Understanding Weather Issues Core Pesticide Update I

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Understanding Weather Issues Core Pesticide
Update I

• by Linda S. Wiles
• Penn State Extension Educator

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Predawn Summer Sky
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Pest Control Weather

• Manage
• Water, Humidity, Temperature, Light
• To
• Kill, Disrupt Life Cycle, or Create
  Unfavorable Conditions for Pest

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Outdoor Pest Control

• Water control
• Humidity control
• Temperature control
• Light control

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Weather Pest Development

• Pest life cycles can be predicted based on
  weather data, including Growing Degree Days.

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Pest Life Cycles

• Time of year
• Number of generations per year
• Phenological plant indicators
• Relationship of pest to host plants

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Insect Example

• Argentine Ant
• invades homes in rainy weather and drought
• Multiple queens -
• not controlled by pesticide applications
• Behavior weather dependent
• Example from Dont bother trying to prevent
  ant infestations, scholar says,
• by Mark Shwartz, Stanford Report, April 25, 2001

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Pest Weather Receptors

• Insects adapt and sense changes in the weather
  through receptors on their antennae.
• These are known to detect
• smells
• wind
• temperature

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Weather Matters

• First
• Read the label
• and follow all label instructions
• See cautions regarding specific weather
  conditions

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Weather Matters

• Favorable Conditions for Pesticide Applications
• Low - Moderate Air Temperatures 81F or below
• Average Humidity 45-65
• Light Air early morning or early evening
• 2-6 mph
• Rain-free period (most chemicals require one)
• Adapted from Weather for Pesticide Spraying
  Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology
• http//www.bom.gov.au/info/leaflets/Pesticide-Spra
  ying.pdf

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Weather Matters

• Unfavorable Weather Conditions for Pesticide
  Applications
• High Temperatures over 82F or
• Low Humidity below 45
• Unfavorable Wind Conditions
• Air (temperature) Inversions - during
• Rain before heavy rain
• Adapted from Weather for Pesticide Spraying
  Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology
• http//www.bom.gov.au/info/leaflets/Pesticide-Spra
  ying.pdf

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Temperature Variations

• Height of measurements
• Hot days
• Height of applications
• hot day volatilization

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Humidity Effects

• Too Low Too High
• Droplets Droplets
• evaporate quick dont evaporate (esp. small
  ones) readily
• BOTH ? DRIFT

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Unfavorable Wind Conditions

• Too Much Wind before or during - gt 9 mph
• Too Calm lt 2 mph droplets stay suspended
• Wind Direction towards sensitive areas
• Air Turbulence variable or gusty winds

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Temperature Inversions

• Air gets warmer with increased elevation
• Unpredictable air/spray movement
• - could hold spray near ground
• - could hold spray at a higher level
• - could vary horizontally as well

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Signs of Temperature Inversions

• Smoke moves across the sky, not rising
• Noises can be heard for miles
• 25-30? F or more between daytime high and
  nighttime low
• Clear skies and calm winds at night
• Most common in spring and fall, but can occur
  year-round

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Pesticide Labels Weather

• Label recommendations- conditions when to delay
  use.
• heavy or sustained rain
• high temperatures
• high winds
• low RH

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Label - Orthene?

• Do NOT apply in drift conditions
• DO protect from excessive heat
• DO apply in early evening, temperature 60-80F to
  dry foliage

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Label - Astro?

• Do NOT apply during temperature inversions
• DO apply when wind favors target deposit about
  3-10 mph.
• Do NOT apply when wind gt 15 mph

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Label - Segway?

• Do NOT apply gt 3 times per growing season

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Label - Bayleton?

• Rainfall within ½ hour of application does NOT
  decrease effectiveness
• LESS effective during drought conditions

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Label - Captan

• REPEAT at 7 to 14 day intervals
• as long as cool, wet weather continues

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Label - Copper Fungicide

• DO apply in October prior to heavy fall rains,
  again in January
• IF severe blight, apply in August

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Label - Glypro? Plus

• Do NOT spray during windy conditions
• IF low RH, increase droplet size
• Do NOT spray in temperature inversions

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Label - Merit? 5WSP

• Do NOT apply when turf is waterlogged or soil
  saturated
• Turf and soil MUST allow for vertical penetration
  of pesticide

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Label - MACH 2?

• IF drought conditions, water in
• Do NOT apply more than 3 lb. per 100 s.f. per
  year, regardless of pests controlled

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Pre-Application Weather Sensitivity

• Post-emergent herbicides SENSITIVE to
• DRY conditions
• prolonged COOL weather
• Because lack of chemical translocation
• Manage higher application rate may be needed
  note limits from pesticide label

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Spray Equipment Selection

• IF full-coverage is needed,
• as for contact pesticides
• THEN drift-resistant fan nozzles are not
  suitable.

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Granular Application Weather

• Granular products are also affected by
  temperature humidity
• Recalibrate under current conditions
• for proper application rate.

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Pesticide Weather Sensitivity

• Soil applied chemicals NEED RAINFALL
• to move in plants.
• If insufficient soil moisture,
• then probable low weed control.

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Disease Weather Sensitivity

• Fungi spread by
• WIND
• WATER
• Bacteria spread by
• WIND-DRIVEN RAIN
• SPLASHING RAIN

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Record Conditions

• Weather conditions during application
• should be listed
• on the pesticide application records.

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Disease Weather Sensitivity

• Weather Conditions
• MOISTURE and TEMPERATURE
• are critical to expression of disease.

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Post-Application Weather Sensitivity

• RAIN can wash off chemicals if soon after
  application.
• SUNLIGHT can degrade or reduce pesticide
  activity Photodegradation

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Remedy if rain post-application

• Immediate repeat application
• Scouting for need to reapply
• Dependent on maximum amount allowed of the
  specific pesticide

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Post-Application Weather Sensitivity

• Photodegradation is avoidable
• at application by soil incorporation
• where appropriate.
• Warm temperature and moist soil increases
• Microbial degradation
• Chemical degradation

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Environmental Contamination

• Many processes are slowed at the extremes of
  temperature and humidity.
• Too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry
• ?
• ? probability of soil and/or groundwater
  contamination

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GOALS

• Minimize pesticide in non-target areas
• Minimize pesticide loss
• Minimize exposure to operators or bystanders

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GOALS

• Minimize pesticide in non-target areas
• ?
• Reduce possible injury to wildlife
• Reduce possible injury to sensitive crops
• from contaminated water

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GOALS

• 2. Minimize pesticide loss
• ?
• To increase pest control
• To lower costs

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GOALS

• 3. Minimize exposure to operators or bystanders
• ?
• Decrease health problems
• Decrease liability issues

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Pesticide Application Penalties

• Lawn care not adjusted for 4 in. rain
• Pesticide application in 17-19 mph winds
• Herbicide drift from farm to forest
• Herbicide drift from right-of-way to turf and
  ornamentals
• Examples from Maine Board of Pesticides Control

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Wind Spray Drift

• Diverts chemical from target
• - Reduces effectiveness
• Deposits pesticide where not needed or wanted
• - Injury to susceptible vegetation
• - Harm to wildlife
• - Deposition of illegal residues on crops
• - Contamination of water supplies

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Hot and Dry

• Moderate can result in Vapor Drift
• At extreme
• pesticides can crystallize on target
• activate later when moist
• higher residue level

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Vapor Drift

• INVISIBLE!!
• Can predict likelihood for specific pesticides
• higher vapor pressure numbers
• higher volatility

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Vapor Drift

• Hot ground temperatures
• Break between the spray and ground application
• Cloud of pesticide moves off-site

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Vapor Drift Control

• Use larger spray droplets
• Apply to fine to medium soil
• Have soil wet

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Runoff and Leaching

• Both affected by irrigation or rainfall
• amount timing
• relative to pesticide application.
• Avoidable by monitoring weather

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Protect Water Resources
Photo by Alicia Wiles
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Weather Monitoring

• PLAN pesticide applications based on weather
  BEFORE application
• Record DURING application
• Record AFTER application

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Predawn Summer Sky with Moon
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Dawn Summer Sky
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Weather Monitoring - Distance

• Radio
• http//www.findradio.us/displaystate-PA.htm
• Television
• http//www.globalcomputing.com/GetTV_Map1.cfm?st
  ateidPA
• Web Site
• www.weather.com www.accuweather.com
• Airport
• http//www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/nemap.jsp

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Weather Monitoring - Distance

• Does not consider local topography
• Hills Valleys
• Buildings
• Trees
• Generally measured
• at 10 meters above ground level

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Weather Monitoring - Local

• Hand-held Devices (6 -700)
• ?
• ?
• ?
• Sophisticated Computerized Logging Devices (160
  - 1,500)

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Order of Weather Measurements

• 1st - Wind Direction
• Use a compass
• Avoid steel objects while measuring
• Find magnetic direction
• Take reading in degrees
• 2nd - Wind Speed

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Beaufort Wind Scale visual estimates

• Force Knots Class Appearance
• 0 lt 1 Calm Smoke rises vertically
• 1-3 Light Air Smoke drift indicates
  direction, still wind vane
• 4-6 Light Breeze Wind felt on face, leaves
  rustle, vanes begin moving
• 7-10 Gentle Breeze Leaves small twigs
  moving
• 11- 16 Moderate Breeze Dust, leaves, loose
  paper moving small tree branches moving
• 17-21 Fresh Breeze Small trees in leaf sway
• 6 22-27 Strong Breeze Larger tree
  branches moving
• http//www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/beaufort.html

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Calm Air
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Moderate Breeze
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Wind Recording Tips hand-held devices

• Hold unit so that it faces the wind
• Measure for several seconds
• Record at estimated height of spray (if possible)
• Wind speeds increase with higher altitudes

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Temperature

• Measure temperature at time of application
• Avoid spraying in hot temperatures

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Cold Temperature

• Example
• Postemergence herbicides applied prior to frosts
• Possible longer time to weed death, or less
  control
• Scout 2-3 weeks post-application under better
  conditions
• Herbicides and cold weather, by Bob Hartzler,
  extension weed scientist,
• Department of Agronomy, Iowa State,
• Integrated Crop Management, May 2, 2005

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Humidity

• RH is relative humidity
• Dewpoint is absolute humidity

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Combination Data

• Wind Speed Temperature Humidity
• Wind Chill, Heat Index, Dewpoint
• http//www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/

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Temperature Humidity

• Example
• Warm days cool nights high humidity
• good conditions for downy mildew
• Improved air circulation can reduce infection and
  make sprays more effective.
• Downy mildew on Veronica , Jan Byrne, MSU
  Landscape Alert, Vol. 22, No. 11, June 22, 2007

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Dew Point

• Temperature at which air is saturated with
  moisture
• CONDENSATION EVAPORATION
• gt 70 F, uncomfortable

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Fog

• Probable if either
• Air temperature Dewpoint
• Previous night with light wind clear sky

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Atmospheric Stability

• Higher Temp Higher Altitude Inversion
  probable
• When late evening or early morning
• What Inversions look like fog
• Why Important damage time, direction, amount
  unpredictable.

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Inversions

• Unnaturally Stable Atmosphere
• Air is Not Mixing
• Greatest Potential for Spray Drift Damage

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Weather - High Low Pressure

• Air, wind moves from
• High Pressure
• ?
• Low Pressure

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Climate Change Increases

• in temperature
• in growing season
• in extreme wet and extreme dry
• in air inversions other severe weather
• Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture The Impacts
  of Warming and Extreme Weather Events on
  Productivity,
• Plant Diseases and Pests, by Cynthia Rosenzweig,
  et. al,
• Harvard Medical School Center for Health and the
  Global Environment
• Predicted Effects of Climate Change on
  Agriculture A Comparison of Temperate and
  Tropical Regions,
• by Cynthia Rosenzweig and Diane Liverman

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Possible Changes due to Climate Change

• Insects may move further north
• insect generations per year may increase
• More rain can increase disease
• More droughts can increase plant stress
• INCREASE IN PESTICIDE USE
• Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture The Impacts
  of Warming and Extreme Weather Events on
  Productivity,
• Plant Diseases and Pests, by Cynthia Rosenzweig,
  et. al,
• Harvard Medical School Center for Health and the
  Global Environment
• Predicted Effects of Climate Change on
  Agriculture A Comparison of Temperate and
  Tropical Regions,
• by Cynthia Rosenzweig and Diane Liverman

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Changes since 1970

• Pest damage and pesticide use increasing,
• with 1/3 more loss in spite of new technology
• Pest and disease cycles often relate to
• extreme or anomalous weather
• Recent climate trends,
• including higher nighttime and winter
  temperatures may be contributing to this.
• Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture The Impacts
  of Warming and Extreme Weather Events on
  Productivity,
• Plant Diseases and Pests, by Cynthia Rosenzweig,
  et. al,
• Harvard Medical School Center for Health and the
  Global Environment
• Predicted Effects of Climate Change on
  Agriculture A Comparison of Temperate and
  Tropical Regions,
• by Cynthia Rosenzweig and Diane Liverman

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Types of Severe Weather

• Temperature
• Unseasonably Cool
• Unseasonably Warm
• Unseasonably Hot
• Extreme Heat/Heat Waves
• Humidity/Precipitation
• Unseasonably Dry
• Drought
• Hail
• Flash Flood

• Electrical Events
• Thunderstorms Wind
• Lightning
• Wind Events
• Heavy Rain/Wind
• Dust Devil
• Tornado

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Increasing Severe Weather Patterns
Based on Data for Monroe Co., PA, from NOAA
National Climactic Data Center
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Recent Severe Weather Events
Based on Data for Monroe Co., PA, from NOAA
National Climactic Data Center
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Pesticides and Human Health

• Pesticides can mimic
• weather related ailments

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Similarities for Heat Exhaustion Pesticide
Poisoning

• Sweating
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Central nervous system depression
• Loss of coordination
• Confusion

Reference EPA In Case of Pesticide Poisoning
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Differences for Heat Exhaustion vs. Pesticide
Poisoning

• Heat Exhaustion
• Dry membranes
• Dry mouth
• No tears
• No spit present
• Dilated pupils

• Pesticide Poisoning
• Moist membranes
• Salivation
• Tears
• Spit present in mouth
• Possibly small pupils

Reference EPA In Case of Pesticide Poisoning
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Pesticide Information Profiles

• EXTOXNET
• http//extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/ghindex.html
• physical properties guidelines
• photostability
• water solubility volatility
• temperature sensitivity

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References

• Beneficial Management Practices Environmental
  Manual for Crop Producers in Alberta - 2.7 Air
  Quality
• Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture The Impacts
  of Warming and Extreme Weather Events on
  Productivity, Plant Diseases and Pests, by
  Cynthia Rosenzweig, et. al, Harvard Medical
  School Center for Health and the Global
  Environment
• Dont bother trying to prevent ant infestations,
  scholar says, by Mark Shwartz, Stanford Report,
  April 25, 2001
• Downy mildew on Veronica , Jan Byrne, MSU
  Landscape Alert, Vol. 22, No. 11, June 22, 2007
• Herbicides and cold weather, by Bob Hartzler,
  extension weed scientist, Department of Agronomy,
  Iowa State, Integrated Crop Management, May 2,
  2005
• Instrumentation to Document Environmental
  Conditions during Pesticide Applications, by
  Robert Wolf and Patricia A. Hipkins, Kansas State
  and Virginia Tech
• Maine Board of Pesticides Control Enforcement
  Notes March 26, 2007
• Massachusetts Dept of Ag Resources, Pesticide
  Bureau Technical Information Bulletin, Thermal
  Inversions, May 2003 Version
• Penn State Core Pesticide Manual
• Pesticide Labels Orthene?, Astro?, Segway?,
  Bayleton?, Captan, Copper Fungicide, Glypro?
  Plus, Merit ?, MACH 2?
• Predicted Effects of Climate Change on
  Agriculture A Comparison of Temperate and
  Tropical Regions, by Cynthia Rosenzweig and Diane
  Liverman
• Weather for Pesticide Spraying Australian
  Government, Bureau of Meteorology
  http//www.bom.gov.au/info/leaflets/Pesticide-Spra
  ying.pdf
• Weather-Wise Application Cornell Pesticide
  Applicator Core Tutorial
• Airport http//www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/nemap.jsp
• Beaufort Wind Scale http//www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/to
  rnado/beaufort.html
• EPA In Case of Pesticide Poisoning
  http//www.epa.gov/pesticides/safety/incaseof.htm
• EXTOXNET http//extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/ghindex.ht
  ml

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Credits

• Grant support for program development
• from Penn State Pesticide Education
• Assistance by Alicia Wiles and Michael Wiles,
• and review by Karen Wilkins, Pat OConnor
  Jeanne Dunstane
• Concept, PowerPoint text and design
• by Linda Wiles, July 10, 2007
• Penn State is committed to affirmative action,
• equal opportunity, and the diversity
• of its workforce.