Vigilance & persistence pays off.

Effective control of pests on mushroom farms requires a team effort. This month's pesticide issue highlights several pest and disease management strategies for owners and employees.

Integrated Pest Management News by Laura Phelps explains AMI's role in tackling pest control problems. AMI deals with state and federal agencies and chemical companies to help members control pests on farms. The article covers the IPM Manual, Topsin M emergency registration, ortho-phenol phenols (OPP) tolerance and hydrogen peroxide registration. Also included is information on funding available to Pennsylvania growers for on-farm food safety audits.

David M. Beyer, Ph.D. reviews Effective Farm Sanitation Strategies. Critical components of disease management include maintaining a clean working environment throughout the farm, educating personnel so they can discover and control problems before major outbreaks occur, and separating "clean" jobs from "dirty" ones. Verticllium, Cobweb and Trichoderma control methods are reviewed, and definitions of sanitizers and disinfectants are explained. Advantages and limitations of various products are evaluated.

Pesticides: Back to Basics by Gerry Hutney provides definitions, rules and regulations that effect mushroom growers. The PowerPoint review explains the various types of pest control, registration requirements, label components, worker protection language and product formulations. As always, the most important thing to remember about applying pesticides is follow the label.

Steps to reduce the risk of pesticide-related illness and injury caused by faulty or contaminated equipment are outlined in Worker Protection Standard Focus on Equipment Safety. Employers are required to inspect and maintain equipment so that pesticide handlers are protected. Handlers should be made aware of the dangers of pesticide exposure and the importance of wearing protective work clothing, aprons and gloves.

We offer congratulations to Bart Minor on his 10th anniversary as Mushroom Council President. During his tenure, he added focus to marketing programs and advocated research to develop awareness of the health benefits of mushrooms. Fresh mushroom shipments continue to grow under his leadership. Testimonials from former Council chairmen attest to the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the job, and the impressive results he has won for the mushroom industry.

This month we also offer kudos to Mark Wach for winning China's Friendship Medal. Learn about plans for the 50th Annual Mushroom Short Course set for June 8-10, and make your reservations soon for next month's ISMS Congress. Finally, we offer reports on Pennsylvania meetings, share information on a mushroom health bulletin and announce two new associate members.

--Sara Manning, Mushroom News Editor