Stink Bugs Making Way Out of Hibernation

With all the news about the impending cicada brood emerging this year, Brown Marmorated Stinkbugs, last fall's significant pest, may have been overlooked. But for those who have noticed them crawling on the floors or walls, these bugs are beginning to wake up from their annual hibernation, according to Agriculture Research Scientist Don Weber, an entomologist who studies BMSBs in Beltsville. "They are becoming active," said Weber. "What they're...

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The Competitive Edge of Farm Certification

Recently, I participated in the Operations Committee meeting for the Harmonized GAPs standard.  As part of the Harmonized G.A.Ps Initiative, the produce industry is identifying the best audit process to efficiently implement and deliver a ready-to-use harmonized checklist.  During the meeting, there was discussion of food safety as being non-competitive.  Does this also mean that the food safety certification process is non-competitive? ...

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