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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158352
Title: IMPACT OF TOWNSHIP CAPS ON TELONE USE IN CALIFORNIA.

Author
item Trout, Thomas

Submitted to: International Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/3/2003
Publication Date: 11/3/2003
Citation: TROUT, T.J. 2003. IMPACT OF TOWNSHIP CAPS ON TELONE USE IN CALIFORNIA.. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES AND EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS. 2003 Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions November 3-6, 2003, pp 109-1 - 109-8.

Interpretive Summary: Telone (1,3-Dichloropropene) is a soil fumigant and effective nematicide that can replace many uses of Methyl Bromide. It has been used successfully for both perennials and annual fruits and vegetables. Due to chronic health risks associated with 1,3-D and emissions associated with soil application, state Suggested Permit Conditions (established by the Ca Dept. of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)) limit applications depending on the application method, location, and time of the year. Township Caps limit usage to 90,250 lbs per township (23,040 ac). For perennials, this would allow 275 ac per township to be fumigated. The Pesticide Use Reporting database was used to predict the impacts of township caps on the use of Telone as a methyl bromide alternative. The analysis predicted that, with the standard Cap, about 1/3 of current fumigated land would exceed the cap and not be able to use Telone. However, the impact on certain concentrated high value crops such as strawberries and sweet potato, and be large, exceeding 50% in the case of strawberry. Impact will be small on perennial crops that are fumigated only when orchards and vineyards are replanted. Current state rules have temporarily relaxed the Cap to 180,500 lb, but this relaxation will phase out over 5 years. Current use of Telone has shown these estimates to be realistic. Nineteen townships exceeded the standard Cap in 2001.

Technical Abstract: Telone (1,3-Dichloropropene) is a soil fumigant and effective nematicide that can replace many uses of Methyl Bromide. It has been used successfully for both perennials and annual fruits and vegetables. Due to chronic health risks associated with 1,3-D and emissions associated with soil application, state Suggested Permit Conditions (established by the Ca Dept. of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)) limit applications depending on the application method, location, and time of the year. Township Caps limit usage to 90,250 lbs per township (23,040 ac). For perennials, this would allow 275 ac per township to be fumigated. The Pesticide Use Reporting database was used to predict the impacts of township caps on the use of Telone as a methyl bromide alternative. The analysis predicted that, with the standard Cap, about 1/3 of current fumigated land would exceed the cap and not be able to use Telone. However, the impact on certain concentrated high value crops such as strawberries, sweet potato, and cut flowers will be large, exceeding 50% in the case of strawberry. Impact will be small on perennial crops that are fumigated only when orchards and vineyards are periodically replanted. Current state rules have temporarily relaxed the Cap to 180,500 lb, but this relaxation will phase out over 5 years. Current use of Telone has shown these estimates to be realistic. Nineteen townships exceeded the standard Cap in 2001.