The SZR Elecktronik can harvest up to 1,100 plum, cherry, or olive trees in 12 hours. Bottom, The larger track footprint of the Power Krawler provides good traction, especially in wet and hilly conditions.
Venomous Pesticide
Chemtura Corporation and Venomix, Inc., are continuing to collaborate on the development of insecticides based on spider venom peptides. Venomix has isolated a number of peptides, which are lethal to insects but harmless to humans, and the companies aim to develop one of the peptides as a commercial insecticide. In the long term, they will collaborate to produce chemical molecules that fit the same receptor as the peptide, which should lead to chemical pesticides with the same biological activity and safety profile as the peptide.
Broad-Spectrum Pesticide
The broad-spectrum insecticide Voliam Flexi has been registered for use on pome fruit, stone fruit, grapes, and potatoes to control a number of chewing and sucking insects as well as lepidopteran pests. The active ingredients are chlorantraniliprole, from the diamide family of insecticides, and thiamethoxam, a neonicotinyl.
Less Odorous Lorsban
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation have approved registration of Lorsban Advanced insecticide. The new water-based formulation contains the same active ingredient as Lorsban-4E (chlorpyrifos) but emits fewer volatile organic compounds and has less odor when applied. When exposed to air, VOCs volatilize into a gaseous form and can contribute to ground-level ozone formation.
State Labels for Zeal
Zeal miticide (etoxazole) has been registered for use on sweet and tart cherries and other crops in California and New York. It is designed to control two-spotted spider mite, European red mite, and Pacific spider mite in a single application. It affects all life stages—eggs, larvae, and nymphs—on contact, and eggs laid by treated adults will not hatch. For more information, check the Web site at www.valent.com.
Regalia for DPA Aerosol
DECCO has introduced a diphenylamine aerosol product as an alternative to drench treatments to prevent scald in apples. With the No-Scald DPA Aerosol, there is no liquid waste to dispose of and no equipment corrosion.
The aerosol product has federal registration for use on most commercially grown apple varieties. State labels are in place for Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, with others pending. In tests, aerosol treatments have performed as well or better than drench treatments, according to information from DECCO. Packers must contact DECCO to schedule treatments. The company applies the product, samples residues, and tests 24 hours after application. For information, call JC Salling in Wenatchee, Washington, at (509) 899-2200; Chad Christopherson, Yakima, Washington, at (509) 969-1287; or John Holwold, Meadville, Pennsylvania, at (814) 720-5763.
Burrows Moves
Burrows Tractor, based in Yakima, Washington, has moved its Wenatchee, Washington, branch to a new location that is more visible and offers easier access.
The new three-quarter-acre property is at 927 S. Wenatchee Avenue, next door to the property the company has rented for the past four years that faces Columbia Street. Burrows purchased it from Herb’s Rent-All.
John Riel, general manager of Burrows, said the new site is larger and has easier access for both delivery trucks and customers. "Our sales started to really take off, so we needed a better location," he said.
Burrows is continuing some of Herb’s rental business, including compressors and other small equipment. It is also selling propane, which it has not done in the past.
Burrows sells Bush Hog, New Holland, Antonio Carraro, Hustler, Turbo-Mist, Bubco, Land Pride, Echo, and Husqvarna brand equipment.
PaceSetter Controls Fruit coatings
Stemilt Growers, Inc., Wenatchee, Washington, is using an award-winning automated variable-rate fruit coating applicator called the PaceSetter, which was developed by Pace International.
Conventional applicators of fruit coatings or fungicides apply the solution at a constant rate, even though fruit flow on the packing line may be variable. This can lead to wax foaming, poor gloss, and inconsistent fungicide residues, according to Pace.
The PaceSetter, on the other hand, automatically adjusts the amount of coating applied, depending on the fruit flow. It is programmed in advance with certain features to gather information, sense, and self-correct as needed to control the amount of coating applied. This allows packers to apply enough coating to protect the fruit from decay but without worrying about exceeding maximum residue levels. It also may reduce the risk of fruit staining caused by overapplication of coatings.
The PaceSetter received the AE50 Outstanding Innovations Award in 2006 from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for being one of the top 50 innovations in the world for agricultural, food, and biological systems.
Broetje Adopts Purfresh
Purfresh, Inc., has announced that Broetje Orchards is using the Purfresh Cold Storage and Purfresh Wash systems in its packing operation near Prescott, Washington. The systems, which use ozone, are designed to preserve and protect the fruit through processing while avoiding the use of chemicals. Purfresh was formerly known as Novazone and is based in Fremont, California.
The Purfresh ozone systems at Broetje were installed by Central Washington Refrigeration, which is an authorized reseller of Purfresh Cold Storage and Purfresh Wash in the Pacific Northwest.
For more information, check the Web site at www.purfresh.com.
Quiet Bird Repellant
The Bird Buffer from Nixalite is a programmable, electronic aerosol generator that repels birds by producing a barely visible repellent haze. Birds that fly through the haze soon associate the location with the repellent effect and leave the area permanently, according to information from Nixalite. The Bird Buffer is quiet and safe, and uses very little repellent. One gallon of Fog Force fluid keeps a three- to five-acre area 96 percent birdfree for two months. Timers in the device allow for unattended operation during peak bird activity. For information check the Web site at www.nixalite.com/Bird Buffer.aspx or call (800) 624-1189.
Disease Control
Marrone Organic Innovations, Inc., has introduced a biopesticide called Regalia for control of both fungal and bacterial diseases. The active ingredient is an extract of giant knotweed, Reynoutria sachalinensis, which controls powdery mildew, bacterial diseases, rusts, gray mold, and other diseases. Initially, the product will be available for vegetable and ornamental crops, but it will be available for grapes and tree fruits for the 2009 season, according to the company.
California Registrations
The insecticide Platinum (thiamethoxam) has been approved for use in California to control sucking and chewing pests on a number of crops, including grapes. The insecticide was granted federal approval in January 2008.
Alias 4F insecticide (imidacloprid) is now labeled in California for soil and foliar applications to control sucking pests. It works systemically to provide broad-spectrum control of aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, mealybugs, and sharpshooters. It is registered in California for use on a number of crops, including stone fruits and grapes.
Fast Food-Safety Test
Two Pennsylvania companies, Cygnus Manufacturing Company and Hanson Technologies, have partnered to build the automated OmniFresh 1000 system to screen large-volume lots of fresh produce in near-real time for contamination by Escherichia coli 0157:H7, salmonella, and other bacteria. It provides results in two hours or less, compared with 12 to 36 hours from a conventional laboratory. It can be installed on line.
It has been tested in Pennsylvania and California, and is being delivered to customers this fall. For information, contact Bob Marshall at Cygnus Manufacturing by phone at (724) 352-8000, ext. 372, or by e-mail at bob.marshall@cygnusmfg.com.
Leave A Comment