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School Pest Management in the News

The following headlines were culled from a search of articles in publications containing the words "school" plus "pest," "pesticide," or "integrated pest management" from January 9, 2007 on.

For the complete articles, visit the publication's Web site.  Most sites permit searching for recent articles free of charge, while archive searches are for a fee.  Note:  Before leaving this page for a news media site, select and copy the article title.  Paste the title into the "Search" box on the media site for fastest retrieval of recent articles.  

For articles from July 1, 2003 through May 11, 2005, visit the school headlines archive 2 page.
For articles from July 1, 2000 through Jun 30, 2003, visit the school headlines archive 1 page.


Scientists take research about codling moth to the streets. Central Valley Business Times, 
CA, 21 August 2008, 1058 words, (English.) Although sex is a strong attractant, food can sometimes be a bigger draw. Such is the case with a chemical that scientists have discovered in pears that has just the right scent to attract codling moths to traps. This discovery is part of a larger University of California program to control codling moth pests in homeowners' backyard trees.

USDA funds Southern pest control projects. Southeast Farm Press, 21 August 2008, 699 words, (English.) People throughout the Southern region will reap the benefits of research and training efforts from eight new projects funded by the US Department of Agriculture Southern Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) grants program. 

Royer promoted by Oklahoma State University. Chronicle Times, IA, 21 August 2008, 377 words, (English.) Tom Royer is always a bit "bugged," and Oklahoma State University has rewarded the son of Cherokee residents Don and Dorothy Royer by promoting him to the rank of professor in the department of entomology and plant pathology. 

Playing without pesticides. Register News, NJ, 20 August 2008, 577 words, (English.) Some lessons are best learned outside of the classroom — preferably near flora and fauna that isn’t tainted with toxic chemicals. 

Good bug battles a bad weed. Central Valley Business Times, CA, 20 August 2008, 369 words,
(English.) A researcher at the University of California, Davis, may have recruited a new ally in the fight against an invasive weed – a beetle. 

Lawsuit seeks EPA pesticide data. San Francisco Chronicle, 19 August 2008, 1114 words, (English.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is refusing to disclose records about a new class of pesticides that could be playing a role in the disappearance of millions of honeybees in the United States, a lawsuit filed Monday charges. 

Maintain a nice yard naturally. The Olympian, WA, 18 August 2008, 486 words, (English.)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines Integrated Pest Management as "an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices." Here in Thurston County, IPM is regarded as a collection of techniques that seeks to keep pest and vegetation problems low enough to reduce or eliminate the reliance on chemical control. 

Longwood Gardens Hosts Workshop On Invasive Mile-A-Minute Weed. Town Talk News, PA, 12 August 2008, 247 words, (English.) Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, will be the site of a workshop on biological control of mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross), an invasive plant from Asia on Aug. 25. 

Debate buzzes on mosquito spraying. Milford Daily News, MA, 9 August 2008, 1084 words, (English.) To Devra Robins of Holliston, the benefits of neighborhood mosquito spraying outweigh the risks. So with West Nile virus making an early MetroWest appearance this summer, the day 
care operator welcomes the service. 

Pesticide settlement may tighten rules. Capital Press, OR, 8 August 2008, 494 words, (English.) New restrictions may be placed on dozens of pesticides commonly used in Oregon, Washington and California as the result of a legal settlement between an environmental group and the federal government. 

Feds agree to review pesticide harm to ESA-listed salmon. Bay Area Indymedia, CA, 4 August 2008, 524 words, (English.) Today, a coalition of fishing and environmental groups settled a lawsuit with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the federal agency charged with protecting threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead. 

Oregon publishes its first report on pesticide use. The Oregonian, 31 July 2008, 757 words, 
(English.) After a nine-year political scrum, Oregon released its first accounting of pesticide use Wednesday, cataloging more than 40 million pounds of 551 fumigants, herbicides and insecticides applied to the state's lands and waters in 2007.

Christmas tree pests target of new project. Media Newswire, NY, 30 July 2008, 586 words, (English.) A new Penn State research project is helping six Pennsylvania Christmas tree growers keep invasive pests at bay while reducing pesticide use. 

Soybean rust alert system may be victim of budget cuts. American Farm, MD, 29 July 2008, 575 words, (English.) Federal belt-tightening threatens to silence the three-year-old nationwide Asian soybean rust alert system.

IPM Workshops Planned for Grape Growers. Wisconsin Ag Connection, 28 July 2008, 218 words, (English.) Grape growing has become widespread throughout Wisconsin with more than 400 acres under cultivation. As grape acreages expand, pest complexes also intensify. That's why the University of Wisconsin-Extension is hosting three one-day sessions about Integrated Pest Management, which offers an effective alternative to relying solely on pesticides.

As bedbugs spread, lawmakers push to make sure landlords pay for spray. The Jersey Journal, 28 July 2008, 765 words, (English.) When Robert High began getting lines of swollen red 
lumps on his arms and legs several months ago, it didn't take him long to realize his apartment had bedbugs.

Grape pest under scrutiny. Capital Press, OR, 25 July 2008, 550 words, (English.) Keeping populations of vine mealybug in check can take a whole arsenal of products, but choosing the right ones and timing applications correctly can be tricky for this relatively new pest.

Cucumber beetles are real pests. Mail Tribune, OR, 25 July 2008, 693 words, (English.)
Not all visitors to the garden are equally welcome. Among the least welcome of all is the cucumber beetle, a potentially devastating pest to the cucurbit family, including cucumbers, cantaloupe, honeydew, casaba melon, winter squash, pumpkins, summer squash and watermelon. Coincidentally, that is the order of preference shown by these insects in their feeding habits.

EPA moves to ban pesticide carbofuran from food. Associated Press, 24 July 2008, 299 words, (English.) The Environmental Protection Agency moved Thursday to stop the use of the pesticide carbofuran on all food crops, including those that are imported.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Announces New Waste Pesticide Collection Program. The Farmer, MN, 24 July 2008, 261 words, (English.) The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering a new program called "Clean Sweep" to help farmers and homeowners safely 
dispose of unwanted and unusable pesticides. 

Mosquito spraying put on hold until testing completed. Sacramento Bee, 22 July 2008, 507 words, (English.) After three evenings of spraying pesticide over the skies of south Sacramento 
and Elk Grove, West Nile warriors will have to wait until next week to learn if the treatment cut down on infected mosquitoes. 

Grounds Services brings sustainable practices to campus. Arizona State University, 21 July 2008, 503 words, (English.) Fish emulsion and compost tea used for fertilizer. Lawn mowers with 
mulching decks. Organic pest control. Three-wheeled bicycles for staff to ride across campus.

Europe ready to tighten screws on pesticide list. Capital Press, Salem, OR, 18 July 2008, 801 words, (English.) As the European Union draws closer to banning a number of pesticides, opponents and supporters of the policy overhaul are debating the potential impacts on farmers, food prices and imports. 

County removes pesticide guide. Seattle Post Intelligencer, 18 July 2008, 905 words, (English.)
At the insistence of agricultural industry-sponsored groups, a wallet-sized consumer guide to which fruits and vegetables contain the most and least pesticides has been pulled from a King County Web site, where it had been a popular draw. 

Pest Control Crews Target Nettle Caterpillars. KHON2-TV, HI, 18 July 2008, 268 words, (English.) Thursday, pest control crews went door to door in Mililani to inform residents of stinging 
Nettle Caterpillars. Officials say there have been no reports of anyone getting stung, and they want to keep it that way.

The Buzz in Summer '08: Eluding Wasps. MarketWatch.com, 17 July 2008, 348 words, (English.) Summer brings warmer temperatures that beckon people outdoors. However, a major summer pest that can pose significant threats to outdoor revelers is the wasp. Known for their 
unprovoked aggression, wasps nest in protected areas including voids in walls and ceilings 
in homes. Living in colonies ranging between 1,500 and 15,000, wasps typically sting humans
near nesting sites or if swatted away from a food source. 

OSU Extension announces free pesticide drop-off day. The East Oregonian, 17 July 2008, 175 words, (English.) Farmers, orchardists and other agricultural operations near Milton-Freewater can safely and anonymously dispose of old or unusable pesticides during a collection event on 
July 24, the Oregon State University extension office announced Tuesday.

Pest controllers called out 2,200 times. Peterborough Today, (UK,) 15 July 2008, 431 words, (English.) A plague of furry, feathered, slimy and smelly bugs have caused more than 2,200 problems for the city's pest control team in a year.

Pesticide controls 'unacceptable.' BBC News, 15 July 2008, 212 words, (English.) Georgina Downs claims the government's method of assessing the health risk of chemicals sprayed on crops does not address long-term rural residents.

Council expected to decide on pesticides today.  Calgary Herald, (CAN,) 15 July 2008, 264 words, (English.) City council began debate Monday night on whether to phase out cosmetic pesticide use, but a decision won't be made until this afternoon.

Bats in our belfries. Houston Community Newspapers, 14 July 2008, 948 words, (English.) Holy guano! Bats have emerged from their caves, trees or manmade structures for the summer months, minus a Joker or Two-Face to contend with – only human annoyance.

New greenhouse will concentrate on more environmentally friendly insect controls. Texas A&M AgNews, 14 July 2008, 538 words, (English.) A new greenhouse largely funded by the Texas nursery plant industry will research ways to reduce chemical use and increase biological control of insects and other pests, said Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts.

Feds tough new pesticide rules mirror California policy. San Jose Mercury News, 12 July 2008, 446 words, (English.) Stiff new federal pesticide rules won't have much impact on California agriculture, farming advocates said Friday.

EPA strengthens controls on 5 common pesticides. Associated Press, 10 July 2008, 438 words, (English.)  The federal Environmental Protection Agency strengthened regulations Thursday on five common pesticides and for the first time required farmers to set up sizable buffer zones around fields treated with the chemicals.

A scrubbable feast: Albemarle to decide if green is clean.  The Hook, 9 July 2008, 892 words, (English.)  If your name is Lysol or Clorox, you’re no longer welcome in Albemarle County buildings, and you may soon be banned from county schools as well. On June 4, the Board of Supervisors did away with synthetic chemical cleaning agents in county buildings, ending routine disinfecting of high-touch areas— bathrooms and kitchens– unless there’s a viral outbreak or other health emergency. In place of disinfecting, the new policy calls for sanitizing— cleaning with plain old soap and water or green cleaners. On Thursday, July 10, the Albemarle County School Board will begin considering whether schools should also go green when it’s time to clean.

Mating race with light brown apple moth questioned. San Jose Mercury News, 8 July 2008, 620 words, (English.) The plan to substitute sterile moths for aerial spraying as a way to combat the light brown apple moth has mollified many anti-spraying activists, but some pest-control experts have cast fresh doubt on how effective the program can be, based on the moth's mating habits.

You can beat those bedbugs. Associated Press, 5 July 2008, 234 words, (English.)  Late at night when you're sleeping, the bedbugs come creeping. And it seems the little bloodsuckers have made their way throughout the United States, spreading from the major cities where the infestations started a few years ago.

IPM certification awarded to Wells-Ogunquit CSD.  Portsmouth Herald News, 3 July, 2008, 220 words, (English.) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Star Certification was awarded to the Wells-Ogunquit C.S.D. at the school committee meeting June 18. Although it is now state law that all schools in Maine adhere to IPM practices, the district becomes just the second in the state and the 26th in the nation to receive this certification.

Pesticide approved for 'crazy' ants in SE Texas.  Associated Press, 1 July 2008, 288 words, (English.) The Environmental Protection Agency has given approval for some southeast Texas homeowners to use a pesticide to deal with a species of ant that has ruined sewage pumps, fouled computers and caused fire alarms to malfunction.

Bugged by mosquitoes? Here's how to zap them.  Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 25 June 2008, 773 words, (English.) They're resilient little suckers. Mosquitoes. At least 63 species call Georgia home, with nearly 20 causing itchy irritation in the Atlanta area, experts say.

Calif. aerial spray program suspended. Associated Press, 21 June 2008, 238 words, (English.)
Officials have abruptly canceled a state program to spray chemicals to combat crop-eating moth in urban areas after months of public uproar over its unclear effects on the environment and human health.

Centralia schools control pests. KOMU-TV, MO, 19 June 2008, 246 words, (English.) The Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing a mid-Missouri school district for its efforts to keep pests out of its walls.

Student finds career in pest management. Mississippi State University, 19 June 2008, 622 words, (English.) James “Wes” McPherson had his mind set on veterinary school three years ago when he began his freshman year at Mississippi State University, but his heart refused to listen.

Pesticides, heat pose risks for elderly. Arizona Republic, 30 April 2008, 444 words, (English.)
I recently received information in the mail that might be of interest if you're caring for an older person. These fact sheets are provided free by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of its new aging initiatives (www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/). The information has been translated into 15 different languages.

EPA orders retailers to pull Miracle-Gro pesticides. Arizona Republic, 25 April 2008, 157 words, (English.) Home Depot, Wal-Mart and several other retailers must stop selling mislabeled pesticides from Scotts Miracle-Gro, regulators said Friday.

Some labels more truthful than others.  Consumer Reports, 22 March 2008, 613 words, (English.) Organic Oreos? These days, supermarket shelves are stocked with organic Ragu pasta sauce and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. According to ShopSmart, the shopping magazine published by Consumer Reports, organic foods, including fruits, meats and dairy, may not be on everyone's shopping list, but more people are reaching for them anyway.

47,000 pounds of pesticides collected in three-day effort. Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 27 November 2007, (English.) More than 47,000 pounds of unwanted agricultural pesticides were collected earlier this month in Cross, Lee and St. Francis counties.

There are plenty of insect assassins. Anchorage Daily News, 24 May 2007, 979 words, (English.) Ladybugs aren't the only ones skilled in bad-bug annihilation. All kinds of insects are equipped to conduct search-and-destroy missions in your garden, taking out riff-raff in all kinds of ways, including one especially creepy modus operandi reminiscent of the ill-fated dinner scene in "Alien."

State board adopts proposal to restrict 2,4-D, weedkiller. Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 1 February 2007, (English.) The State Plant Board on Wednesday adopted a pesticide committee recommendation to restrict the agricultural use of 2,4-D and glyphosate and will hold public hearings on the proposals.

Proposed pesticide limits miss state's threshold. Anchorage Daily News, 9 January 2007, 281 words, (English.) An initiative to restrict the use of pesticides in and around schools failed to reach voters because the sponsors didn't collect enough signatures, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell announced Monday. The initiative, pushed by Alaska Community Action on Toxics, would have required schools to only use pesticides as a last resort, and even then, to use the least dangerous products available.


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Related Pages:

IPM Standards for Schools:  A Program for Reducing Pest and Pesticide Risks in Schools and Other Sensitive Environments

Archive of past headlines on School IPM

Archive of New Additions to Site

 

Articles:

"Texas School District Recognized for Excellence in Pest Control"

"What you can do about spraying pesticides near schools"

"Questions About School IPM Now Answered Online" 

"LAUSD Parents Gain Right to Know of Toxic Exposure"

 

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