California Ag Network

Category: New Product Releases

  • Kemin introduces RevoCURB™, a new safe and versatile soil treatment tool to address agricultural issues such as restrictions on fumigants and the requirements for buffer zones.

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    Fumigants are a cornerstone of conventional agriculture in the United States for combating soil-borne pests and diseases. However, fumigants also have significant limitations, including application requirements, buffer zone restrictions and the lack of available products for organic farmers.

    The role of fumigants in agriculture

    Fumigants are chemical agents applied before planting to eliminate pests, pathogens, and weeds, which protect crops and improve vigor and yields, especially in high-value crops like strawberries and tomatoes. Despite their effectiveness, most carry significant health and environmental risks, leading to strict regulations on their use, application timing, permitting, and buffer zones1,2. In some cases, these health concerns have led to complete bans on specific products, such as methyl bromide, which has been restricted in both the United States and Europe2,3.

    Buffer zone restrictions

    To reduce exposure risks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces strict buffer zones, areas where fumigant application is prohibited, near public spaces like schools and hospitals. Zone size depends on the fumigant used, application method, local environmental conditions, and distance to public spaces. While crucial for public safety and conservation efforts, buffer zones decrease usable farmland. Often, untreated buffer zones can lead to uneven pest control and reduced crop yields4. Buffer zones also add regulatory burdens, including signage and detailed management plans, increasing cost and complexity2.

    Additional limitations of fumigants

    Beyond buffer zone requirements, fumigants come with additional key limitations:

    • Cost: Fumigation is expensive, requiring investments in chemicals, labor, and regulatory compliance, which are often unaffordable for small-scale farmers.
    • Equipment: The application requires specialized equipment, including shank injectors, calibrated applicators, tarping systems, and enhanced personal protective equipment, which further increases total expenses.
    • Application Conditions: Efficacy depends on precise environmental conditions (soil temperature, soil moisture, weather) and properly calibrated equipment to ensure efficacy
    • Environmental Risks: Fumigants are highly volatile and can drift off-site, endangering nearby communities and ecosystems. Improper application may lead to water contamination or harm to non-target organisms.

    Organic alternatives to fumigants

    For organic farmers, the limitations of fumigants are even more pronounced, as organic certification prohibits the use of most synthetic fumigants. In response to these challenges, organic farmers rely on natural alternatives to manage soil-borne pests and diseases5:

    • Soil Solarization: Fallow fields are covered with plastic during peak heat for 4-8 weeks to trap solar energy, which can kill pathogens, pests, and weed seeds. This timeline may be challenging as the temperatures required for effective treatment coincide with peak growing seasons.
    • Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD)6: Organic materials like rice bran or mustard seed meal are incorporated into the soil and the soil is then saturated with water and covered with plastic to create anaerobic conditions. As oxygen is depleted, aerobic pests die and anaerobic species flourish, producing byproducts that further suppress pathogens. Once the field is cleared and prepared for planting, the reintroduction of oxygen into the soil then reduces anaerobic microbial populations, resulting in a cleaner overall soil. This process, however, can be quite expensive as it is water- and input-intensive and can be ineffective if fields are drained too early.
    • Crop Rotation and Cover Cropping: These practices disrupt pest life cycles and improve soil health; however, they are inadequate to knock down heavy infestations without additional inputs.
    • Biological Controls: Beneficial species help suppress pests via predation or competition. Their success depends on careful species selection, application timing, and environmental fit, and they work best when paired with other methods of control.

    Introducing RevoCURB™, a safe-to-use, 3-in-1 solution for organic and conventional growers.

    RevoCURB™ is a new OMRI-listed, 3-in-1 soil treatment designed to enhance crop health and yield by targeting plant parasitic nematodes, microbes, and pre-emergent weed seeds. Exempt under FIFRA 25(b), RevoCURB offers a 0-hour restricted entry interval (REI), no restrictions on maximum residue levels, minimal requirements for personal protective equipment, and no need for buffer zones. RevoCURB utilizes the power of Smart Blend Technology and four essential oils – thyme, clove, garlic, and cinnamon to provide control through multiple complementary modes of action. These oils disrupt cellular membranes on contact, inhibit nematode egg hatching, impact the nervous systems of juvenile nematodes present in the soil, causing paralysis and death, vaporize within the soil column, repelling pests and delaying repopulation and suppress weed seed germination.

    “These contact and repellency modes of action work in tandem upon application of RevoCURB to disrupt pest lifecycles and prepare soils for planting.” – Emma Trainer, Scientist at Kemin Crop Technologies.

    RevoCURB should be applied 14 days prior to planting or post-harvest and watered in per label directions to maximize efficacy and the zone of protection without harming crop seeds, seedlings, and plugs.

    Field trial to assess the effectiveness of RevoCURB on root-knot and stunt nematode populations on cucumber. San Luis Obispo, California (Credit: Bradley Booker at Pacific Ag Research) (SD-25-28093)

    RevoCURB protects young crops from multiple soil pest pressures, allowing for healthier plants and greater yields. Because it’s free from buffer zone requirements, REI, and residue restrictions, RevoCURB is ideal for transitional areas and organic acreages – bringing flexibility and safety where conventional fumigants fall short.

    For more information about RevoCURB, visit www.kemin.com/revocurb or contact us croptech@kemin.com

    References

    1. Panth, M. & Hassler, S. and F. Baysal Gurel (2020). Methods for Management of Soil-borne Diseases in Crop Production. Agriculture,
    2. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Soil Fumigant Toolbox. https://www.epa.gov/soil-fumigants
    3. European Commission. European Community Management Strategy for the phase-our of the critical uses of methyl bromide. April 2009. https://ozone.unep.org/sites/default/files/additional-reported-information/MeBr_Submissions/EC%20Management%20Strategy%20for%20Methyl%20Bromide.pdf
    4. Vansickle, J.J.; Smith, S.; and R. Weldon (2009). Impacts of EPA proposed buffer-zone restrictions on profitability of Florida strawberry growers. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; FE795.
    5. Bolda, M.P.; Dara, D.K.; Daugovish, O.; Koike, S.T.; Ploeg A.T.; Brown, G.T.; Fennimore, S.A.; Gordon, T.R.; Joseph, S.V.; Westerdahl, B.B.; and F.G. Zalom. Non-fumigant alternatives for soil disinfection. UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Strawberry. UC ANR Publication 3468. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Davis, CA. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/strawberry/non-fumigant-alternatives-for-soil-disinfestation/#gsc.tab=0
    6. Lopes, E.A.; Canedo, E.J.; Gomes, V.A.; Vieira, B.S.; Parreira, D.F.; and W.S. Neves (2022). Anaerobic soil disinfection for the management of soil-borne pathogens: a review. Applied Soil Ecology, 174.

    © Kemin Industries, Inc. and its group of companies 2025. All rights reserved. ® ™ Trademarks of Kemin Industries, Inc., USA. Always read and follow label directions. FIFRA 25(b) Exempt: RevoCURB has not been registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Kemin Industries, Inc. represents that this product qualifies for exemption from registration under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The products are not registered or authorized for sale in all states. Consult with your Kemin representative or state regulatory representative for approval of this use in your state, specific applications, and labeling. croptech@kemin.com | 800-752-2864 (ext.2).

  • UC Davis Launches Small-Batch Wine Label

    The UC Davis cabernet sauvignons and a sauvignon blanc from Hilgard631. (Jael Mackendorf / UC Davis)

    For the first time in its storied history, the University of California, Davis, is selling wines to the public made by students, staff and faculty from grapes they grow in the Napa Valley and around campus in Yolo County.

    Hilgard631 has been in the works for more than 10 years and was made possible by a 2021 state law that allows the transfer of as much as 20,000 gallons of Department of Viticulture and Enology wines to a nonprofit that will handle public sales. With this release, the department bottled roughly 500 gallons of wine to sell.

    The vineyard behind the Robert Mondavi Institute of Wine and Food Science at UC Davis. (Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis)

    Money from the sales will support student scholarships. By using the grapes and wines produced through teaching, the department is enhancing sustainability. Prior to these sales, wines made by students, including in a 10-week winemaking course, had to be discarded.

    “These wines represent our students, their knowledge, creativity and learning,” said Ben Montpetit, chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology. “From vine to bottle, our students are involved in every step.”

    Students participating in a grape crush. (Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis)

    The wine label name pays homage to Eugene Hilgard, founding director of the university’s Agricultural Experiment Station, and 631, which is the address of the Teaching and Research Winery on campus.

    The wines sold under Hilgard631 include a 2020 cabernet sauvignon and 2024 sauvignon blanc made from grapes at Oakville Station, a research and teaching vineyard in the heart of Napa County.

    Grapes grown by students in the Department of Viticulture and Enology as part of a winemaking class. (Karin Higgins / UC Davis)

    Twelve other wines made by students in the product development class, known as VEN 127L, also will be for sale, including albariño, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and petite sirah.

    VEN 127L has traditionally been focused on blending, wine stabilization, bottling and the design of labels, and this launch broadens the class to include the consideration of selling, said Professor David Block, who created the course in 2017 when he was chair of the department.

    Empty bottles being filled with sauvignon blanc on a mobile bottling line, which students learn to use as part of a winemaking course. (Jael Mackendorf / UC Davis)

    “The wines are made by students who are still learning and getting to try out things they may not have done before,” Block said. “It’s a new aspect of the program. It’s more sustainable than pouring it down the drain.”

    In VEN 127L, student winemakers are divided into three groups and charged with developing a red and white wine. Each group also gets help from a professional consultant and department alum who offers advice throughout the class.

    Students walking a vineyard and learning about different grape varieties as part of a viticulture class. (Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis)

    “It’s absolutely fascinating,” said Leticia Chacón-Rodríguez, the winemaker and winery manager. “The students get to connect everything that they learn — all the chemistry, regulations, marketing and blending. The blending piece is where you really put your senses into play.”

    Students also design their own labels. Master’s student Bainian Chen designed the Oakville Station labels, which are a mix of vibrant colors and some familiar campus sights such as the water tower and a bike.

    Labels of the Oakville Station sauvignon blanc being affixed to bottles. (Jael Mackendorf / UC Davis)

    “I usually love my pictures to be very colorful, full of imagination,” said Chen, who is known to give artwork to friends and professors. “I wanted to leave something for the viticulture and enology department.”

    The student winemakers also helped label and bottle the wines, working a commercial mobile bottling line in a trailer behind the winery.

    “To see it being bottled is coming full circle for all of us,” master’s student Megan Hill said.

    Block feels the same way. “I want to buy the first bottle of wine,” he said.

    Winemaker Leticia Chacón-Rodríguez working with students in the Teaching and Research Winery. (Karen Block / UC Davis)

    Wines will range in price from $30 to $40 per bottle for student labels and from $50 to $125 per bottle for the Oakville wines. The winery is bonded and meets federal regulations for commercial wine sales. More information can be found at the Hilgard631 website. – By Emily C. Dooley, UC Davis

    Students taking wine bottles off a mobile bottling line and placing them in boxes for future use. (Jael Mackendorf / UC Davis)

  • Asian Citrus Psyllid Infestation in California: A Guide for California Citrus Growers

    SPONSORED CONTENT

    California’s vibrant citrus industry, renowned for its oranges, lemons, and limes, is under threat from the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri , ACP). This small invasive pest not only jeopardizes the health of citrus trees but also acts as a carrier of Huanglongbing (HLB), a bacterial disease that causes citrus greening. Here’s what growers need to know about ACP, its impact, and how Kemin Crop Technologies can help with effective botanical solutions to manage and prevent infestations.

    Understanding the Asian Citrus Psyllid

    The Asian citrus psyllid is a sap-sucking insect native to Asia, Africa, and the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. It was first detected in the United States in 2005 in Florida and in California in 2008 and has continued to spread across the major citrus growing regions. This insect’s feeding behavior damages citrus trees by causing leaves to curl and blacken. However, the real threat lies in ACP’s role as a vector for Huanglongbing (HLB). HLB is one of the most devastating diseases affecting citrus crops worldwide. HLB is caused by the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, which infects the phloem of citrus trees, disrupting nutrient flow. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure, and the disease eventually leads to the tree’s death. Infected trees can be stunted, have reduced fruit yield, blotchy mottled leaves, and produce misshapen, bitter fruit, rendering them unmarketable. The economic and ecological impact of ACP and HLB is profound, putting California’s multibillion-dollar citrus industry at significant risk.

    Identifying an ACP Infestation

    Early detection of ACP infestations is crucial for effective management. Growers should regularly inspect their orchards for the following:

    • Adult Psyllids: Small (3-4 mm long), brown, winged insects perched at a 45-degree angle on leaves.
    • Nymphs: Tiny (0.25-2 mm long), yellowish-orange immature psyllids found on new growth.
    • Honeydew: Sticky substance excreted by psyllids, often leading to sooty mold development.
    • Leaf Curling: Deformed leaves caused by psyllid feeding.

    Regular monitoring and application during ACP’s active growth stages can significantly reduce infestations and aid in limiting the spread of HLB through psyllid vectors.

    Unlock Superior Protection with TetraCURB™ MAX: Kemin’s botanical-oil based Solution

    For growers seeking a sustainable and effective solution, Kemin’s botanical oil-based biopesticide, TetraCURB MAX, offers a promising option. TetraCURB MAX is a rosemary, peppermint, clove and castor oil-based contact miticide-insecticide and repellent specifically designed to target soft-bodied insects like ACP. Its unique composition is formulated from a proprietary blend of essential oils and synergizers to have multiple modes of action that paralyze, suffocate, desiccate, repel, and disrupt the pest’s feeding and reproductive cycles.

    Here are the key benefits of TetraCURB MAX, and excellent tool for citrus growers to leverage:

    • Smart Blend for Maximum Impact: TetraCURB MAX is formulated with a proprietary blend of active ingredients, including castor oil, rosemary oil, clove oil, and peppermint oil. It also contains an adjuvant, soap and emulsifiers ensuring optimal spray contact, spread, and improves active ingredients efficacy without phytotoxicity. This unique combination ensures multiple modes of action, such as neurotoxic effects, contact suffocation, desiccation, and repellency aiding in fast pest knockdown. The multiple modes of action also help to reduce the likelihood of pests developing resistance.
    • Broad-Spectrum: TetraCURB MAX is effective against a range of pests, being specially formulated to target small, soft-bodied insects. ACP fits perfectly into this category, and we see excellent ACP knockdown in 3rd party assays.
    • TetraCURB MAX Kills on contact with a quick knockdown thanks to the smart blend technology.
    • Safety for Labor, Workers, and Consumers: TetraCURB MAX is made from safe-to-use ingredients, providing peace of mind for laborers and workers. Use of TetraCURB MAX requires minimal personal protective equipment (PPE) and allows a zero-hour restricted-entry interval (REI)
    • Minimal Disruption to Harvest Activities: With a zero-day pre-harvest interval (PHI) TetraCURB MAX can be applied at any time during the season, including on the day of harvest.
    • Versatility: TetraCURB MAX is labeled for use on all crops and has no restrictions on the number of applications per growing cycle.
    • Environmental Safety: TetraCURB MAX does not cause phytotoxicity in plants when used according to the label direction.
    • Easy Application: Applying TetraCURB MAX is simple. It can be used as a stand-alone or in a tank mix. Shake well before use, dilute in water, and apply as a foliar spray with standard equipment ensuring full plant coverage until runoff. ​ With a recommended spray volume of 100 gallons per acre and a treatment interval of 5-10 days, TetraCURB MAX fits seamlessly into your crop protection routine.
    • Exemption from Food Tolerance Requirements: These biopesticides are exempt from Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in the United States, as the pesticide residue expected to remain on crops after application is minimal.

    Proven Efficacy in Lab and Field Trials

    Recent studies conducted at the University of Florida and in Oviedo, Florida have demonstrated the efficacy of TetraCURB MAX against ACP. First, in lab bioassays, TetraCURB MAX at a 1% rate achieved a 59% mortality rate of ACP nymphs within just three days of the application, outperforming the positive control Spinosad-based product. ​A field trial on sweet orange trees showed that two applications of TetraCURB MAX at 0.5% 21 days apart, significantly reduced the nymphal population by 86%, matching the performance of conventional insecticides like Cyazypyr at 16 fl.oz/100 gal. ​ Download the crop sheet to see the full data set HERE:

    Protecting California’s Citrus Legacy

    The battle against ACP and HLB is ongoing, but with vigilance and innovative solutions like TetraCURB MAX, California’s citrus growers can protect their orchards and ensure the industry’s longevity. By adopting sustainable practices, we can safeguard the future of citrus farming for generations to come.

    Don’t let ACP infestations compromise your citrus yield. ​Add TetraCURB™ MAX to your rotation in an IPM program and experience the benefits of superior pest control. ​

    For more information, visit kemin.com/tetracurbmax or contact your Kemin Sales representative today.

  • Rooted in Science: How GroPro Fulfills Its R&D Strategy

    – SPONSORED CONTENT –

    GroPro Corp., a leading agri-biotech company, leverages a unique blend of natural ingredients and cutting-edge technology to develop highly efficient bioproducts. As a commercial manufacturer of bio-pesticides, bio-stimulants, and bio-fertilizers, as well as a research and development (R&D) organization of international repute, GroPro is dedicated to continuous improvement and the evolution of its manufacturing and R&D strategies to better serve our existing and prospective customers. Our robust global R&D strategy for 2022-23 encompasses comprehensive data collection, extensive trials, rigorous research, and new product development.

    Trials: Collaborations with Universities, Farmer Demonstrations

    A critical component of GroPro’s R&D activities is the conduction of broad, two-tiered trials and demonstrations to gather empirical evidence of the effectiveness of our products.

    On one hand, GroPro collaborates with independent third-party groups to conduct rigorous trials. We have multiple ongoing trials with renowned institutions like Washington State University, University of Florida, Clemson, North Dakota State, University of Idaho, Oregon State University, UC Davis, UC Cooperative Extension, and over a dozen independent research groups and additional international universities.These trials aim to delve into the art of using our products for various crops and the targeted control of diseases and insects. These trials span a broad geographical range, from coast to coast in the US to Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, UAE, Morocco, among others.

    On the other hand, for demonstrations, GroPro focuses on working closely with key growers. This year alone, we are conducting over 70 demos across 20 different crops in the US. Our trials have provided valuable insights and led to beneficial partnerships with growers and distributors. For instance, GroPro has developed a complete fumigation replacement program addressing growers’ material shortages. Our products have proven highly effective in stimulating growth and controlling numerous nematodes. Moreover, our patented Vigilance Nematicide has shown great potential in combatting conventional nematicides. Through extensive trials, we’ve also confirmed that our Awakening material increases bee activity, pollination, yields, and ROI.

    Technology as a Driving Force

    GroPro has a range of materials at various R&D stages, guaranteeing continued support for years to come. “Rooted in science is the guiding principle of all company decisions. We focus on finding the optimal manufacturing and formulation process for all our lines,” says Benito Varela, COO of GroPro. “Our patented AMPx technology elevates our products and formulations to a level competitive with conventional products.

    Whether the focus is bacteria, fungi, viruses, botanicals, algae, or amino acids, or any combination thereof, our research team is dedicated to producing the purest and most potent products available in the market.

    Increasing Resources for R&D

    In support of its extensive R&D program, GroPro is expanding its resources. In 2022, we announced the enlargement of our storage, manufacturing, and packaging facilities in the USA. Our new Fresno, CA development facility of approximately 12,000 square feet replaces the previous 5,000 sq ft storage space in California. The new facilities encompass liquid bio-fertilizer manufacturing and storage, crop protection blending and bottling facilities, a warehouse, and a state-of-the-art research and development laboratory.

    GroPro is on a mission to bridge the gap in effective non-chemical inputs, enabling farmers to lessen their chemical dependency without sacrificing yield, quality, or profitability. These expansions and our growing team empower GroPro’s R&D to develop more effective products that benefit distributors, dealers, and growers. In doing so, we strive to uphold our mission—leading the way in the global development, research, education, and adoption of agro-biotech solutions.

    New Talent, Enhanced Expertise

    GroPro is also investing in human resources, bringing new talent into our team to enhance our collective expertise. This includes scientists, researchers, and technicians, each bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to drive our mission forward. We believe that a diverse and skilled team will be the engine that propels our R&D to new heights, allowing us to offer more effective materials that benefit all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.

    Beyond R&D: Education and Adoption

    Recognizing the value of knowledge dissemination and user adoption, GroPro is committed not only to pioneering research but also to sharing these advancements with the wider community. We collaborate with agricultural professionals, farmers, distributors, and academic institutions, hosting seminars, webinars, and on-ground events to share our research findings, discuss industry trends, and educate the market about the benefits and usage of our products. We are also fostering stronger relationships with industry bodies and regulatory agencies to ensure our products meet the highest safety and efficacy standards.

    GroPro remains steadfast in its dedication to revolutionizing the agro-biotech market. Rooted in science, our approach to R&D is holistic, encompassing rigorous trials, innovative technology, expanding infrastructure, and a growing team of dedicated professionals. By ensuring that our R&D strategy remains robust, dynamic, and forward-thinking, we are able to provide our customers with products that not only challenge the status quo but also enhance agricultural productivity in an environmentally friendly way. We are excited to see where our R&D journey takes us, and we’re committed to leading the charge in the global development, research, education, and adoption of agro-biotech solutions.

  • GroPro Recognized as Top Agri Biotech Company of the Year

    – SPONSORED CONTENT –
    The international magazine, Agri-Business Review has recognized GroPro as a Top Agri Biotech Company of the Year. Every year Agri-Business Review releases its listing of 10 companies at the forefront of providing Agri-Biotech solutions and impacting the market. According to Agri-Business Review, GroPro was selected for this prestigious honor, as “They provide farmers with an effective toolbox of new-generation products and solutions which offer enhanced efficacy, integrated pest management, and sustainability of their production programs”. 
      
    GroPro is a leader in the next generation of botanical-based agricultural technology. By using pharmaceutical-grade technology and formulations to manufacture agricultural bioproducts with enhanced efficacy. It is a commercial bio-pesticide, bio-stimulant, and bio-fertilizer manufacturer and an R&D international organization. GoPro aims to close the gap in effective non-chemical inputs that enable farmers to reduce their reliance on chemicals without compromising agricultural yield, quality, or profitability. 
      
    “It is my pleasure to announce that our company has been awarded as a Top Agri Biotech Company of the Year. Such industry recognition confirms that we are fulfilling our mission – to strengthen the reputation of non-chemical inputs globally. The award is a result of the efforts of all our team; it proves that our sustainable bioproducts have been beating the bio-industry standards since its inception. ” – says Benito Varela, COO of GroPro. 
      
    GroPro’s approach entails proprietary technologies, including amplifying natural ingredients, micronization, and atomic extraction of active ingredients. It works relentlessly to innovate and lead the way in the worldwide development, research, education, and adoption of the agro-biotech market. GroPro has collaborated with some of the top growers in the world to assess and demonstrate the efficacy of its materials as a rotational and stand-alone product line for an integrated pest control approach. 
      
    GroPro offers various products across the crop cycle for vital crops like soybeans, corn, wheat, bananas, coffee, and fruits and vegetables. Its natural bio products demonstrate field efficacy, extended shelf life, versatility at tank mix, no field re-entry restrictions, and zero residues. Having completed multiple field trials in the U.S. and internationally, GroPro has a track record of enabling growers to supplement agrochemicals using natural materials in the integrated pest management (IPM) approach.  
    With GroPro’s products targeted at nematicides (product Vigilance), fungicides (bio-fungicide Zayin), sporicide/bactericides (Reckoning), insecticides (bio insecticide Wrath), mosquitoes (Skeeter), and gastropods (Stomp), farmers have products that offer both active control and residual actions. 
      
    GroPro possesses the speed and agility to make changes as per customer needs that other companies can’t afford due to the high structural costs of their internal R&D programs.  
      
    Location:  USA 
      

  • $8 Million for Navel Orangeworm Sterile Insect Program

    The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee recently released an appropriations bill that included $8 million for the facility in Phoenix, AZ that is currently being used to rear sterile navel orangeworm (NOW) for aerial release in California. The facility is part of an area-wide pilot program that the pistachio and almond industries have been interested in developing. For 2020, Congress appropriated $6 million to keep the facility open and start the pilot program. This year, APG led an effort to continue and increase that funding, which included a delegation trip back to Washington, D.C. right before COVID-19 forced much of the city to shut down. This additional $2 million will allow the pilot program to not only continue to conduct research on sterile moth releases, but also begin to expand the breadth of the research. With positive momentum in the House, APG will now turn to lobbying efforts in the U.S. Senate.

    About the Facility
    The Phoenix Sterile Fly Facility was originally commissioned by the cotton industry to raise sterile pink bollworm for area-wide releases in an effort to suppress the pest. The program was even more successful than planned and the cotton industry was recently able to declare pink bollworm eradicated. Now that the facility has excess capacity, pistachio industry leaders have begun breeding sterile NOW for aerial release in California. — By American Pistachio Growers

  • New Traps Cut Off Citrus Greening Pests from Hiding Places

    Researchers across the nation are struggling to end the scourge of citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing. The disease renders citrus fruit inedible and eventually kills entire orchards. In Florida alone, from 2012-2016 the disease caused production losses of $4.4 billion and eliminated about 7,900 jobs.

    With economic impact like that, it’s no wonder that previous citrus greening research and mitigation efforts have mainly focused on commercial production. Now, researchers with the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, FL, and their collaborators are bringing the citrus greening fight to the suburbs, where citrus trees are popular landscape plantings.

    The Asian citrus psyllid, an insect about the size of an aphid (roughly 1/8 of an inch), carries the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in its salivary glands. As it feeds on citrus leaves, the psyllid transmits the bacterium to the tree. The bacterium then prevents sugars created through photosynthesis from traveling throughout the tree. The result is yellowed leaves, bitter fruit, and eventual tree death.

    Spraying insecticides is not really an option in residential areas because many homeowners either have concerns about insecticides or find it too difficult to adequately treat backyard trees, said ARS research entomologist Joseph Patt.

    “There are virtually no control measures being taken against psyllids in citrus trees growing in residential and commercial landscapes,” he said. “This is important because the psyllid can fly from residential areas to commercial citrus groves. In other words, residential areas provide a kind of refuge for the psyllids because homeowners haven’t had a way to control them in their backyard trees.”

    Leaves of an orange tree infected with Huanglongbing, or citrus greening. The blotchy mottling pattern seen here, along with thickening, are characteristic symptoms of infected leaves.

    Patt and Texas A&M-Kingsville entomologists Andrew Chow and Mamoudou Setamou developed “attract-and-kill” traps to prevent this hide-and-seek, back-and-forth migration of psyllids. The traps, which are hung from citrus trees, are the same color as young citrus foliage and contain a fast-acting insecticide that kills the psyllid. According to Patt, the traps provide an environmentally friendly way for homeowners to help control Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening disease. The insecticide remains in the device and does not spread to the surrounding foliage. The active ingredient is not toxic to mammals or birds and does not persist in the environment.

    Initial testing was completed last year in the Rio Grande region of Texas. “The results are promising,” Patt said. “Deployment of 20 attract-and-kill devices per test tree resulted in a 90-percent decrease in psyllid eggs compared to unprotected test trees. We are currently working on a design for use in commercial citrus. Psyllids invade citrus groves by first landing in the trees growing along the edge of the grove, so we will run tests to determine if devices placed only on border trees are effective in controlling the psyllid throughout the grove.” – by Scott Elliott, USDA-ARS Office of Communications

  • Nitrogen-Efficient Fertilizer Research Could Have Lasting Impact

    The world’s population will continue to grow, but the amount of arable land to feed that population will not.

    “So people will continue to add more fertilizers to grow more crops in the same areas,” says Jonas Baltrusaitis, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering in Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, and a recipient of the 2020 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Lectureship Award. “You can’t grow crops without fertilizer. It’s just not happening.”

    While a boon to harvests, fertilizers exact a toll on the environment. Their production alone is extremely energy intensive and a significant source of greenhouse gases, and when nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus aren’t fully taken up by plants, they can leach into groundwater and wash into waterways. Excess nutrients can cause eutrophication of water bodies where algal blooms deprive the ecosystem of oxygen, killing wildlife and producing toxins that can harm humans.

    It’s a vicious cycle that Baltrusaitis hopes to one day break. He recently received a four-year, nearly $435,000 grant through the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for his proposal, “Mechanochemical Synthesis of Nitrogen Efficient Fertilizer Materials.”

    NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is the leading competitive grants program for agricultural sciences in the United States. According to NIFA, “AFRI-funded science is vital to meeting food, fiber, and fuel demands as the world’s population races toward a projected 9 billion by 2050 concomitant with diminishing land and water resources and increasingly variable climatic conditions.”

    Baltrusaitis’ team has developed a dry mechanochemical synthesis method of a family of urea ionic cocrystals that can serve as functional fertilizers that significantly slow down urea hydrolysis in soil, reduce ammonia emissions, and extend availability of nitrogen to plants. He is combining water soluble urea with various nutrients containing low solubility minerals or even industrial waste, such as drywall gypsum, to improve nitrogen management efficiency.

    “We’re re-designing fertilizer materials to be much more stable in the environment,” he says. “If they don’t decompose as fast, they’re available to the plant for longer, so those nutrients are going into the food chain rather than being wasted and damaging the environment.”

    The potential impact is global, and the technology is being developed to be easily inserted into existing supply chains, says Baltrusaitis. His ultimate goal is to design nitrogen-efficient novel fertilizer materials that can be used in field trials with local Pennsylvania farmers, where his team can test improvements in yields and emissions.

    Coming from the USDA, the award is a unique one for Lehigh, he says.

    “And it’s one that will help educate the next generation of engineers as they prepare to address emerging global challenges.

    About Jonas Baltrusaitis

    ChBE researcher Jonas Baltrusaitis is “breaking the cycle.” His USDA-funded research aims to make fertilizer more effective for crop growth and less destructive for the environment.

    Jonas Baltrusaitis is an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Lehigh University. He holds a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Iowa, where he conducted postdoctoral research and served in numerous roles, including adjunct assistant professor and associate director of the Central Microscopy Research Facility. He was an assistant professor of chemical engineering at the University of Twente (the Netherlands) before joining the faculty of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2014.

    Baltrusaitis’ research interests span numerous areas of sustainable catalytic conversion, including: natural gas component catalytic conversion to high value products, biomass catalytic upgrading, sustainable sulfur and phosphorus processing, renewable energy utilization in wastewater processing, low concentration organic wastewater stream treatment, emerging contaminant remediation and environmental catalysis, surface sensitive spectroscopies, and data processing method development.

    His research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance, Defense Logistics Agency, and Department of Defense, among others. His work has been published in high-impact journals such as the Journal of American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, ACS Catalysis, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, and Chemical Communications.

    Baltrusaitis is a member of the American Chemical Society and AIChE and received a 2020 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Lectureship Award for his work in advanced materials science and supramolecular chemistry, applying concepts of sustainable chemistry and engineering to the delivery of more sustainable fertilizers and nutrients.

    At Lehigh, Baltrusaitis has been recognized with the university’s Libsch Early Career Research Award (Spring 2018) as well as a P.C. Rossin Assistant Professorship (2017-2019). He currently directs the chemical engineering M.Eng. distance education program and advises numerous PhD students.

  • Current Status of CA Groundwater Sustainability Agencies – Deadline Approaching

    The California State Water Resources Control Board is getting ready to crack down on farmers for their increased use of groundwater unless their local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies can come up with a sustainable plan that will not overdraft local groundwater resources.  Watch this brief interview with Taryn Ravazzini from the California Department of Water Resources as she shares a progress report of this local GSAs at work.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery and attend one of their upcoming Bennett Hickman Almond Field Days in Pixley or Modesto.

  • Straus Family Creamery Unveils Organic Barista Milk for Culinary Professionals

    The first-of-its-kind product with higher fat content delivers a creamy, indulgent organic milk experience from pasture-fed dairy cows

    Straus Family Creamery introduces its Organic Extra Rich Barista® Milk for specialty coffee and tea industry professionals who care as much about the origin of their dairy as they do their coffee beans and tea leaves. The Extra Rich milk makes its debut ten years after Straus introduced the first organic Barista whole milk on the market. The new Extra Rich milk expands the company’s Organic Barista® Milk line to five products.

    The Organic Extra Rich Barista® Milk is made with organic milk from pasture-fed dairy cows that feature a higher milk fat content and higher milk solids than whole milk (4.2 percent as compared to 3.5 percent). This creates a better café drink experience. Baristas can develop decadent custom beverages with an indulgent mouthfeel and longer lasting foam that is the trademark of Straus’ premium organic dairy milk.

    This Extra Rich milk is the first-of-its-kind with this level of milk fat content and milk solids that is lightly homogenized. Straus uses a propriety process which lightly homogenizes the milk, creating the perfect combination of protein and fat for steaming, while retaining its sweet, well-rounded taste and lasting finish.

    Straus has a long history of pioneering firsts in sustainable organic farming, and Straus Organic Extra Rich Barista® Milk continues that tradition. It was more than a decade ago when the company partnered with a group of Northern California baristas to co-develop an organic milk ideal for steaming in café drinks. The collaboration reflected both Straus Family Creamery’s and the baristas’ uncompromising commitment to quality and deep respect for origin.

    “As a dairy farmer and a pioneer in organic agriculture with a lifetime dedication to sustainable land stewardship and small-scale family farms, I know that origin truly matters,” said Albert Straus, founder and CEO of Straus Family Creamery.  “This new Barista milk represents a standard of quality and care that I share with baristas. Their extreme devotion to their craft and knowledge of the source of their ingredients reflect my approach to quality production.”

    Like the entire Straus Organic Barista® Milk line, it begins with premium organic milk and organic cream produced according to Straus’ long-held principles of sustainable organic farming and minimally processed for the best taste and culinary performance.

    Baristas and notable chefs in restaurants, bakeries, cafés and commercial kitchens use Straus Family Creamery’s Organic Barista® Milk as a culinary ingredient and in cappuccinos, lattes and other milk-based coffee and tea bar drinks. Straus Organic Extra Rich Barista® Milk is sold exclusively to culinary professionals and is available in 64-ounce half-gallon containers. If you’re a chef or food industry professional interested in selling, serving or using Straus products, please click here.

    About Straus Family Creamery
    Based in Northern California, Straus Family Creamery is a certified organic creamery offering minimally processed milk, cream, yogurt, butter, sour cream, ice cream, and a variety of wholesale and specialty dairy products distributed throughout the Western United States. The Creamery makes its products from organic milk supplied by nine family farms in Marin and Sonoma Counties, including the Straus Dairy Farm, which is the first certified organic dairy farm west of the Mississippi River. Straus Family Creamery, the first 100 percent certified organic creamery in the United States, continues to make business decisions based on its mission to help sustain family farms, revitalize rural communities, and protect the environment. The family-owned business sustains collaborative relationships with the family farms that supply it milk, offering stable prices and predictability in what can otherwise be a volatile marketplace. Learn more at StrausFamilyCreamery.com, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin.