Browsing by Subject "Pesticides"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    1993 Pesticide Use Patterns of Minnesota Aerial Applicators
    (University of Minnesota, Minnesota Extension Service, 1995-03) Bh, Subramanyam; Norwood, S; Tufte, M.; Gingera, G.J.; Wilson, N.; University of Minnesota, Minnesota Extension Service
    Responses from 28.4% of 176 Minnesota licensed aerial applicators are summarized to show types and quantities of pesticides used on 22 or fewer crops/sites in Minnesota. About 79% of the respondents have been applying pesticides aerially for more than 10 years. Aerial applications with herbicides were more common than applications with insecticides or fungicides. A combination of pesticides were rarely applied.......p. iii
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    Documenting perceptions about pesticides and other environmental exposures with photovoice : mothers' concerns for their children
    (2008-11) Stedman-Smith, Margaret M.
    Women of childbearing age and children living in rural agricultural regions are at-risk for pesticide exposure from a variety of pathways including occupational track-in, drift from farming activities, residential usage, and dietary intake. The purpose of this dissertation research is to answer the questions: "What do mothers perceive as pesticide exposure pathways for themselves and their children? How do these perceptions differ between cultural groups?" The study involves a secondary analysis of data collected during the summer of 2007 in the Red River Basin of the North from the University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and the Division of Environmental Health Sciences. Sixteen women from three diverse groups participated: Caucasians enrolled in the Women Infant and Children federally subsidized nutrition program, new American immigrants, and Native Americans. Due to culture, economics, and geography, these groups may experience increased health risks from pesticide exposure. Photovoice was used as a qualitative methodology to document mothers' concerns about pesticide exposure and other health issues for their children, since it enables participants, including those who lack verbal acumen in the language of the dominant culture, to use photographs to address questions like, "Why does this situation exist? Do we want to change it, and, if so, how?" Caucasian and Native American mothers voiced concern about pesticide exposure from drift due to agricultural spraying on the ground and by plane. All participants wanted advanced notice to take precautionary measures before fogging or spraying. Perceptions of pesticide exposure differed according to the cultural lens of each group: Caucasian women saw the necessity of industrial agriculture and pesticide usage as a trade-off; Native American women voiced concerns about pesticide contamination to traditional foods; and new American immigrants expressed a need to learn how to read labels and use pesticides safely. Participants suggested culturally congruent strategies for the delivery of educational information. Consumption of locally grown organic foods was identified as one strategy to reduce pesticide exposure. This research assists public health professionals, extension educators, and primary care providers with the aim of reducing pesticide exposure to children living in rural agricultural regions.
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    Episode 11 Pollinators and IPM Part 3: Pesticides and Pollinators with Karin Jokela: What's Killing My Kale?
    (2018-08-10) Klodd, Annie; Hoidal, Natalie; Jokela, Karin
    In our August episode on pollinator and beneficial insect conservation as part of IPM, we talk with Extension educator and native bee expert Elaine Evans, and Xerces society conservation planner Karin Jokela. We'll discuss some background on how pollinators and beneficial insects are faring in our current agricultural systems, how farmers can implement beneficial habitat, and some tips for managing pests without harming beneficial insects. 
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    Episode 17 What Does Pesticide Safety Mean for Organic Farms? With Natalie Hoidal: What's Killing My Kale?
    (2018-12-10) Klodd, Annie; Hoidal, Natalie
    The December episodes of the podcast center around understanding the complex topic of pesticide use and safety on fruit and vegetable farms, including organic and natural pest management products. The internet lays many claims about the benefits of numerous "alternative" or "natural" remedies for pest management and plant health. How do we know which methods are backed up by science, and which are not? In this episode, Linda lays out ways growers can determine if claims about natural products are accurate and effective. We use epsom salts and compost tea as two examples. Linda is an Extension Educator at Washington State University and manages the Horticultural Myths blog and The Informed Gardener podcast.
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    Swat modeling of sediment, nutrients and pesticides in the Le-Sueur River watershed, south-central Minnesota.
    (2010-01) Folle, Solomon Muleta
    The Le Sueur River Watershed (LRW) of South-Central Minnesota drains 2,850 km² in the Minnesota River Basin. The watershed has an annual discharge of 230 mm and generates significant sediment and chemical pollution. The objective of this study was to quantify the spatial and temporal patterns of sediment, nutrient (nitrate-nitrogen, phosphorus) and pesticide (atrazine, acetochlor and metolachlor) losses from the LRW using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated from 2000-2006 in the Beauford sub-watershed. The calibrated model was applied to the entire LRW mainly to identify critical pollutant contributing areas and to evaluate effectiveness of alternative best management practices to reduce the loadings. The study has five major parts. The first part deals with hydrologic simulation. The second part identifies the relative contribution of upland and channel sediment sources. The third part deals with water quality impacts of land use and management alternatives on phosphorus and nitrogen losses to the LRW. The fourth part deals with pesticide losses. The fifth part deals with impacts of various biofuel production options on water quality. The LRW has estimated annual loadings of 1.0 kg TP/ha, 18 kg NO3-N/ha and 302,000 t/yr of sediment that contribute to water quality impairments in Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River. Alternative management practices are predicted to reduce upland sediment yield by up to 54%, nitrate-N losses by 22%, and phosphorus loadings by 64%. Overall, the SWAT model was able to accurately simulate the hydrology and transport of chemical pollutants under the land use systems, climate, hydrologic and physiographic settings of South-Central Minnesota.