticut Food Justice Americorps*VISTA. FoodCorps is

a nationwide team of AmeriCorps leaders who connect kids to real food and help them grow up healthy. Connecticut is one of

the seventeen FoodCorps states. The service members dedicate a year of public service to limited-resource schools, focusing on

improving school food environments. The CT Food Justice VISTA project seeks to build the capacity of high-impact organizations

focused on community food security and food justice. CT Food Justice VISTA Members are a group of leaders with the skills to

move communities across Connecticut toward a just food system. With VISTA Member support, project host sites commit to

empowering youth and other underrepresented populations to have impact on food-related programs and services, and the

food system in Connecticut.

Her work also includes educating consumers through BuyCTGrown.com’s 10% Campaign, under which residents and businesses

are asked to take the pledge of spending 10 percent of their food and gardening dollars locally. The 10% campaign has recorded

over 2 million dollars spent on locally-grown products in Connecticut. She also works with a team on creating a mobile app for

people ready to discover local Agriculture in Connecticut, known as the Live Local! App.

The 12 champions were selected by the White House for their achievements and were saluted for exemplary leadership and in-

novation in agricultural production and education. The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the

White House to feature individuals who are doing extraordinary things to inspire and empower members of their communities.

The event featured remarks by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Jiff on this incredible and well deserved honor! Way to go Jiff!

Front row left to right, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture-

Tom Vilsack, UConn Extension Educator - Jiff Martin

Page 5 VOLUME 11 , ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2015

Yellow shoulder and Blossom end rot (BER) are the two pri-

mary physiological challenges in tomato culture. Yellow

shoulder is a physiological disorder of tomatoes that is char-

acterized by discolored regions under the skin that show

through and reduce the quality of the fruit. The disorder can

range from very mild with some internal spotting to quite

severe with large areas that are hardened and yellow to

white. This wide variation in symptoms has spawned a num-

ber of names for the same primary disorder: yellow shoulder,

yellow eye, green shoulder, yellow tag, gray wall, and internal

white tissue. It is very important for growers to understand

that yellow shoulder is not a delayed ripening, but an actual

disorder of the affected tissue. Often, growers find that by

focusing more closely on their nutritional program in seeking

to prevent Yellow shoulders, they also reduce or eliminate

BER.

The cells in the affected sectors of the fruit are generally

smaller in size and have a more random arrangement than

that of normal cells. Green chlorophyll in these regions fail to

develop red pigment. This happens very early in fruit devel-

opment, which makes early plant tissue analysis extremely

important in prevention, as uniform color requires more K+

than the amount required to sustain yield.

The cause of the yellow shoulder disorder in tomato fruit has

baffled scientists for the last 30 years. Many scientists believe

there are several causal factors for yellow shoulder including:

environment (specifically, high temperature >90°F), nutrition,

genotype (cultivar) and virus. The interaction of these factors

under field conditions is very difficult to evaluate. This disor-

der can be triggered by insufficient exchangeable K+, excess

magnesium in relation to calcium, and pH above 6.7.

Management options to reduce yellow shoulder include in-

creasing K+ to above 3% by dry matter before the fruit is larg-

er than 1”, adjusting the soil pH to 6.4-6.7 and increasing the

Mg/Ca ratio to 1/6 or better (1/4 is ideal). Tissue analysis at

the first flower initiation is extremely important in preventing

yellow shoulder as once fruit is hanging and damaged it will

not improve. Also, certain cultivars are less susceptible and

others at higher risk, so cultivar selection is integral to a pro-

gram to manage this color disorder. Certain processing varie-

ties have been identified as less susceptible, but much re-

search remains to be done on fresh market varieties in order

to identify those that are more or less susceptible. Some

growers have anecdotal reports of cultivars that are more or

less susceptible, but minimal research has been done to con-

clusively identify those cultivars.

The practice of

letting the fruit hang

longer in order to

“color up” does not

work and has the

potential to increase

the danger from fruit

rots. Increasing K+

through the drip

lines once there is

abundant fruit hang-

ing is also unlikely to

lessen symptoms as

this disorder shows

up very shortly after

fruit set.

Quite a bit of work has been done by UC Davis and Ohio State

on prevention of this disorder in processing varieties. They

have developed the Hartz formula for anticipating the risk of

yellow shoulder. This formula can be readily accessed online

at www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/tomato. You will need recent

soil and leaf analysis results in order to use the formula.

For most growers the best practices to prevent yellow shoul-

der will be to intensively tissue test tomatoes from first flow-

er cluster for Ca, K+ and Mg levels. From this information, a

grower could apply Potassium Nitrate, Sulfate of Potash, Po-

tassium Carbonate, Calcium Nitrate, Calcium Chelate, and

Magnesium Oxide to reduce the potential for this disorder.

Experience has proven that both fertigated and foliar applied

nutrients are necessary to prevent Yellow shoulders. Many

growers have been able to increase tomato plants up-take of

potassium through adjusting the pH of their drip irrigation

water. Keeping the irrigation solution pH at 6.2-6.5 will great-

ly improve tomato plants ability to move potassium from the

soil to plant tissue. Most conventional growers use Sulfuric

acid to reduce pH, while many organic growers use powdered

Citric acid for this purpose.

Yellow Shoulder on Tomato By Steve Bogash, PSU Extension Commercial Horticulture Agent & Michael Orzolek, PSU Vegetable Specialist , originally printed in “Cornell

Weekly Vegetable Update” Volume 3, Issue 17

Tomato exhibiting yellow shoulder

Photo: ADI

Page 6

Contact: Registration – Mark Hutton, UMaine; 207-933-2700; Mark.Hutton@maine.edu

General questions- Jude Boucher (860) 875-3331; jude.boucher@uconn.edu

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference and Trade Show will be held this December 15, 16, and 17 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH and will include 32 educational sessions over 3 days, covering major vegetable, berry and tree fruit crops as well as various special topics, such as hard cider and hops production. Popular ‘Farmer-to-Farmer’ discussions after each morning and afternoon session bring speakers and farmers together for informal, in-depth discussions on timely issues of interest to growers. There is also an extensive Trade Show with over 100 exhibitors that is open throughout the conference, and social mixers to help facilitate meeting fellow-growers and making other important contacts.

The featured speaker for the evening of the 15th will be Jean Martin Fortier, from Les Jardins de la Grelinette in Quebec, who will speak on how to make “$100,000 Per Acre on a Small Farm.”

The steering committee gathers the best speakers from within our region and across the country to let you know about the lat-est innovations and advances in local fruit and vegetable production and sales.

Educational sessions over three days will mix the best theory and practice regarding major fruit, berry and vegetable crops. Virtually every session – from “Innovative Ideas for Small Acreage” on Tuesday morning to “New England Viticulture” on Thursday afternoon will include the perspective of farmers, Extension staff and researchers. We hope that you will enjoy your time here, and meet with fellow growers, advisors, researchers, and industry representatives. We want you to leave with new ideas and new

information that will have a positive impact on your farm.

The event is Sponsored by the New England Vege-table & Berry Growers Association and the Massa-chusetts Fruit Grower’s Association in conjunction with the Universities of Connecticut, Maine, Mas-sachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as Cornell University, Maine Or-ganic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station – in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agricul-ture.

The 3-day educational program offers 5 or 6 con-current sessions each morning and afternoon: Tuesday, December 15 features sessions on tree fruit, food safety, specialty and ethnic crops, blue-berries, winter growing, harvest & handling effi-ciencies, cut flowers, and more; Wednesday, De-cember 16 sessions are on stone fruit, mechanical weed control, Brassica and leafy greens, strawberry production, vine crops, soil health, hard cider, scal-ing up your farm, and more; sessions on Thursday, December 17 include viticulture, sweet corn, tech-nology, root crops, organic, hops, greenhouse to-matoes, fertilizers, and greenhouse container growing.

Pre-registration to attend any part or all of the con-ference or trade show is $115 for the first member of the farm or business and $85 for each additional member (family or employee) when pre-registered with first member. The pre-registration fee for stu-dents (high school or college) is $50 each when pre-registered by the instructor. Pre-registration must be received by November 30, 2015. There is an

Continued on page 7

Page 7 VOLUME 11 , ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER 2015

additional fee of $30 per person for late registration or walk-ins. Hotel registration is separate, but conference rates apply if you provide the code “NEVF15”. Other local hotels that offer conference discounts include the Comfort Inn Airport, Fairfield Inn, and Quality Inn. Additional information on the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, including on-line and downloadable reg-istration material, may be found at http://www.newenglandvfc.org/.

Equal opportunity employers and program providers. Contact us 3 weeks in advance for special accommodations.

THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY

-Finer Fruit through Co-Operative Efforts since 1891-

Annual Meeting Tuesday, December 1, 2015 ~ The Gallery Restaurant ~ 141 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT

860-659-2656

8:00 Registration, Socialize, coffee, doughnuts

8:45 Opening remarks. Erica Teveris, President, The Connecticut Pomological Society

9:00 A decade of Apogee use in research and commercial settings - what have we learned? Glenn Morin, New England Fruit Consultants, Shelburne, MA

9:30 Work and Harvesting Platforms. Andy Dulude, OESCO Inc, Conway, MA 10:00 Break

10:30 Rootstocks, PGRs and Honeycrisp – Our experiences. Mark Boyer, Ridgetop Orchards, Fishertown, PA

11:15 Pear Psylla – Why So Much Trouble Controlling Them? Peter Jentsch, Cornell

11:45 2016 Crop Insurance Update. Joe Bonelli, UConn Extension

12:00 LUNCH

1:00 Introduction of Vendors and Other Guests, Business Meeting, Awards, Other Announcements 1:30: Apple Marketing Board Update. Sue Muldoon and Brian Kelliher, Apple Marketing Board 1:45 Grower Panel: U-Pick – Likes, Dislikes and Problem Cures.

Mark Boyer, Ridgetop Orchards, Fishertown, PA

Don Dzen, Dzen Farms, East Windsor, CT

Sandi Rose, Rose’s Berry Farm, S. Glastonbury, CT Don Preli, Belltown Hill Orchard, S. Glastonbury, CT

2:45 Alphabet Soup: An Update on WPS, FSMA and C&T. Candace Bartholomew, UConn Pesticide Safety Education Program

3:30 Apple Break, Pesticide Credits and Socialize

This Program is a cooperative effort of the CT Pomological Society, UConn Extension, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and the Risk Management Agency/USDA.

This institution is an equal opportunity employer

Contacts

Erica Teveris Kathy Spielman

589 Hopewell Rd 39 Spielman Rd

South Glastonbury, CT 06073 South Windsor, CT

860-690-2904 860-608-8677

Page 8

Requirement New 2015 Provision Current Provision Training

Frequency of full training for workers and handlers

Annual training. Every 5 years.

Training grace period for worker training

No grace period. Workers must be trained before they work in an area where a pesticide has been used or a restricted-entry interval has been in effect in the past 30 days.

5-day grace period with abbreviated training.

Qualifications for trainers of workers

Certified applicators, State/Tribal/Federal approved trainers, and persons who have completed an EPA-approved train-the-trainer course.

Handlers, certified applicators, State/Tribal/Federal approved trainers, and persons completing an approved train-the-trainer course.

Expand training content for workers and handlers

Keep existing and expand content. Final worker training topics expanded to 23 items, and handler training expanded to 36 items. Training on new content not required until 2 years from effective date of final rule.

11 basic training items for workers and 13 items for handlers. Minimal training on reducing take-home exposure, reporting use violations, and prohibition from employer retaliation.

Recordkeeping of training Keep records for 2 years. Give copy of record of training to workers and handlers upon their request.

No recordkeeping of training. Voluntary verification card system.

Hazard Communication Content and availability of hazard communications materials

Employer must display application information and safety data sheets (SDSs) at central location within 24 hours of end of application and before workers enter that treated area. Display both for 30 days after REI expires. Keep application information and SDS for 2 years from end of REI and make available to workers, handlers, designated representatives (identified in writing) or treating medical personnel upon request.

Employer must display application-specific information at a central location before application occurs, or, if no workers or handlers are on the establishment, before next period workers/handlers are on establishment. Keep posted for 30 days after REI expires. No recordkeeping.

This table summarizes key provisions in the EPA’s current WPS regulation and the 2015 revisions. It does not cover all of the details in the rule nor does it include all of the information needed to comply with the regulation.

AGRICULTURAL WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD (WPS) COMPARISON OF THE NEW PROTECTIONS

TO THE EXISTING PROTECTIONS October 2015

US EPA

Page 9

Requirement New 2015 Provision Current Provision Notification of Treated Areas

Notification of treated areas under an REI

Post warning sign if REI is greater than 48 hours (outdoor applications) or 4 hours (enclosed space applications (e.g., greenhouses)), otherwise option for posting or oral notification unless label requires both.

Farms, forests and nurseries: Post warning sign or give oral notification for any REI, unless label requires both. Greenhouses: all applications require signs to be posted.

Warning sign Same as current sign. Red circle containing stern-faced man with upraised hand. At the top: “DANGER” and “PELIGRO”, “PESTICIDES”, “PESTICIDAS”. At the bottom: “KEEP OUT”, “NO ENTRE.”

Information exchange between handler employer and agricultural employer

Agricultural employer must provide application information on treated areas the handler may be in (or walk within ¼ mile of). Handler employer must notify before the application begins for certain changes and within 2 hours of end of application for most other changes, unless only change was less than 1 hour difference in application time.

Agricultural employer must provide application information on treated areas the handler may be in (or walk within ¼ mile of). Handler employer must notify of changes to application plans before application begins.

Minimum Age Minimum age for handlers and early-entry workers

Handlers and early-entry workers must be at least 18 years old. (Members of owner’s immediate family are exempt from this and most other requirements of the WPS.)

No minimum age.

Entry Restrictions During Application for Outdoor Production Ag employers must prohibit entry in areas during application for outdoor production. (Restrictions for greenhouses/enclosed space production are different.)

All outdoor production: No entry into treated area or the application exclusion zone, which is an area up to 100 feet area around the application equipment during pesticide application on farms, forests and nurseries. Size of the application exclusion zone depends on type of application. Revised descriptions of application methods.

Farms and forests: No entry into treated area. Nurseries: No entry into treated area or an area up to 100 feet around the treated area, where the size of the additional area depends on type of application.

Handler Suspend Application Handler (applicator) must suspend application in certain circumstances

Handler must apply pesticides so as not to contact workers or other persons. Handler must suspend application if a worker or other person is in the application exclusion zone, an area up to 100 feet around the application equipment.

Handler must apply pesticides so as not to contact workers or other persons. No specific requirement to suspend applications.

Exemptions and Exceptions Exemption for certified crop advisors and their employees

Only certified crop advisors are exempt from labeling PPE and WPS requirements as specified in exemption. Certified crop advisor employees must use label-required PPE while working in a field during an REI, and employer must provide all required WPS protections, or rely on the PPE substitutions allowed under the crop advisors.

Certified crop advisor chooses PPE for themselves and their employees working under their direct supervision in a field during an REI. Also exempted from providing decontamination supplies and emergency assistance for themselves and employees.

Exceptions to REIs for early entry workers – notification requirements

Notify early-entry workers of application specifics, tasks to be performed, conditions of the early-entry exception, and hazard information from the pesticide label.

Inform early-entry workers of hazard information from the pesticide label.

Page 10

Requirement New 2015 Provision Current Provision Basic Pesticide Safety Information

Display of pesticide safety information

Display pesticide safety information at a central location and at sites where decontamination supplies are located, if the decontamination supplies are at a permanent site or at a location with 11 or more workers or handlers.

Display a safety poster at central location.

Content of pesticide safety information

Information can be displayed in any format (doesn’t have to be a poster); keep the 7 concepts about preventing pesticides from entering your body; delete the point that there are federal rules to protect workers and handlers; add instructions for employees to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they have been poisoned, injured or made ill by pesticides; add name, address and telephone number of state or tribal pesticide regulatory authority; revise “emergency medical facility” to “a nearby operating medical care facility.” New content for safety information display not required until 2 years from effective date of final rule.

The safety poster must include 7 concepts about preventing pesticides from entering your body; the point that there are federal rules to protect workers and handlers; and the name, address and phone number of the nearest emergency medical care facility.

Personal Protective Equipment Respirators Employer must provide respirator and fit testing,

training, and medical evaluation that conforms to OSHA standards for any handler required to wear any respirator by the labeling. Require recordkeeping of completion of fit test, training, and medical evaluation.

Employer must provide respirator listed on label and ensure it fits. No recordkeeping required.

Definition of chemical-resistant

Same as current definition. Made of a material that allows no measurable movement of the pesticide through the material during use.

PPE exception for closed systems

Exceptions to the labeling-specified PPE allowed for handlers when using closed systems. A closed system must meet a broad performance-based standard and basic operating standards (written operating instructions and training of handlers in use of the system) must be provided.

Exceptions to the labeling-specified PPE allowed for handlers when using closed systems. No specific criteria for closed systems.

PPE exception for crop advisors and their employees

Crop advisors and their employees entering treated areas while a REI is in effect to conduct crop-advisor tasks may wear a standard set of PPE (coveralls, shoes plus socks and chemical-resistant gloves made of any waterproof material, and eye protection if the labeling of the pesticide product applied requires protective eyewear for handlers, as outlined in rule), OR the PPE specified on the pesticide labeling for early-entry activities instead of the PPE specified on the pesticide labeling for handling activities, provided certain conditions are met. (See exemption for certified crop advisor.)

Crop advisors and their employees entering treated areas while a REI is in effect to conduct crop-advisor tasks may wear the PPE specified on the pesticide labeling for early-entry activities instead of the PPE specified on the pesticide labeling for handling activities, provided certain conditions are met. (See exemption for certified crop advisor.)

PPE exception from eyewear for pilots in open cockpits

If product label requires eye protection, pilots in open cockpits may wear a helmet with lowered face shield instead of label-required eye protection.

If product label requires eye protection, pilots in open cockpits may wear visor instead of label-required eye protection.

Page 11

Requirement New 2015 Provision Current Provision Personal Protective Equipment

PPE exception from gloves for pilots in enclosed cockpits

Same as current requirement. Gloves are optional when entering and leaving aircraft unless required by product label.

PPE exception for enclosed cabs

Maintain exception for dermal PPE as in existing rule with same conditions, but handlers in enclosed cabs must wear the labeling-specified respiratory protection except when the only labeling-specified respiratory protection is a particulate filtering facepiece respirator (NIOSH approval number prefix TC-84A), previously called a dust/mist filtering respirator.

Exceptions to the labeling-specified PPE are allowed when handling tasks are performed from inside an enclosed cab that meets the specifications defined in the rule and certain conditions are met. Exceptions to the labeling-required respiratory protection are allowed only if the cab has been certified by the manufacturer to provide respiratory protection equivalent to the respiratory protection required by the pesticide labeling for handling.

Decontamination Supplies

Quantity of water Provide 1 gallon for each worker and 3 gallons for each handler and each early entry worker as measured at beginning of workers’ or handlers’ work period.

Provide enough water for routine washing and emergency eye flushing for workers and handlers. For handlers, also provide enough to wash entire body in emergency.

Use of natural waters Must provide water for decontamination. There is no reference to, or prohibition from, using natural waters in addition to decontamination water provided. Workers and handlers are trained to use any nearest clean water source in case of emergency.

Must provide water for decontamination. May use natural waters in addition to water provided for decontamination.

Eye wash for handlers Provide a system capable of delivering 0.4 gallons/minute for 15 minutes, or 6 gallons of water able to flow gently for about 15 minutes at a mix/load site if handlers use products requiring eye protection or use a pressurized closed system. One pint of water in a portable container must be available to each handler applying pesticides if eye protection is required.

Provide enough water for emergency eye flushing. One pint of water in a portable container must be available to each handler if eye protection is required.

Emergency Assistance Emergency Assistance Provide prompt transportation to medical facility.

Promptly provide the SDS, product information (name, EPA Reg No and active ingredient) and circumstances of exposure to treating medical personnel.

Provide prompt transportation to medical facility and provide any obtainable information about the product, antidote, first aid, and circumstances of exposure to the worker/handler or treating medical personnel.

Definitions Immediate Family Expand to also include all in-laws, grandparents,

grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and first cousins.

Includes spouse, parents, stepparents, foster parents, children, stepchildren, foster children, brothers, and sisters.

Enclosed space production

New definition: enclosed space production that is indoors or in a structure or space that is covered in whole or in part by any nonporous covering and that is large enough to permit a person to enter.

Greenhouse means an operation inside any structure or space that is enclosed with nonporous covering and that is of sufficient size to permit worker entry.

Employ Employ means to obtain, directly or through a labor contractor, the services of a person in exchange for a salary or wages, including piece-rate wages, without regard to who may pay or who may receive the salary or wages. It includes obtaining the services of a self-employed person, an independent contractor, or a person compensated by a third party.

No definition of “employ” in existing rule. Definitions of “agricultural employer” and “handler employer” covered aspects of what types of employment covered.

Crop Talk Editors / Contributors

Jude Boucher, Commercial Vegetable Crops, UConn Extension,

(860)870-6933, jude.boucher@uconn.edu

Mary Concklin, Commercial Fruit Crops, UConn Department of Plant

Science and Landscape Architecture (860)486-6585,

mary.concklin@uconn.edu

MacKenzie White, Newsletter Layout, mackenzie.white@uconn.edu

Administrative Officers

Gregory Weidemann, Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Michael P. O’Neill, Associate Dean and Associate Director, UConn

Extension

Bonnie E. Burr, Assistant Director & Department Head, UConn Extension

Cameron Faustman, Associate Dean for Academic Programs and

Director, Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, Storrs Agricultural

Experiment Station

Richard McAvoy, Department Head, Department of Plant Science and

Landscape Architecture

The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes. The recommendations contained are based on the best available knowledge at the time of publication. Any reference to commercial products, trade or brand names is for information only, and no endorsement or approval is intended. The Cooperative Extension System does not guarantee or warrant the standard of any product referenced or imply approval of the product to the exclusion of others which also may be available. All agrichemicals/pesticides listed are registered for suggested uses in accordance with federal and Connecticut state laws and regulations as of the date of printing. If the information does not agree with current labeling, follow the label instructions. The label is the law. Warning! Agrichemicals/pesticides are dangerous. Read and follow all instructions and safety precautions on labels. Carefully handle and store agrichemicals/pesticides in originally labeled containers, out of reach of children, pets and livestock. Dispose of empty containers immediately in a safe manner and place. Contact the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for current regulations. The user of this information assumes all risks for personal injury or property damage.

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