January 2004

Pesticide Registrations and Actions

• On December 22, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service (FDACS) registered the miticide Zeal® (etoxazole) for control of spider mites on pome fruits, cotton, and strawberry. The EPA registration number for the Valent U.S.A. Corporation product is 59639-123. (FDACS PREC January Agenda).

• On December 8, the FDACS exempted the Division of Plant Industry from the requirement of obtaining an experimental use permit for the use of Remedy® (triclopyr) on citrus cut stumps. The Division is examining the use of a 50/50 mixture of Remedy® and diesel fuel as a stump treatment. (FDACS letter of 12/8/03).

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• The FDACS issued the Special Local Needs [24(c)] registration number FL-030010 to DuPont Crop Protection for use of Escort® (metsulfuron methyl) to control old world climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum). The EPA registration number for the product is 352-439. (FDACS letter of 12/9/03).

• The FDACS has canceled the Special Local Needs [24(c)] registration number FL-030009 to FMC Corporation for use of Stingray® (carfentrazone ethyl) for control of aquatic weeds by company request. This follows the issuance of the EUP for this material in October. (FDACS letter of 11/24/03).

• On December 5, the FDACS conditionally registered the fungicide Insignia® 600 (pyraclostrobin) for control of diseases on golf course turf grass. The EPA registration number for the BASF Corporation product is 7969-184. (FDACS PREC January Agenda).

• On December 22, the FDACS registered the miticide Tetrasan® (etoxazole) for control of spider mites on outdoor ornamentals. The EPA registration number for the Valent U.S.A. Corporation product is 59639-108. (FDACS PREC January Agenda).

• The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistical Service is beginning to send out surveys to document agrichemical use in the ornamental industry. These surveys are crucial in documenting the success of research and extension programs. The data also reflect what materials are essential to the growers. Please cooperate with the NASS regarding these surveys.

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• The nematicide DiTera® DF (dried fermentation products of Myrothecium verrucaria) is now available from Valent U.S.A. Corp. It is registered with the EPA and is also listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute for use in organically grown products. (The Grower, November-December 2003).

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• The FDACS is proposing several rule amendments regarding noxious weeds/regulated plants, arthropods, biological control agents, and plant pests. The amendments would alter the definition of noxious weed (adding threat to endangered species to the definition), provide text regarding containment and mitigation of escapes, and describe the classification process for noxious weeds and invasive plants. (Florida Administrative Weekly, 12/26/03).

• The Department of Transportation passed a law back in March of 2003 which only now seems to be coming to light. Anyone transporting more than 119 gallons or 1,000 pounds of hazardous materials is now required to formulate a security plan, with associated training. A recent meeting of state representatives active in enforcement complained that the DOT formulated the rules without input from the agricultural community - a charge that the DOT confirmed - and that the enforcement officials were unsure of the extent of the requirements. (USDA conference notes, 12/16/03 & http://hazmat.dot.gov/hmt_security.htm).

• On December 18, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed to amend the fruit and vegetable regulations to list a number of crops from certain parts of the world as eligible for importation into the United States. Some examples on the list include African horned cucumber from Chile, Annona spp. from Grenada, and pitaya (climbing cactus) from Mexico. The complete list can be found in the Federal Register. (Federal Register, 12/18/03)

• The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service has announced the release of two Request for Applications (RFAs). They are the:
   
  1. Special Research Grants Program - Pest Management Alternatives Research (PMAP) which is the special program addressing Food Quality Protection Act issues. Proposals for this program are due February 20, 2004. Contact Dr. Monte Johnson at (202) 401-1108.
      
  2. Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - Integrated Pest Management. Proposals are due March 15, 2004. This RFA includes the following three program areas (followed by contacts):

Crops at Risk (CAR) - Dr. Rick Meyer at (202) 401-4891

Risk Avoidance and Mitigation (RAMP) - Dr. Robert Nowierski at (202) 401-4900

Methyl Bromide Transitions (MBT) - Dr. Dennis Kopp at (202) 401-6437

The RFAs are available on the CSREES Funding Opportunities web site at: http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/funding/ourfund.htm and on http://www.fedgrants.gov. (USDA CSREES email of 12/29/03)

• A bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide for the approval of methyl bromide critical use exemptions in the U.S. if they are not approved by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. The following text would be added at the end of Section 604(d)(6) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.7671c(d)(6)): “In any year after the enactment of this sentence, if the Parties to the Montreal Protocol do not approve the entire amount of methyl bromide requested by the United States under the critical use exemption process as implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Article 2H(5) of the Protocol and Decision IX/6 of the Parties to the Protocol, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any obligation incurred by the United States pursuant to the Montreal Protocol, the entire amount of methyl bromide requested shall be deemed to have been approved, and the Administrator shall issue a final rule within 30 days of a denial of the full request for United States critical use exemptions by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to authorize production of the full amount previously determined by the Administrator to constitute critical uses and to allocate this amount for each year for which such uses were requested.” This amendment would allow growers and regulators to know that they will receive the methyl bromide as requested by EPA, rather than dealing with groups that question the EPA’s estimates or refuse to make a decision. (SRIPMC notification, 12/22/03)

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