| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
A region al manual on popc orn p rodu ctio n an d pe st management is co nsid ered a hig h prio rity. T his
publication may be published in either a print version or on the web. It should include an updated Pest
Management Manual as well as information for growers on water quality issues, atrazine stewardship,
and similar environmental concerns. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
It is important to educate registrants on the need to keep popcorn on pesticide labels whenever
possible. It is important for the popcorn industry to regularly communicate to the registrants those uses
that are deemed important. |
| Extension/Outreach |
3 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Growers need to be educated on the proper timing of fungicide applications. (See Research
priority above). Many fungicide applications are applied too late to be effective. |
| Extension/Outreach |
4 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Growe rs and registran ts should be educated on the pote ntial for soybean herb icide carryover injury
to popcorn . (Although mu ch resea rch needs to be done to better define ap propriate intervals for po pcorn
rotation. -See R esearch priorities above). |
| Extension/Outreach |
5 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Growers need to be better educated on weed resistance and how it develops |
| Extension/Outreach |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Consumers need further education on the beneficial characteristics of GMO popcorn. |
| Extension/Outreach |
7 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
It should be communicated to the EPA that growers are making a good faith effort to use Best
Management P ractices tha t minimize ground wa ter conce rns with triazine herbicides . Growers a re
concerned about the potential loss of atrazine and will continue to exercise caution in their use of these
products in an effort to keep atrazine registrations for popcorn. |
| Extension/Outreach |
8 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Custom applicators need to better understand the differences between popco rn and field corn.
Some custom applicators have not exercised sufficient care in setting the rates or in selecting noninjurious
pesticides for popcorn, or in applying a pesticide to popcorn that does not have an existing
tolerance for the crop. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Often, the mode st market opportunity for a new product is insufficient to induce registrants to
consider including a crop such as popcorn in their registration package. The registrants, the EPA and
the FDA might explore mean s to streamline approval for popcorn or make it less expens ive for registrants
to include popcorn on labels. This might include grouping popcorn with other corn types where possible.
This seems particularly applicable where similar grains have already received approval for human
consumptio n. U nles s th ere is reas on to assume a d ifferenc e in expecte d res idue s su ch g roup ing c ould
provide for labeling a number of useful, and potentially less hazardous, pesticides. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Maintaining the current atrazine registration for popcorn was considered a high priority. This
herbicide is of critical importance to popcorn production due to lack of viable alternatives. The
importance of atrazine as a convenient, effective herbicide that is safe to both humans and the crop
should be communicated to the EPA and USDA. |
| Regulatory |
3 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Reducing the personal exposure level of phosphine from 0.3 ppm down t o 0.01 ppm, is very diff icult
to do on a practical level. Means should be explored that would allow the continued use of this product
in a safe manner, without jeopardizing shipment and commerce of popcorn. |
| Regulatory |
4 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Callisto (Syngenta) is currently registered for field, seed and sweet corn but has no specified use
for popcorn. This product would appear to have a good fit with many of the weed control needs in
popcorn and should be investigated for a popcorn label. The IR-4 program may play a role in addressing
this issue. |
| Regulatory |
5 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Further removal of popco rn from OP insecticide labels could comprom ise popcorn production.Where p otential registered uses may be lost, the lost use should be ca refully evaluated for its impact.
(i.e. Lorsban, was kept on field corn but lost on popcorn) However, since lost registrations are inevitable,
there is a critical need to evaluate and register products from other che mical families on popcorn, both
seed treatments and over the top. These should include the neonicotinoid family; Actara, and Cruiser
(thiamethoxam ), Provado and Gau cho (imidacloprid). |
| Regulatory |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Hybrid sensitivity to herbicides (carryover and direct injury from post application) is a critical issue.
Where such information is known or can be determined by the registrant, hybrid sensitivity information
should be commu nicated to popcorn seedsmen |
| Regulatory |
7 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
There is a lack of uniformity in organic popcorn production from state to state. Som e effort needs to
be made to unify the standards of production. |
| Regulatory |
8 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
There is a great deal of inconsistency in the efficacy of pheromone products. (Esp. Western bean
cutworm pheromone) Some effort should be made to provide standards for these products. |
| Research |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is need ed to determine hybrid sensitivities to herbicides. IR-4 can play a role and both
regis tran ts and Land-Gra nt U nive rsitie s are encou rage d to add res s th is iss ue. Though som e of this
information may be collected anecdotally from producers and agronomists, a more coordinated and
concerted effort is needed. |
| Research |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed to identify proper timing of fungicide applications on popcorn, especially for
gray leaf spot. There is considerable futility in applying fungicides too late -(i.e. after seeing disease)
and there is a need for determining when a diseas e may be present and wh en it may be appropriate to
treat. |
| Research |
3 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed on the potential for use of the Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) in stored
popcorn. There is a significant need for a product such as Di-con II, that could be used for Indian meal
moth and other stored grain insect pests. |
| Research |
4 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed to determine the distribution and severity o f mycotoxins in popcorn. Little is
known regarding what mycotoxins are present, how they might be controlled, understanding mechanisms
of infection (storage molds and mycotoxins that come with them), the use of diagnostic kits for detection,
and managing moisture and other conditions in grain bins to minimize their impact. |
| Research |
5 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
The need for continuing plant breeding efforts for resistant hybrids for all diseases is a continuing
priority. Conventional plant breeding and inbred development cannot be overlooked as a means of
minimizing pesticide use and maximizing quality traits in popcorn. |
| Research |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research on giant ragweed control in popcorn is needed. Because the canopy in popcorn does not
close as quickly as with field corn, several flushes of giant ragweed can occur during a season and be a
serious problem for yield reductions and harvestability. It would be helpful to know the best approach to
controlling this weed. |
| Research |
7 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed to determine if insecticide rates could be lowered and still be effective? Many
growers are currently using less than labeled product rates with good success, but the reliability of such
low rates being broadly recommended is ques tioned. |
| Research |
8 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed to evaluate the impact on popcorn production from the W estern co rn rootworm
variant and the Northern corn rootworm with extended diapause traits. It would be helpful to have a
method for predictive modeling of its economic impact. |
| Research |
9 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed to evaluate the impact of soybean
herbicide carry over for popcorn. Popcorn is
more sensitive than field corn to many herbicides, but the label restrictions for planting popcorn in a
rotation following soybean seems excessive for many herbicides. |
| Research |
10 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed on alternate methods of resistance management for weeds. The current post
emergence grass control products have crop injury that inhibits their use as resistance management
tools. |
| Research |
11 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed to deal with black nightshade, morningglory species, and other weeds after
Roundup Ready soybeans. Weeds break through late in the soybean season and produce seed that
becomes a problem for p opcorn in the fo llowing year. |
| Research |
12 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed on atrazine fate and dissipation to determine the adverse impact of current
atrazine use levels. |
| Research |
13 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed on the needle nematode, to include thresholds and economic impacts on yield
and how to control. |
| Research |
14 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed on the European Corn Borer (ECB) third generation, the univoltine biology and
how it is changing, and the best co ntrol methods. |
| Research |
15 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed on popcorn specific thresholds for ECB. |
| Research |
16 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is need ed on flea beetles, as they are becoming m ore of a concern with mild winters. We
need to know threshold information as well as more about their role in Stewart’s Wilt transmission, etc. |
| Research |
17 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Res earc h is needed o n the les ser grain bore r. Th is ins ect see ms t o be mov ing n orth and it would
be go od to know if it will con tinue to do so and ho w quickly. |
| Research |
18 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed on gray leaf spot. This disease is becoming more prevalent and more attention
needs to be paid to it. |
| Research |
19 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed on the epidemiology and basic background of ear rots so that control can
better be effected |