A convenience survey of 702 certified pesticide applicators was conducted in three states to assess the use of 16 types of engineering controls and 13 types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Results showed that 8 out of 16 engineering devices were adopted by more than 50% of the respondents. The type of crop, size of agricultural operation, and the type of pesticide application equipment ...

Live trapping and questionnaires were used to evaluate amount, distribution, and costs of control of damage to Ontario apple trees by meadow voles (Microtus enns lvanicus) in 1981-82. In a sample of 180 orchards, 5802 (0. trees were damaged or killed by voles. Orchards with high levels of damage (> 2.5%) were smaller than the average orchard in our sample. Application of rodenticides showed no ...

This paper describes the development of software (EOM) to provide a tool for commercial growers in order to determine the site-specific effects of energy saving investments. Results consist of energy use, crop production and an extensive economic overview. The core of the software is a scientific model (KASPRO) which simulates the greenhouse climate accurately and computes the resulting energy ...

BACKGROUND To examine the association between occupation and leukaemia. METHODS We interviewed 225 cases (aged 20-75 years) notified to the New Zealand Cancer Registry during 2003-04, and 471 controls randomly selected from the Electoral Roll collecting demographic details, information on potential confounders and a comprehensive employment history. Associations between occupation and leukaem...

Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici) is one of the major soilborne diseases threatening many vegetable crops including squash. The disease results in severe epidemics and yield losses due to a rapid spread pathogen associated with wet weather soil waterlogging. Implementing drone-based spatial mapping software elevation tools can assist growers evaluating land levelling for uniform distri...

Previous models of growers' decision-making during epidemics have unrealistically limited disease management choices to just two options. Here, we expand previous game-theoretic grower include three control options: a crop that is tolerant, resistant or susceptible disease. Using tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) as case study, investigate how growers can be incentivized use different optio...

We have quantified vegetable growers' exposure to fungal bioaerosol components including (1→3)-β-d-glucan (β-glucan), total fungal spores, and culturable fungal units. Furthermore, we have evaluated factors that might affect vegetable growers' exposure to fungal bioaerosols and airborne dust. Investigated environments included greenhouses producing cucumbers and tomatoes, open fields producing ...

When fruit set and rainfall are sufficient, grape yields in Arkansas are high, but rain is not always sufficient in Arkansas. There is enough, in terms of inches, but it often comes at the wrong times. Records during the past 20 years have shown that in all but 3 years in Northwest Arkansas, there have been brief dry spells during the growing season that lasted for at least two or three weeks. ...

Native managed bees can improve crop pollination, but a general framework for evaluating the associated economic costs and benefits has not been developed. We conducted a cost-benefit analysis to assess how managing blue orchard bees (Osmia lignaria Say [Hymenoptera: Megachildae]) alongside honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) can affect profits for almond growers in Calif...

economi(about 15%) ) was rarely ­ mechacally important and the ­ nisms leading to reduction were not clear. For example, l , there numwere few differences f in the ­ berr off leafhopperr predators or parasitoids on i the vines in cover cropped versus no coverr sigplots. However, r, there were ­ differnificant between-treatment ­ ences in vine growth. Plots with seasonwide maintenance off a cove...