i think we need to reduce the need for this chemical to be used so widely on earth
and ni this country. evidently practices that are used promote this disease and the
people need to insist that some of the below practices need to be implemented
immediately on anybody who asks to use this kasugamycin so that its use is
used just once.
Limited number of plant species planted at high densities. Most modern apple
orchards are limited to two species: apples and grass ground cover. Fifty years
ago apple orchards were routinely planted at densities of 100 trees per acre or
less; now, we aim for tree populations of between 250 to 1,500 per acre.
2. Wide use of susceptible plants. While some apple cultivars demonstrate a
moderate to high degree of resistance to fire blight, even that can be breeched by
hail, wind or frost damage. Market demands over the last two decades have
encouraged the production of new cultivars like Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, Empire,
Ginger Gold and Granny Smith along with many traditional favorites like Rome,
Jonathan, York and others that are moderately to highly susceptible to fire blight.
3. Wide use of genetically similar or identical cultivars and rootstocks. Apple and
pear cultivars must be propagated vegetatively to maintain the characteristics of
those varieties. In addition, to support the high tree densities that are now
standard, clonal apple rootstocks such as M.26 and M.9 are widely used. Indeed,
it is likely that 60% of U.S. apple production over the next decade will be on these
two rootstocks which are both highly susceptible to fire blight.
4. Monoculture in time and space. Fruit crops are perennials and are planted with
the full expectation that they will remain in place and productive for at least 15 to
20 years. This is monoculture in time. Monoculture in space occurs when a fruit
industry develops in certain areas having climate and soil conditions most
favorable for fruit production so that concentrations of several thousand acres or
more provide an ideal base for maintaining important pathogen populations.
5. Uniform management practices throughout an orchard and across entire
regions are required for both efficient production as well as for meeting specific
market demands. As a result, large portions of the crop may be uniformly
susceptible should conditions favorable for disease develop.
All of these factors are necessary for the efficient production of high quality apple
and pear production. Eliminating even one of these factors reduces the viability of
the business of commercial fruit production. Understanding the risks these
elements pose for disease development, however, is an important step in the
design and implementation of effective disease management programs that do not
decrease the overall efficiency of production.
WE NEED TO STOP THE DISEASE NOT USE CHEMICALS OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
Anonymous public comment
This is comment on Notice
Kasugamycin; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption and Solicitation of Public Comment
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