FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF MAY 13, 2001:
We enjoy the results of our strawberry patch but we don't enjoy using pesticides to control the insects it attracts. Can we successfully grow strawberries with some of the newer, more environmentally friendly chemicals?
Fortunately, now you can, says Bob Stoltz, University of Idaho extension entomologist. The growing arsenal of "biorational" insecticides makes it possible to control aphids, leafrollers, leafminers, mites and root weevils without resorting to "hard" synthetic insecticides.
For example, you can use beneficial nematodes to destroy larval root weevils and white grubs. You can also apply insecticidal soap--an all-purpose spray--to control most soft-bodied insects, including aphids and spider mites. For maximum effectiveness of insecticidal soap, wet plants thoroughly.
Products that contain neem, or azidirachtan, have been on the market for the past several years. A botanical insecticide derived from the seed of India's neem tree, it is registered for use against many common pests of small fruits, among them leaf-feeding beetles and aphids.
What is your opinion about transgenic foods? Could they harm consumers?
Sandy McCurdy, University of Idaho extension food safety specialist, considers any genetically modified foods that have earned approval for human consumption to be safe. The biotechnological process by which they were modified is an "extension of traditional plant breeding," she says. Rather than depending on trial-and-error techniques, the new technology allows plant breeders to accurately insert specific desirable traits--such as improved nutritional value or resistance to plant diseases--thereby speeding the process of crop improvement.
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, undergo a science-based safety assessment by the Food and Drug Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency. These assessments compare the GMOs with their original counterparts to determine whether any differences in composition pose nutritional or safety risks. "The government oversight process is very thorough," McCurdy says. "If concerns are identified, the crop is not approved for human consumption."
Such was the case with StarLink, a genetically modified corn variety that had been approved only for animal feeds. When StarLink corn was found in foods intended for human consumption--like taco shells--those foods were recalled from the marketplace.
McCurdy says StarLink corn was not endorsed for human food use because it contains an insecticidal protein that could potentially prompt allergic reactions in humans. Indeed, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are investigating 14 cases of possible allergic reactions involving StarLink corn.
"Biotechnology permits scientists to insert previously unheard-of traits into plants, such as a cold-hardiness protein from fish," she says. Because this opens new possibilities for food composition, McCurdy encourages consumers to "stay informed on developments and insist that the federal government continue to rigorously scrutinize all new genetically modified foods."
Why are stains so hard to remove from today's cottons? I've purchased a number of beautiful cotton T-shirts from a very reputable catalog and have retired each one to housecleaning attire after less than six months.
Sandra Evenson, University of Idaho associate professor of clothing and textiles, explains: Dressy T-shirts from brand-name manufacturers and retailers often use a very high quality cotton, such as Pima, Egyptian and Sea Island. These fibers--long, fine, smooth and lustrous--have often been treated with either a mercerizing or liquid ammonia process that swells them and makes them even more lustrous and wrinkle-resistant. These treated cottons accept dyes more readily, producing rich, color-fast hues. Unfortunately, they can also accept stains more readily--and acid-based stains, such as fruit and coffee, are very difficult to remove from them.
Another potential culprit in your battle to keep your cotton T-shirts clean is finishing that's applied at the end of the manufacturing process to enhance the garments' "hanger appeal." These finishes keep the garment looking fresh and crisp, even after weeks of shipping and handling, but they can also react with stains to set them permanently. Laundering garments before their first wearing can eliminate the problem, Evenson says. Some manufacturers even recommend prewashing on their labels.
If you do drop a big gob of spaghetti sauce down the front of your new T-shirt, treat the stain as soon as possible. Put it face down on a pad of paper towels. Then apply warm, soapy water from the back so you don't push the stain deeper into the fibers. Replace the paper towels frequently. If some residue remains, treat the stain with laundry detergent and wash it in the hottest water safe for the fabric.
Another strategy: Add fabric softener to your rinse cycle. Evenson says it enhances garments' stain resistance.
[READERS: Do you have a question about your home, yard or garden? Send it to HomeWise, University of Idaho Ag Communications, Moscow, ID 83844-2332 or e-mail it to homewise@uidaho.edu. Mention of proprietary products or firms does not constitute endorsement by the University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System or imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.]