Podcast appearances and mentions of ag commissioner

In this episode of the AgNet News Hour, hosts Lorrie Boyer and Nick Papagni discussed the raisin industry with Caleb Barcarian, dubbed "Mr. Raisin." Barcarian shared his 56-year career, noting the industry's decline from 280,000 acres to 90,000 acres due to high land costs and shifts to almonds and pistachios. He predicted five major processors remaining, with 200 growers. Turkey is the top raisin producer, followed by Iran and China. Barcarian highlighted the industry's consolidation and the need for vertical integration. He also mentioned the raisin industry's shift from traditional drying methods to more efficient, automated systems. The segment concluded with a discussion on the raisin industry's future and its efforts to innovate and stay competitive. This segment features an interview brought to you by the Almond Board of California. The segment discussed the impact of recent storms on California almond orchards, highlighting various types of damage, such as wind, rain, hail, and frost. Michael Roots emphasized the importance of growers reporting damage to their local Ag Commissioner within 30 days for potential disaster relief funds. Despite growers being vigilant about crop insurance, they often overlook reporting to the Ag Commissioner. The conversation also touched on the broader implications of tariffs on US exports, particularly almonds, and the strategy behind current economic policies.   The segment concluded with optimism about the almond crop and a brief mention of geopolitical developments involving Ukraine.   The discussion on Ag Net News Hour covered the introduction of Accu-Label, a biodegradable paper label for produce, highlighting sustainability. The label used by Windset Farms features a ladybug, symbolizing sustainable growing. The segment then shifted to the Salton Sea's accelerated shoreline retreat due to water management changes, posing health risks from polluted dust. Between 2002 and 2017, the retreat rate increased from 12.5 to 38.5 meters annually. By 2030, the north shore could recede by 150 meters, and by 2041, by 172 meters. The conversation also touched on the potential use of drones in agriculture for security and monitoring.

Season 5: Episode 204In this episode of North American Ag Spotlight podcast, host Chrissy Wozniak welcomes Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller for an in-depth discussion on the Biden Administration's recent changes to the Horse Protection Act. Commissioner Miller explains how the new regulations, originally intended to curb the inhumane practice of soring in Tennessee Walking Horses, have been drastically expanded to cover all horse breeds and events. He warns that these overreaching rules could place an undue burden on horse owners, breeders, and event organizers, requiring costly inspections and creating impractical restrictions—such as banning common fly spray or minor abrasions from routine training.Beyond the Horse Protection Act, Commissioner Miller addresses broader concerns about government overreach in agriculture, touching on issues such as the USDA's response to screw worm outbreaks, the push to list the monarch butterfly as endangered, and the agency's handling of avian flu in dairy cattle. He highlights the critical role of agriculture in America and the need for policymakers to apply common sense rather than excessive regulation.The conversation also explores potential solutions, including a coalition of state agriculture commissioners pushing back against federal overreach. Commissioner Miller shares his optimism about the new administration's commitment to reducing unnecessary regulations and restoring balance to the industry. He also discusses his lifelong passion for agriculture, his mission to educate the public, and his commitment to protecting the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers.The episode wraps up with information on how listeners can stay engaged, including subscribing to Commissioner Miller's press updates and tuning into his television show, Texas Agriculture Matters - which can be found here - https://texasagriculture.gov/News-Events/Texas-Agriculture-Matters-TV-Show. Learn more at - https://texasagriculture.gov For those passionate about preserving agricultural freedoms, this is an episode you won't want to miss!#agpolicy #farming #agricultureNorth American Ag is devoted to highlighting the people & companies in agriculture who impact our industry and help feed the world. Subscribe at https://northamericanag.comWant to hear the stories of the ag brands you love and the ag brands you love to hate? Hear them at https://whatcolorisyourtractor.comDon't just thank a farmer, pray for one too!Send us a textReady to experience the next generation of precision agriculture? Discover innovative ways to save on labor, cut chemical use, and boost your yields with the Ecorobotix ARA Ultra-High Precision Sprayer! Visit Ecorobotix at the World Ag Expo, February 11th through 13th! Or visit ecorobotix.com/topten to learn more! Experience over 400 exhibitors, showcasing cutting-edge solutions for beef, dairy, crop management, and more. This year's show features new products, like advanced harvest tracking tools, compact tractors, and cattle health innovations.Don't miss the refreshed forestry seminars. Learn about carbon programs and silvopasturing. Plus, get tips from consulting foresters to maximize your land's potential.Join us this February in Syracuse! Learn more at NewYorkFarmShow.com.Subscribe to North American Ag at https://northamericanag.com

Ag Commissioner Thommy Petersen joined Vineeta to discuss a visit with a Canadian trade delegation earlier this week. On The WCCO Morning News.

Ag Commissioner Thommy Petersen joined Vineeta to discuss a visit with a Canadian trade delegation earlier this week. On The WCCO Morning News.

Listen as we talk with Colorado's Ag Commissioner - Kate Greenberg.  We will learn what our Commissioner is looking forward to in 2025 inn terms of Colorado agriculture.

DFW's Morning News speaks with the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture bout the wild west of cannabis in Texas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley visits with GA Dept. of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper- threats to GA farmland, keeping food prices low & the state's top crops

Ashley visits with GA Dept. of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper- threats to GA farmland, keeping food prices low & the state's top crops

Washington County's Jeff Aiken, the deputy commissioner of agriculture for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture has announced he will return to farm full time at the beginning of the new year.

Join Jay Matteson as he welcomes New York State's Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, Richard Ball, to discuss the exciting developments in New York's agricultural landscape. With $21 million available through the Dairy Modernization Grant and over $8.5 million for the New York State Grown and Certified program, there are significant opportunities for farmers to enhance their operations and connect with the marketplace. Commissioner Ball highlights the vital role these programs play in promoting food safety, environmental stewardship, and local agriculture. The conversation also touches on the importance of supporting local farms to boost rural economies and ensure quality food production. Tune in to learn how these initiatives are shaping the future of agriculture in New York and benefiting communities across the state.Takeaways: The New York State Grown and Certified program ensures local farms meet environmental and food safety standards. Commissioner Richard Ball emphasizes the importance of modernizing dairy infrastructure to meet growing market demands. There are numerous grant opportunities available for farmers to enhance food production in New York State. A strong local agricultural economy positively impacts rural communities and contributes to overall economic development. The New York State 30% initiative aims to boost local food purchases in schools and state agencies. Investing in agriculture not only supports farmers but also benefits consumers with high-quality food options. Companies mentioned in this episode: Jefferson County Economic Development New York State Grown and Certified Fair Life Great Lakes Cheese

Tommy checks in with Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Today on MetroNews This Morning:--Election Day is three weeks from tomorrow and candidates are working to make their final pitchest to voters--The state Ag Commissioner says West Virginia farmers will soon learn more about how to access state emergency funds for drought issues--A state Senate Leader wants a closer look at PEIA spending--In Sports: MLB championship series are here and disappointing football weekends for WVU and Marshall fans

Tommy talks with Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

KY Ag Commissioner Johnathan Shell says the state fair is an agriculture extravaganza.

Kentucky Ag Commissioner Johnathan Shell is focused on bringing rural development to rural Kentucky. 

Mike Strain joins Don Dubuc to talk about the recent rice harvest along with being prepared for the next big storm. 

Thom Peterson MN Ag Commissioner at Farmfest

On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Texax Agrigulture Commisioner, Sid Miller. 

Tommy talks with Mike Strain,  Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Mike Strain joins Don Dubuc to discuss the latest developments in Louisiana agriculture and forestry. 

Tommy talks to Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Kentucky Ag Commissioner Jonathan Shell says May is Beef Month in the Commonwealth.

Tommy talks to Mike Strain,  Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

There's a lot of excitement surrounding the possible early start to field work this spring, but farmers are expected to harvest fewer dollars this growing season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inside Agriculture Segment 3

Inside Agriculture Segment 1

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Johnathan Shell says new EPA regulations could cost the state jobs and demand for livestock.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell says new EPA regulations could negatively impact the state's meat processors.

Tommy talks to Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Tommy talks with Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Tommy talks with Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Tommy talks to Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Improving the bottom line for Commonwealth farmers is a top priority for Ag Commissioner Jonathan Shell.

Tommy talks to Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Kentucky Ag Commissioner Jonathan Shell is looking forward to a great working relationship with KFB.

Tommy talks with Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Kentucky Ag Commissioner-Elect Jonathan Shell says issues should be bigger than politics.

Farm Talk Segment 4 - Erick talks with Thom Peterson MN Ag Commissioner From Prairie Grains

Mike Strain joins Dave to talk about the farmer's markets and events in Louisiana. 

Tommy talks with Mike Strain.

Aaron, Chris and a late-arriving Kimberly cover Kentucky's political news of the week, including a surprising new poll, some upcoming debate opportunities as well as KY GOP's judicial setback on Jefferson County schools, and a distressing source of their horrible rhetoric and political agenda came to Lexington. Then, we're excited to share our check-in with Sierra Enlow, Progress Kentucky's preferred candidate for Ag Commissioner! #ColonelsOfTruth NEWS OF THE WEAK: https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article280228279.html https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/heres-how-you-can-watch-kentucky-governor-candidates-beshear-cameron-debate-at-nku/ar-AA1i0Wt5? https://www.richmondregister.com/kentucky/legislature-s-curbs-on-louisville-school-board-unconstitutional-appeals-court-rules/article_15cde1d9-a646-5ecd-a5af-febf9abc89e5.html https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article280298869.html CAMPAIGN CORNER: Sierra Enlow, Democratic Candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture http://sierraenlow.com CALL TO ACTION: Join our campaign for 4 more years of a compassionate commonwealth - calls and canvassing!!! https://bit.ly/ProKY4MYCC #ProgressKentucky - #ColonelsOfTruth Join us! http://progressky.org/ Support us! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/progressky Live Wednesdays at 7pm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/progressky/live/ and on YouTube  http://bit.ly/progress_ky Listen as a podcast right here, or wherever you get your pods: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/progress-ky Facebook   - @progressky Instagram  - @progress_ky Twitter    - @progress_ky Episode 134 was produced by Nate Orshan Theme music from the amazing Nato - hear more at http://www.NatoSongs.com Logo and some graphic design provided by www.couchfiremedia.com

Last week, a series of wildfires broke out in Beauregard Parish in southwestern Louisiana, near the Texas border. Several communities received evacuation orders and the parish sheriff's office estimates that 40,000 acres have burned so far. According to the most recent reports from Wednesday August 30, the fire is 50 percent contained – but dry vegetation and high winds are beginning to push the flames east. Mike Strain, Louisiana's commissioner of agriculture and forestry, gives us the latest on the Tiger Island fire, which the states of Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma are teaming up to fight. Council for a Better Louisiana recently released a suite of rankings and figures that measure the wellbeing of Louisianans. Known as the Louisiana Fact Book, the findings offer a collection of 35 indicators in five key areas of public policy, including education, the economy, and health. The organization's CEO and president, Barry Erwin, tells us more about these findings and why they are released during election years. Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:30 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COLORADO PRODUCE HAS HAD A TOUGH SUMMER And I've got Colorado Ag Commissioner Kate Greenberg on the show at 12:30 to talk about the challenges faced by the various crops this year. Produce producers are hoping you will look beyond some ugly produce and keep buying what they can bring to market after a year of crazy rain, not enough rain, hail and more. Read this article for some background on the issue.

Now that's setting expectations high. There's a lot wrong in this state, but thankfully there are some people trying to turn things around.The Florida Democratic Party has been a mess for too long. Now with former Ag Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried taking over as FDP Chair, she's shaking things up. This weekend, Leadership Blue held its annual confab on Miami Beach. Former chair of the Progressive Democratic Caucus of Florida Susan Smith was there, and I asked her to join us for a few minutes to tell us what happened, and if there's any hope here.Before Susan, another Floriduh story. Rebekah Jones (remember her?) will be here with exciting news. Josh Fox (Oscar-nominee, Emmy winner, director of GASLAND, and others) is making her WHISTLEBLOWER story into a film, and they've launched a Kickstarter to finance it. She'll join in to tell us all about it.

GOP primary candidate destroys DeSantis as a hypocrite on Disney. Kit O'Connell exposes Ag Commissioner as a homophobe for the new dress code. Michael Steele frank on an old obese Trump vs. a fit Biden. Is Tucker Carlson playing around with Russians? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/politicsdoneright/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/politicsdoneright/support

Vineyard farmers manage numerous pests but the invasive species can be some of the most troublesome. Kyle McAbee, President of McAbee Ag Consulting, PCA and CCA sustainability specialist shares what growers need to know to manage pests currently in their area, like Vine Mealybug, and prepare for ones that could come in the future, like Spotted Lantern Fly. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is critical. Sustainable and conventional growers should rotate chemistries, scout to track location, time of year, and mating events, look at how other areas manage the pest, control host species, and be ready to do something about the issue. Most importantly, growers should talk with their Ag Commissioner, Farm Advisor, and each other. References: 26: Controlling Mealybug Vectors of Grapevine Viruses 49: Stopping the Spread of Red Leaf Viruses 96: Spotted Lanternfly - Threat to California Kyle McAbee email McAbee Ag Consulting FaceBook page Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly StopSLF.org UC IPM: Vine Mealybug Vineyard Team Programs: April 12, 2023 Neighborhood Vine Mealy Bug Management Meeting - REGISTER Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - DONATE SIP Certified Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.   Transcript Craig Macmillan  0:00  Our guest today is Kyle McAbee. He is president of McAbee Ag Consulting. He is a licensed pest control advisor, and certified crop advisor with a certification in sustainability specialization. And we're going to talk about pests. Thanks for being thanks for being on podcast Kyle.   Kyle McAbee  0:18  Yeah, good to be with you Craig.   Craig Macmillan  0:20  So you and I were just chatting. And I also been thinking about this a lot recently. And one of the big challenges for sustainability in agriculture in general was pest management, obviously. And I've been looking back into the past and kind of watching things. And I've been wondering if you see something similar to this, have you seen changes in pest pressure, different kinds of pressure, particular pest in different regions? In the last seven or eight years?   Kyle McAbee  0:46  Yes, absolutely. Definitely seen, you know, fluctuations in pest pressure, with certain pests, likely an average overtime average, slow increase, but that said, you know, it's it's year to year, some years, you know, we're looking for certain pests in places that we've seen them for years in and years out and can't find them. I'll give you an example. Last year, the mite population, in particular Paso Robles, but I think in a wider area, you know, I speak with a lot of different PCAs in the local industry, and we're all scratching our heads wondering, you know, hey, we've had Pacific Mite these blocks for the last six, seven years in, we can't find one this year. It just depends on the season and what pest we're talking about, of course, too.   Craig Macmillan  1:29  And that's a really interesting one to me, because that suggests that biological control is working, right? Because you're not treating for mites unless you're seeing mites. So it's not a question of a prophylactic set of sprays, necessarily, they've knocked on the population, one would think, or maybe it's some kind of changing climate reason.   Kyle McAbee  1:48  When we're looking at any of these populations, whether it be pest or whether it be a beneficial insect. It is absolutely environmentally based, whether, you know, we had a warm winter, and it didn't knock back the overwintering populations as normal, or we had an extremely cold winter, which, you know, could further give us some over over winter kill on the overwintering populations, depending on what pest we're talking about, obviously, but yeah, environmental chemicals that are being used, and well, not even chemicals. You know, of course, cultural practices, you know, what folks are doing for dust control for mites? For example, you know, there's just so many factors. But yes, I do think environment and warm winters, and obviously, warm spring and summer have played a big part in increased pest pressure, and particularly mealybug.   Craig Macmillan  2:34  Yeah, so with mites, we just talked about a decline. And when we're talking about vine mealybug, I've been hearing the same thing. And it seemed like, well, back in the 90s, when it showed up, it was just a disaster. I mean, it was really, really bad, you know, and it's never gonna go away. But then things seem like they kind of settled down. I mean, he still had to deal with it. But it wasn't the kind of incredible devastation that we saw in the late 90s. Now you're seeing these things start to these populations and the damage start to come back up, right?   Kyle McAbee  3:02  Yes, I do believe that, you know, as an industry, overall, we've definitely seen an increase in the last, I guess, eight harvests or so that have been in Paso Robles. And not just Paos Robles, you know, kind of up and down the central coast. And yeah, yeah, absolutely seen seen situations where, you know, we've been in control of vine mealybug in certain areas, you know, our hotspots, if you will, is that all of a sudden, we've kind of lost control lost a grip a little bit, or, you know, they're starting to win a little bit more than they were before. Additionally, and more importantly, to me, is we've got blocks and vineyards, that historically, you know, we've been rigorously scouting them season in and season out. And all of a sudden, we're finding mealy bugs, and I'm, and, you know, we'll, you know, blocks that we've trapped, for years just preempt, you know, preventatively to monitor the population that way as well. All of a sudden, we start getting a, you know, a couple counts here, and a couple of counts there. And so we start paying closer attention. And, you know, couple year two, year three after that, then we, you know, all of a sudden, hey, we found some vines with mealybug, on Vine mealybug. And knowing that, you know, had not had that problem in those blocks previously. So new populations moving into new blocks.   Craig Macmillan  4:17  From what I understand we're finding vi mealybug in areas where we haven't had it before. We're seeing increases in the counts, populations are there. Do you have some ideas about why that might be?   Kyle McAbee  4:29  Two different things going on here? We're gonna start with areas blocks of vineyards that we know we've had hotspots of vine mealybug we've been watching them and fighting them for years, maybe a decade for some folks maybe longer for others in those areas. You know, we've had successful years weather that we've had help from Mother Nature and those years in addition to our, you know, IPM programs, whatever it may be, but I do know that over time in the last, you know, five years call it I've definitely had some areas where I've seen Those spots increase, and I've started to scratch my head. And despite the fact that I rotate chemicals, and, you know, IRAC groups and all that, and our cultural practices, I do see, you know, some loss of control in those areas and increase in population and maybe, you know, even growth, you know, outward into the vineyard, you know, I think that, in particular has a lot to do part just in part, but a lot of it is that has got to do with maybe some chemical resistance, some some product resistance, you know, in particular, the neonic, the IRAC 4A's have been so widely used year in and year out, over and over, I've been very suspicious of resistance to those, I don't lean just on those, but I've definitely seen areas where we get no control from those products. And so I've done some work with the USDA to look into that, in particularly one vineyard in Monterey County, we, you know, we took samples of the population, and that was an inconclusive test, you know, there's many reasons as to why that didn't, didn't really work out, a lot of it was the protocol in the lab and how they were doing it, but that doesn't change my mind. And the idea that we do have some resistance to, to those products, not just to pick on those, but I think that's where first place to start, if we're going to talk about resistance with my mealybug I think that's a big part of the problem. The other part of that the meaning, you know, hotspots that are have spread, or you know, are getting worse, I think that those vines are getting older, and the, you know, the bark is fluffing, and there's just more protection for them underneath the bark, as opposed to young, young vineyard, you know, so those hotspots, you know, obviously, as you go, you know, 5, 6, 7, 8 years later, well, those vines are a whole different environment for vine mealybug. And I think that plays a big part into it as well, you get some old grenache or syrah or whatever it may be some of these varietals that that do tend to really multilayers of slough bark, it's just impossible to get any of these chemistries, whether it be organic, or conventional, whatever it may be any of these products in there, and there's just too many places for him to hide, there's got to be some sort of resistance issues, at least that's my opinion, I think others agree. But there's also you know, environmental factors, not just the weather, but you know, in the more of a micro environment for these insects. So you know, these these areas that we've had these populations that we've monitored, that we've been fighting for years, and been successful all the sudden, you know, you're seeing lack of control, and you're having a hard time with even new products, and new chemistries, and additional rotation and stuff. And I think that's got a lot to do with, you know, those vines have changed in the you know, those five or 10 years, you know, they've gotten older and a big part of, as we all know, are most you know, most folks know, and older vines got, you know, much more complex bark system on the trunks and cordons, multi layers, much more area for these these insects to hide under the bark and where we can't make contact with them. And I think that's a big part of it that I know a lot of folks have talked about, and we're all aware of and there's just, you know, what do you do? Right, but I think that's a big part of why these hotspots have have gotten worse, personally, it's coverage at that point, right? It's it's simply coverage.   Craig Macmillan  8:20  In the world of fungicides we faced this for a long time. And the question then is they go Okay, now what do I do? Where do I go from here? I've become dependent on certain materials? Now I'm trying different things. I'm still like in control software chemistries, we're talking about organophosphates, or anything. What's your strategy? What do you think? And where are you going to go in the future with this?   Kyle McAbee  8:39  I'm not the only one doing this. But we in our problem areas, we rotate our chemistries a lot, but that's not all we do. A big part of this is scouting, obviously, you know, we we have to stay on top of it and monitoring any spread or new hotspots. So that's a big one. Another huge part. I mean, okay, so you've identified where they're at, well, what do you do? Well, trapping is a huge part of this cultural practice, if you will, in monitoring not just where they're at, and what they're doing, but mating events and trying to attack these things from the inside out, in addition to chemical programs that are, you know, we all use a lot of the same products, which is kind of why I touched on potential for resistance, but trapping and reacting accordingly. So looking at those meaning events, if you're going to trap, you better be willing to do something about it. Okay, we've got a count of 50 in this trap. Well, the clock is ticking. You know, that mating event is happening. Now. You don't have seven days, you don't have 14 days, you need to be able to get out there now. And if you're using floatable meeting disruptors, you've got to be willing to go out there and spray that at least that area, you don't have to spray the whole vineyard but you know, depending on the size of the property, reacting to it accordingly. The other option, you know, some of these mating disruption companies, they have the hangers and those last long So you can, you know, you've got a hotspot in an area. And as soon as you get that first flight, you know, hang those things out there in the spring, you'll likely, you know, disrupt a couple mating events at that point, you know, I believe they call for a lot of those that last, you know, 90 days or so depending on the weather. I know for a fact they're working on ones that their prototypes at this point, but they are supposed to last quite a bit longer than that. So I mean, we're talking a big chunk of our season at that point, and it goes to the organic versus conventional, right. So the flowable is not organic, certified, the cards are, well, just because you're conventional, doesn't mean you don't use the cards, I think the cards are a big part of that, you know, that meeting disruption process. So if you're conventional, I think, you know, don't look away from the cards just because they're organic. I mean, there's a lot of benefits to those things.   Craig Macmillan  10:47  Absolutely. And I think I've seen that in powdery mildew management to where folks that are not certified organic are putting a lot of Omri approved products in their in their rotation, which is interesting, because that was so that was certainly not the case back in the day. Okay. So this is a great example where we had an invasive pest, we've been trying to figure out what to do now we're trying new things, and it's gonna be constant, right. But what about new invasive pests? There's a couple of things that are out there that I think it's only a matter of time before they show up here in California, or Washington or Oregon or the other direction in your mind, because you're scouting really carefully. You're looking for stuff, all kinds of things. So you obviously you're scouting for pests that you know, but I'm guessing that you're scouting for insects, you don't know, what do you do? What would you recommend as a game plan? If I find something that's new, I don't want to get a toehold.   Kyle McAbee  11:39  Oh, yeah. Well, number one, if it's a new sighting of an invasive species, notifying the Ag Commissioner letting the you know making sure that USDA gets involved and making them aware of it, because a big part of it is it's a big picture. Program. So that's, that's number one. If you're one of the first people to find it, or if it's new to your area, if it's in your area, and it's new to your property or your your vineyard or whatever it may be looking at the States or the country, or countries that that that pest has come from and doing research and looking at what they've done looking at what they're doing there. Is there anything that they've done that is successful to mitigate that pest or deal with it? I think the spotted lantern fly is a good example. I don't think anybody knows exactly what to do with that. With that pest yet. I've obviously I don't have any direct connection with spotted lantern fly being you know, a PCA in California, however, I have done research on it, knowing that it unfortunately isn't inevitably likely to come to California, it's an invasive species from China, it was likely brought in over, you know, cargo ships and things like that. They're, they're very good movers, they lay their egg masses on semi trucks and, you know, see trains and just vehicles and they they can travel across the country that way. That's why I feel inevitably will likely be seeing some of this, you know, in the news or something. In the United States My understanding is it's you know, mostly focused on the East Coast. That's where it came in. I think Pennsylvania might have been first one I know New Jersey and Virginia, I think West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, I think maybe even a couple others have had this issue. And it's a very, it's a very big problem. Not just for the vineyard, it is a problem for the vineyards. But it's a nuisance as well just you know, across communities. And if you have a tasting room next year, your vineyard they pretty good fliers, they're large insect, they're not afraid of humans so they can kind of swarm and just become an issue. But regarding vineyard pest control, they're very, very good feeders. They're aggressive feeders and they will suck a vine dry in in one one to two years and just take all the life out of the vines and that's that's the concern there. The other concern obviously with as goes most invasive species, we don't really have IPM program for them we don't we don't really know what to do we don't have products registered for them. We don't have spotted lantern fly for example written on really any labels that we can use and also bio control, you know, we that's part of an invasive species as well, but it likely didn't bring their you know, their predators with them, you know, their enemies. So I know they're doing work with the native bio control insects in that are in China. Currently, gypsy moth, I believe is one of them. And I believe they're doing some work with some different fungi and things like that. Yeah, I think one big thing to note that I've read is Tree of Heaven is is you know, obviously an invasive species as well from China. That's its host plant in China. So I know we've got it here. I've got areas I've been fighting, you know, Tree of Heaven for a while. So one of the biggest things other than looking for this insect is once it comes here, even now making sure you're controlling that Tree of Heaven, get rid of that stuff and not an easy one to take care of. But that's that's a big part of it, too.   Craig Macmillan  14:52  I live in the city of Paso Robles, and there's a little patch of it like right on the city limit on buying Street. It's spreading come into town. Like it's grown. It's grown up through sidewalks and stuff. And you know, as the biology pages look at, and you're like, oh my god, like, this is just a monster. I'm like, what are you gonna? Do? You know? But yeah, you're absolutely right as if you can identify those plants ahead of time and work on those. That's a great, great idea. Do you have any kind of plan? Not maybe not even for just spotted lantern fly, but let's say we get a report of something.   Kyle McAbee  15:28  Right? And that's how it's gonna happen. I mean, somebody's gonna find it somewhere. And then we're all gonna go, oh, man, what do we do? This is already part of my work anyway, is getting rid of the Tree of Heaven, trying to minimize any reason for that particular pest or other pests? You know, you got you just got to look at their hosts, I mean, their host plants, their host environment, where did they, you know, not just spotted lantern fly, but you know, other invasive species that we're looking at that are making their way into this country? And in figuring out what is their biology? What is their host environment or or plant or whatever it may be? If it it has shown up in other areas, you know, where did it come in, look at what the folks in, you know, country or other area that this invasive pest has come from? What do they do? What what products are they using? And what have they done to control it? Right? Maybe they haven't maybe it's such an aggressive problem. They haven't done it. I think number one, obviously is looking for it. For example, we get a report of spotted lantern fly, like you said in in Napa, or somewhere in California, then okay, well, it's probably here somewhere, just training your folks training your employees, you know, making sure your PCA and his his or her scouts are looking for these pests is important. And it found reporting it you know, not just to not just to the customer, you know, not just to the grower, it needs to be known on a state level or county level, you know, contacting the Ag Commissioner and asking them where, you know, what do we do with this information? Somebody needs to know about it, and making sure the USDA is aware of it. And in that way we they can kind of start tracking, you know, whatever insect it may be. But yeah, on a on a more micro level on on your own operation, looking at what products may be available to try to find it once you have it, looking at what the what they're doing and other maybe other states that have been fighting it for a while, what have they been successful with? And contacting, you know, farm advisors and talking to them about it, you know, Hey, have you guys figured out in the bio control? That's always a tough one. It's not just as simple as Okay, well, lantern fly in China, their main, you know, arch nemesis is the Gypsy Moth, well, let's just bring the Gypsy Moth over well, it's not that simple. Because there's, there's a lot of years of studies that have to go into that to make sure you're not gonna cause that insects. But looking at that, I mean, maybe that's already been done on whatever invasive species may come in, maybe that's already been figured out, and we have access to it. Who knows, you know,   Craig Macmillan  17:53  Or maybe we have an organism already here, that's similar enough that it can do something I think in terms of in terms of like predators, definitely, I think that's an option. And maybe we can do some augmentative biological control or something like that. It does sound like one of our best strategies might be to take cultural approaches initially, and just make it an unfriendly place. And then, and then kind of go from there. And like you said, see what other people have done and kind of go from there. I think that's the tricky thing, mealybug, all kinds of things, bugs and virus. We've learned a lot internationally in the last 10 years, which has been great that we've got folks working on this syndrome, variety of places we can learn from what they do, we're kind of running out of time, I want to ask you, though, in terms of sustainable pest control, and this can be fungi, this can be insect can be nematodes, it could be anything, what one piece of advice, or what one take home idea would you give to a grower if they say hey, I want to manage my vineyard in a sustainable fashion? How do I control my pests?   Kyle McAbee  18:55  Sustainability is, you know, very well correlated with IPM touched on cultural practices and things outside of, of chemical control, trapping, you know, looking looking at mating events, again, like you mentioned, making the environment unfriendly for whatever pest it may be, you know, scouting, making sure that you're aware of what is actually happening out there, what pests are out there, where they're at, in making sure something doesn't get out of control before you know it's there. Because it's really hard. Even on a you know, more aggressive, more conventional program, it's hard to reach back and knock down a population, it's much easier to to get them early on. Right? It just depends on what we're talking about when I say cultural control, looking at you know, hey, are there weeds that are causing the problem on the ground? Is it are you creating a secondary host or environment for X pests, right, keeping those things down and, you know, making sure you're not spreading them mechanically looking at you know, on a sustainable program, rotating different groups if you're on a conventional sustainable program if you're you know, if you're going for the organic products only or your organic certified then looking at those different bio insecticides or organic insecticides that are out there and what your options are, and making sure you're talking to people talking to people that have been doing it, talk to various people get multiple opinions. And one thing I've always heard about PCAs is talked to three, and you'll get three different opinions, which is good, though, because then you can kind of dig through it and see what the best options are, maybe use all three different ideas in in a rotational factor, you know, I've always been an advocate of, you know, communication with with each other. And we're all on this together. And, you know, making sure that we're all learning from one another and figuring out what worked for others and what didn't work for him, and so on and so forth.   Craig Macmillan  20:43  Yeah, exactly. And one thing I want to underline with what you just said is, you know, Scout Scout Scout monitor, monitor, monitor, record, record record, and then go back and look at those and look for those trends. And, and then the second thing being cultural, I think that's a really important idea is that if we can modify the environment, we can do a lot of good. And I think mites is a classic example mites and dust, so where can people find out more about you?   Kyle McAbee  21:06  Honestly, the best way to get a hold of me is either email or phone. I, I'm not very present on social media, with my business. I do have a Facebook, it's, you know, McAbee Ag Consulting. But that said, I think the best way to get a hold of me would be either to call me text me or email me, and I can give you that information.   Craig Macmillan  21:25  And we can put that information in the show notes, folks will be able to find you. This has been great. Thanks so much. I guess today it was Kyle McAbee. He is president of McAbee Ag Consulting, and He is a licensed pest control advisor and certified crop advisor with the sustainability specialization. Thanks so much, Kyle. This has really been a joy. I'm really, really glad you were here.   Kyle McAbee  21:45  Yeah, thank you, Craig. Appreciate it.   Transcribed by https://otter.ai