Methyl Bromide Transitions for South Carolina Growers

The EPA website http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr/index.html has detailed information about alternatives to methyl bromide and the new (2010) regulations on use of soil fumigants. This website includes a summary of key information for South Carolina growers.

Methyl bromide may still be used in 2012 on cucurbits, forest nursery seedlings, pepper, strawberry, and tomato in the southeastern United States to control nutsedge, soilborne diseases, or root knot nematodes. In 2013, strawberry and forest nursery seedlings will likely be dropped from this list.

A few alternative fumigants control these pests as well as methyl bromide (Table 1). Iodomethane (Midas) was listed as an alternative for forest nursery seedlings, pepper, strawberry, and tomato. However, due to concerns about its safety when used on strawberry in California, the company withdrew this product from the US market in March 2012.

Soil fumigant training for certified applicators

Updated soil fumigant product labels will require, as a condition of use, certified applicators to successfully complete an EPA- approved training program. This training must be completed every 3 years. Below are links to the EPA-approved registrant soil fumigant training programs.

Fumigant distributors will require proof of this training prior to shipping Phase II labeled products. Beginning Dec 1, 2012 the products listed below will be packaged with Phase II labels.

EPA-approved training program for certified applicators using methyl bromide, chloropicrin, chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene, dazomet and metam sodium and metam potassium: http://www.fumiganttraining.com/

EPA-approved training program for certified applicators using dimethyl disulfide (DMDS, Paladin): http://paladin.trainingmine.com/

Approved crops on which methyl bromide may be used and alternatives to methyl bromide for 2012