New Year Brings New Issues for Old Active Ingredients in Florida
Regulatory decisions made in earlier years and in other states have directly impacted Florida growers. These issues involve soil applied organophosphate insecticides such as phorate (Thimet®) and terbufos (Counter®), methomyl (Lannate®) use in strawberry, pyridaben (Nexter®) use in citrus, and dimethoate use in ornamentals. Some of these decisions will have serious implications for pest management in Florida crops.
The decisions made several years ago concerning the organophosphate compounds are now beginning to appear in label revisions. Specifically, the revised Thimet® and Counter® labels contain a series of statements concerning the use of these materials near water or in fields with shallow water tables. The labels have multiple scenarios regarding the use of the materials around water, and maintenance of vegetative filter strips between application sites and water. Review of some of these would plainly place some potential users in the Everglades Agricultural Area out of compliance. It is highly recommended that if employing a soil insecticide, read the label very carefully to determine if the intended use is in compliance with the label.
Another surprising event is the loss of methomyl in strawberry. This appears to be a three-sided decision between California, Dupont, and the EPA. Florida was never consulted on this decision. New methomyl labels appearing in 2007 will not list strawberry. Older labels will still have strawberry listed and supplies with this label are expected to last through 2007 and maybe even into 2008. If a grower is to deplete existing stocks the product must have the label that lists strawberry. EPA has agreed to entertain Section 18 requests if there is a lack of alternatives. Chemistries that are considered good possibilities for Section 18s include acetamiprid (registration for use on strawberry is pending), buprofezin, and novaluron. Tolerances for methomyl on strawberry will still be on the books for a reasonable amount of time.
The 2007 Gowan labels are out and it has been noted that the Nexter® (pyridaben) label states “NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION IN FLORIDA” on the top of the first page. Apparently, there has been questionable efficacy issues with this product, particularly in the summer sprays. Gowan is still researching this situation.
Finally, it seems as if all dimethoate products available in Florida to have statements limiting the use of this material to ornamentals listed on the label. Interestingly, the lists are often fairly narrow, with many northern species listed. Since they do differ, a grower should do an extensive search if this is part of their pest management program. Also, the labels generally restrict dimethoate from being mixed with oil.
