News

Tracking a bacterial culprit in the case of the warty pumpkin

On a Halloween pumpkin, warts and bumps have a certain spooky charm. But some unwanted bacteria-caused blemishes open the door to infections that rot and ruin this bright, seasonal fruit. Pseudomonas syringae is a rod-shaped bacterium that infect... more

Move in Congress to support ag research funding backed by organic group

Organic Farming Research Foundations supports a letter delivered to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that supports agricultural research in the Build Back Better Agenda. Thirty Members of Congress have signed on ... more

Salmonella in whole onions from Mexico cited in CDC food safety alert

A Centers For Disease Control and Prevention food safety alert regarding a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections linked to onions was posted Oct. 21. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/oranienburg-09-21/index.html Key poi... more

Iowa High Tunnel Short Course to highlight production and management

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host the 2021 Iowa High Tunnel Short Course on Nov. 8 in the Garden Room at Reiman Gardens. This event is designed to highlight the production and management of high tunnel crops along with informat... more

Microbiological criteria panel includes Western Growers’ Davis

Western Growers Senior Vice President of Science De Ann Davis will serve a second two-year term as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. The committee provides impartial scientific advice to federal age... more

Ag groups formally object to EPA chlorpyrifos rule, citing harm to growers

On Oct. 19, more than 80 agricultural groups filed formal objections to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Aug. 30 rule to revoke all tolerances of chlorpyrifos. Stakeholders, by law, can object to pesticide tolerance changes or cancellations, a... more

Pesticide levels do not pose a concern for public health, FDA says

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued its annual Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report for the 2019 fiscal year. The results show the levels do not pose a concern for public health. According to the FDA, the 2019 report demonstra... more