http://latrodectus.ent.iastate.edu/ipmnews/ en-us Sat, 14 Jun 2003 05:00:00 GMT Sat, 14 Jun 2003 11:18:45 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss092 jvandyk@iastate.edu (John VanDyk) jvandyk@iastate.edu (John VanDyk) http://ens-news.com/ens/jun2003/2003-06-13-01.asp MONTREAL, Canada, June 13, 2003, (ENS) - The small Pacific island nation of Palau today became the 50th country to ratify an international treaty that seeks to safeguard the Earth's biological diversity, triggering the treaty's entry into force. It is the first treaty that formally protects biological diversity from the potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms. The United States did not directly comment on the Biosafety Protocol, which it has not signed.... For more, see the andlt;a href="http://ens-news.com/ens/jun2003/2003-06-13-01.asp"andgt;ENS releaseandlt;/aandgt;. http://www.worldwildlife.org/news/headline.cfm?newsid=533 A unique partnership between World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Wisconsin potato growers, and university researchers is being recognized today as a recipient of the Department of Agriculture's prestigious "Secretary's Honor Award." Secretary Ann Veneman will present the award to the Eco-Potato Partnership, honored for "Maintaining and Enhancing the Nation's Natural Resources and Environment," at a noontime ceremony at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. The six-year collaboration between the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), the University of Wisconsin (UW), and WWF has resulted in the accelerated adoption of integrated pest management systems and reduced reliance on toxic pesticides, and has led to the establishment of Protected Harvest, an independent eco-label. andlt;a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/news/headline.cfm?newsid=533"andgt;Complete WWF press releaseandlt;/aandgt; http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=storyandamp;u=/usatoday/20030613/ts_usatoday/5241084 USA Today's article describes several present and pending insect pest outbreaks nationally. andlt;a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=storyandamp;u=/usatoday/20030613/ts_usatoday/5241084"andgt;The articleandlt;/aandgt; devotes considerable space to describing outbreaks of Mormon crickets in the west, bark beetles in California and Arizona, and grasshoppers in Colorado. http://ens-news.com/ens/jun2003/2003-06-12-09.asp#anchor7 A new product to control fire ants by feeding them is about to reach the market. The bait gel developed jointly by U.S. Agricultural Research Service scientists and Waterbury Companies appeals to fire ants but kills them. Waterbury Companies will sell the new bait gel as Drax NutraBait later this month pending Environmental Protection Agency registration. See the Environmental News Service article, andlt;a href="http://ens-news.com/ens/jun2003/2003-06-12-09.asp#anchor7"andgt;Gel Bait Created to Control Fire Ant Invasionandlt;/aandgt;. http://ens-news.com/ens/jun2003/2003-06-12-09.asp#anchor3 With the help of three grants worth $5.2 million from the Department of Defense,University of Wisconsin researchers will begin to try to better understand the mechanisms behind molecular and environmental chronic wasting disease of deer. andlt;a href="http://ens-news.com/ens/jun2003/2003-06-12-09.asp#anchor3"andgt;Environmental News Service articleandlt;/aandgt;. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=storyandamp;u=/ibsys/20030612/lo_kgtv/1656573 Officials began releasing sterile flies Thursday in an effort to eradicate a Mexican fruit fly infestation in Valley Center. The release of the sterile flies signals a new phase in the infestation since it is done only once officials are convinced that aerial treatments with organic pesticide have lowered the flies' numbers. "With this transition to the sterile release program, we are taking an important step toward eradicating this infestation," said California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Bill Lyons Jr. andlt;a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=storyandamp;u=/ibsys/20030612/lo_kgtv/1656573"andgt;See the entire TheSanDiegoChannel.com articleandlt;/aandgt; http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=storyandamp;u=/ap/20030608/ap_on_re_us/cricket_plague_1 Mormon crickets are chewing their way through southwestern Idaho at an alarming rate, devouring crops and creating road hazards in what locals say is the worst outbreak since World War II. The Boise County Commission has already declared a disaster and the state has posted warning signs on roads for the pests. Crickets smashed by cars on the road surface create a mush slicker than black ice. from an andlt;a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=storyandamp;u=/ap/20030608/ap_on_re_us/cricket_plague_1"andgt;AP articleandlt;/aandgt;