Pests & Pesticide Use

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Insect, Weed & Plant Disease Identification

Proper collection, handling and shipping of samples for identification, analysis or diagnosis are critical.  We'll assist you, and refer you to specific edis publications.

Diagnostic and Identification Clinics

Insect Identification:  Ask for an ID kit for submitting samples to the Insect ID Lab (fee, $8).  Insect Identification Service.

Diseases:  The main Plant Disease Clinic in Gainesville and regional clinics at Research and Education Centers in Quincy, Immokalee and Homestead constitute the Disease Clinic Network  (typical fee of $20, may vary).  Florida Extension Plant Disease Network.

Nematodes:  Number and type of plant-parasitic nematodes in soil and plant samples are reported (fee,$ 20 for Florida growers). Nematode Assay Laboratory.

Plant Identification:  Botanist and taxonomists at the Florida Museum of Natural History Herbarium identify plants, including weeds.  Plant Identification and Information Service.

• Weed Identification Links  
•  Weed Science Society of America Weed ID
• UC IPM Weed ID Photo Gallery  
• Common Weed Seedlings
• Poisonous Plants of the Southern U.S.

Distance Diagnostic and Identification System (DDIS)

IPM Images - CSU & SPDN

IPM Pest ID and Diagnosis

 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests through biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in ways that minimize risks to the environment and to human health.

• IPM Florida - Agricultural IPM
• Beneficial Insects
• Pest Alert
• Scouting & Pest Thresholds (Farm Pocket Notebook)
• UC IPM How to Manage Pests
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) include implementation of an IPM program and proper, legal use of pesticides.  BMP Manuals are printable from FDOACS Office of Ag Water Policy

Pest Management Guides

EDIS and Departmental Guides

Insects    

• Insect Management Guide (online edition)

Plant Diseases     

•  Disease Management Guide Vegetable Crops
• Disease Extension Pubs Plant Pathology

Nematodes

Weeds  

• Weed Fact Sheets & Recommendations
• Weed Management Guide
• Weed Management in Grazed Fence Rows
• Weed Management in Fence Rows
• Vegetation Management in Forestry
• Forest Vegetation Management (SS-FOR-10)

Aquatic Weeds

• Aquatic Weed Management with Herbicides
• Weed Control in Florida Ponds

 

Other Guides

• Georgia Pest Management Handbook
• Auburn Pest Management Publications

Pesticide Information

• KEEP ALL PESTICIDES OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN

  The pesticide label is a legal document:  it is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide inconsistent or not in accordance with the label or labeling materials.

• Florida Pesticide Information Office (UF/IFAS)
• Pesticides Publications
• FDACS Ag Environmental Services, Compliance Monitoring

• Pesticide Certification & Licensing
• CEU Program Requirements
• Pesticide Compliance
• Pesticide Applicator Training - CEU Classes

• Florida Department of Agriculture - Pest Control (Bureau of Entomology)
• National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC - Oregon State Univ)
• Pro-Hort site from  Hillsborough County Extension (excellent and detailed discussion of application licensure)
• Leon County Horticulture (Ornamental and Turf Pesticide Applicator Training
• Aldicarb (Temik) Rules
• Florida's Organo-Auxin Herbicide Rule (2,4-D, Triclopyr, Dicamba, etc)

Equipment Calibration

• 1/128th Acre Calibration Method
• Pesticide Equipment Calibration
• Calibration pages from the Farm Pocket Notebook
• Calculations, Conversion Rates, Calibration

Organic and other Alternative Pest Management

• Pest Management - ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
• Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises - Organic Production: Pest Management
• Organic Production, UF/IFAS SFYL

Other Pest and Pest Management Topics

WPS - Worker Protection Standard

• EDIS Publications related to WPS
• WPS Requirements for Agricultural Workers
• WPS Requirements for Pesticide Handlers
• WPS Records - Call for a USDA-AMS record or use the Farm Pocket Notebook

Pesticide Records

• Pesticide Recordkeeping
• Records - Call for a USDA-AMS record or use the Farm Pocket Notebook

Labels and MSDS

• Pesticide Information Office link to Labels and MSDS
• Green Book Pesticide Labels (Agriculture)
• Blue Book Pesticide Labels (Turf, Ornamentals & Specialty Crops)
• Crop Data Management Systems - Labels & MSDS
• Pesticide Company Information (phone and web contacts - NPIC) 
• Clemson link to Labels and MSDS