Pesticide Registrations and Actions

Other Actions

  • On April 18, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services declared a crisis exemption for the use of Headline® (pyraclostrobin) and Caramba® (metconazole) on sugarcane to control orange rust.  Because the FDACS has already submitted (on 3/25/08) a section 18 quarantine exemption petition on behalf of sugarcaneFlorida sugarcane growers for the use of these fungicides, the crisis exemption remains open-ended (i.e., no expiration).  Although nationwide supplies of these materials are tight, the company has made an effort to supply growers with the material.  There is also progress towards sugarcane labels for both of these products in the next few years.  Please contact the PIO if more information is required.  (FDACS letter of 3/25/08 and call of 5/6/08). 
  • In May, Extension delegates will be meeting with Department of Homeland Security staff to discuss the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).  These standards became effective on November 20, 2007.  If a chemical user possesses chemicals on Appendix A of the CFATS, then they must complete a questionnaire (TopScreens) that is submitted to DHS.  There are several fertilizers (such as anhydrous ammonia, poultryammonium/potassium nitrate) and pesticides (acrolein, aluminum/magnesium phosphide) listed in the appendix, and farmers are apparently not exempted.  However, the DHS did issue a statement that does address this situation (see below):
    •  (1) Until further notice, or unless otherwise specifically notified in writing by DHS, the TopScreens will not be required for any facility that is required to submit a TopScreen solely because it possesses any chemical of interest, at or above the applicable screening threshold quantity, for use: (a) in preparation for the treatment of crops, feed, land, livestock (including poultry) or other areas of an agricultural production facility; or (b) during application to or treatment of crops, feed, land, livestock (including poultry) or other areas of an agricultural production facility; (2) This extension applies to facilities such as farms (e.g., crop, fruit, nut, and vegetable); ranches and rangeland; poultry, dairy, and equine facilities; turfgrass growers; golf courses; nurseries; floricultural operations; and public and private parks. (3) This extension does not apply to chemical distribution facilities, or commercial chemical application services.  If you have any questions about the exemption described above, please contact Dennis Deziel, Deputy Director, DHS Compliance Security Compliance Division or the CFATS help desk at 866-323-2957 or csat.dhs.gov.  (EDEN email, 4/29/08). 
  •  There has lately been some confusion as to the status of the herbicide simazine (Princep® and others) and its use on turf in Florida.  This use has not been canceled or modified but there are several current product labels that are written in a manner that it may appear as though the product could not be used in Florida turf (residential/golf/sport/sod production).  The FDACS is working with registrants to produce some supplemental labels that will serve to cover this use until new labels contain the appropriate language.  (FDACS conf. call of 5/6/08). 

 

 

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