In Focus: Mike Herrington

Editor’s Note: Mike Herrington of AMVAC provides technical sales advice to customers, assists in university research trials, trains distributor reps and growers in product usage, and helps to develop application equipment for AMVAC products.

1. Florida Grower (FLG):You have recently been interested in moving one of your products into citrus. Which product is this and what benefit would it have for citrus?

Mike Herrington: We are interested in helping growers fight the Asian citrus psyllid and one tool that AMVAC manufactures in Dibrom 8. This product has been around many years and is used on numerous crops and pests, but its primary use has been in mosquito control. Dibrom 8 is very effective in controlling most flying insects, including psyllids. We currently have a label for psyllid control in citrus but only at the 1 pint rate. UF/IFAS has tested this product at only a few ounces per acre in low-volume applications and it has shown to work very, very well. At these rates, it would be even more affordable and a great rotation with other chemistries. We are in the process of getting a state registration to support this application.

2. FLG: There are some new rules coming down the road for soil fumigants. What are some important things growers should know about these rules?

Herrington: All we know for sure at this time is that fumigation practices will change in the future. EPA is due to announce these changes by mid-year, and we all are waiting to hear. Methyl bromide is definitely going away and alternatives including Vapam and K-Pam will be adopted. EPA has been struggling for the last several years trying to regulate this practice while allowing the farmers to stay in business.

The areas they would like to control are the buffer zones around the fields, the exposure to bystanders in or around the field, the conditions at application, and application practices. AMVAC is still in discussions with EPA on some of these rulings in hopes that they can be minimized. Regardless, growers will have to make significant changes in fumigation application in the future. These changes will most likely not take place until late 2010 or early 2011. But, growers need to know that with the help of university researchers, the alternative to methyl bromide can work, and farming will continue in the future.

3. FLG: Fumigant availability has been discussed this year. Can you update us on this?

Herrington: I can, but remember: today’s situation can change tomorrow. Recently, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association put out a statement telling farmers to plan ahead and secure their fumigants now for the fall because of limited availability. The reason is that methyl bromide production has been reduced by the Montreal Protocol and volumes are at critical levels. Many farmers will not get the amount they request or may not get any at all.
Next, Telone has been very limited this past season because it uses intermediate product that is linked to the production of automobiles, and that has been affected by the economy. Dow AgroSciences will have more this fall and it will play a big role as a nematicide.

K-Pam was also limited this past season because we incorporate potassium into the formulation, and our supplier was on strike. That strike has now ended, and supply of potassium is getting back to normal. Many farmers were forced to purchase Vapam during the fall and into the spring, but stocks of K-Pam are now very good and we see no problems this year and into next.