Vol. 16—1962 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

In addition to a review of field and laboratory research in progress
with cooperators of industry, government, and adjOining states, the extension
man must set the stage tor product recommendation and use within his areas Of
responsibility, and coordinate the information to min1mize confusion. In
addition, he calls attention to failures in field performance, new problems~
and S1milar voids in our information that offer a beals for future research.
He works closely with the county agricultural agenes on programs that meet
safety standards and res idues tolerances. The extene ion spec ialist from the
State colleges and universities has a great responsibility, and. his recolillllendations
must be based on reliabJ,e research that is correctly interpreted, and
is supported by industl'Y .in terms of' "-v"- i l ..h 1.. "'''''''n"'''ofo,, t7~. - ...... _ -- L"'_
A broad area of responsibility considered :la1 many of the States and..
elsewhere, is the effect of pesticide residues on flavor and other quality
determining attributes of foods. With an increasing growth.in processed foods,
the necessity for maintaining uniform high quality in the products is maIldatory
in a canpetitive industry. l'obch work continues to be done in this 1mportant
area by research scientists in food technology at the state experineat
stations. S1milarly, the problems reach an1mal products like meats, egg.,
milk, poultry, and the like, both in terms of possible harmful residues as
well as effects on flavor and qUality. The use of antibiotics for mastitis
control in dairy, cattle, for examp1.e, has had far reaching effects in terms
of residues, because they affect marketability of the milk. Fortunately bioassays
have been most helpful in residue determinations for several products
that are used in mastitis control programs.
A word of recognition should be given to several of the states in 1mich
work has been 'done on the development of eccurate , streamlined analyticaJ.,
methods for pesticides. One of the great break-throughs of recent months-has
been the use of gas chromotography for certain residue determinations. ~~e
speed of the method, plus its extreme precision, will provide research workers
in the residue field with a much better understanding of residue levels Of'
certain types of chemicals in or on commodities than was ever possible by other
methods. A number of the systemic pesticides have yielded to the use of radioactive
tracer research techniques in determining the metabolic products as
well astba modeot action. Still other fields of residue research ha~benefited
from bio-assay techniques, using both plants and an1mals as indicator
mechanisms .
EXTENSIONIN OURSTATECOLLEGESANDUNIVERSITIES.
The Cooperative Extension Service of the Land Grant institutions has
been a great force in quickly dispensing available 1nf'ormation on the use of
agricultural chemicals for specific problems and conditions to farmers and
homeowners. The magnificent benefits received from their use, as well as the
safety record with their use, attest to this point. The extension worker,
whether a herbicide specialist, entomologist, plant pathologist or plant
phys iologist, selects from the informat ion that research has available and
recommends the products the.t have met with the regulatory procedures for safe
use. Based upon his own judgement from field trials' as well as grower use,
industry experience, and the like, he makea his recollllJlendations to suit his
particular .. geographical areas and. problems. This is a great responsib-1l1ty,
but is one that is being met by capable workers. throughout the country.
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