Issue No. 141, November/December 1997

Open Forum:
In an attempt to promote free and open discussion of issues, The Agrichemical and Environmental News encourages letters and articles with differing views. To include an article, contact: Dr. Catherine Daniels, Food and Environmental Quality Laboratory, 2710 University Drive, Richland, WA 99352-1671, ph: 509-372-7495, fax: 509-372-7491, E-mail: cdaniels@tricity.wsu.edu

Note: Based on instructions from WSU CAHE administration, information in this newsletter not originating from WSU contains a headline in the same color as the word "Note" at the beginning of this paragraph. This is to help ensure that readers can readily identify material obtained from a source outside WSU.

In This Issue

Note: The animated spider graphic appearing at this site is used with permission. Copyright and use information may be obtained at http://www.inscot.demon.co.uk

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News and Notes

Note: The AENews is accessible from the World Wide Web via http://picol.cahe.wsu.edu
Enter this address carefully, paying close attention to punctuation and spacing (no spaces between parts of the address). Some readers may experience difficulties accessing the site. These are believed to be related to the Internet and to on-line services, not the web site. If you are having a problem accessing the web page, please inform Dr. Catherine Daniels (ph: 509-372-7495, fax: 509-372-7491, E-mail: at 509-372-7495, cdaniels@tricity.wsu.edu)

AENews subscribers were to complete and return by October 15 postcards stating their wish to continue receiving the newsletter. Those not responding will be purged from the mailing list. In the event of lost of misplaced postcards, please inform us. Agrichemical & Environmental News, WSU-TC, FEQL, 2710 University Drive, Richland, WA 99352-1671. Phone: 509-372-7495. Fax: 509-372-7491. E-mail: cdaniels@tricity.wsu.edu

No newsletter mailings in November or December

This edition of the Agrichemical and Environmental News is being produced only for the Internet. We anticipate a return in February to both Internet and hardcopy versions of the newsletter.

Address change

After the first of the year, the mailing address for the Food and Environmental Quality laboratory, Pesticide Information Center, and The Agrichemical and Environmental News will officially change from 100 Sprout Road to 2710 University Drive. This is only a change of mailing address; physical locations remain unchanged.

The Rotenone Reregistration Coalition (RRC), composed of three smaller corporations (CCT, Webb Wright, and Dragon), actively supports reregistration of rotenone with the EPA.

Rotenone is a botanical insecticide obtained from the root of the cub‚ plant (although derris, timbo, and other plants have been utilized as sources). It is offered as a "stand alone" product, primarily used on a broad spectrum of annual and perennial crops by organic producers. State registrations are many; the exception is California, which has no active labels for a rotenone-only product for agricultural use.

The RRC supports reregistration of the following crop groups (through the representative crop) for magnitude of the residue: brassica (Brussels sprouts); cucurbits (cucumbers); stone fruit (peaches); legumes (succulent beans and legume foliage); berries (blackberries); caneberries (raspberries); edible-podded beans/peas (beans); succulent shelled beans/peas (beans); and dried, shelled peas/beans (beans and legume foliage). The following are supported for residue decline: stone fruit (apples); vegetables (tomatoes) and leafy vegetables (lettuces).

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Erik Johansen is a pesticide registration specialist with the Washington State Department of Agriculture. He may be contacted at Phone: (360) 902-2078, Fax: (360) 902-2093, or E-mail: ejohansen@agr.wa.gov

The use of residual insecticides in tree fruits is the primary cause of bee kills investigated by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). The following summarizes the bee kills investigated by the WSDA since 1992, and some precautions that may help prevent future bee kills.

From 1992 to 1996, there were 114 bee kill incidents reported to the WSDA. The majority of bee kills were in central Washington (primarily in Yakima County), and approximately one-half of the incidents were caused by the use of residual insecticides on tree fruits. The three insecticides responsible for most of these incidents were carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, and methyl parathion (encapsulated).

There were eight incidents reported to the WSDA in 1997. The bee kills were all in central Washington (three in north-central counties). Some investigations are not yet complete, but the majority of bee kills in 1997 are suspected to be from insecticides used on tree fruits.

Pesticide applicators need to follow label and rule directions. Communication between concerned parties is important. Controlling weed bloom in orchards is an essential part of preventing bee kills. WSDA is working on improving the pollinator protection statements on labels for insecticides toxic to bees (especially tree fruit insecticides).

WSDA will require a pollinator protection statement on the Washington State Special Local Needs (SLN) label for insecticides that are toxic to bees. The department is revising tree fruit and canola insecticide labels in 1997, and will revise small fruit and seed crop insecticide labels in 1998. When appropriate, WSDA will recommend changes to pollinator protection statements on federal insecticide labels.

Johansen, C.A. and D.F. Mayer. 1990. Pollinator Protection: A Bee and Pesticide Handbook.
Wicwas Press, Chesire, CT.

Mayer, D.F., C.A. Johansen and C. Baird. 1996. How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides
(WREP 15). Cooperative Extension Service, WSU, Pullman, WA.

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This article was obtained from Jack L. Cooper, Food Industry Environmental Network. FIEN issues FIEN's Environmental Weekly 48 weekends per year by fax and by Internet E-mail. The network provides consulting services on the latest policies and regulatory and legislative developments in several areas. These include environmental protection, food safety, occupational safety, health, and related topics of interest to companies, trade associations, consulting firms, professional societies, educational institutions, government officials, and others interested in the food and agricultural industries.

An ad-hoc panel examining possible contributions of pesticide exposure to the development of human cancer has concluded that there is no definitive evidence to suggest that synthetic pesticides contribute significantly to overall cancer mortality.

The National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) had convened an ad- hoc panel on Pesticides and Cancer to examine the possible contribution of pesticide exposure, particularly in the general population, to the development of human cancer. The panel published its conclusions in a paper titled "Report of a Panel on the Relationship between Public Exposure to Pesticides and Cancer" in the November 15 issue of Cancer, the monthly journal of the American Cancer Society.

The panel focused primarily on exposure in the general population and reviewed a range of studies that addressed issues related to dietary exposure as well as incidental home and garden uses. In addition, the panel examined the regulatory framework that exists to safeguard the public from potentially carcinogenic pesticides. It also reviewed some potential benefits of pesticide use, including the availability of an abundant and low cost supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, as an important strategy in the overall mitigation of cancer risk. According to the panel's report, "The panel concluded that it was unaware of any definitive evidence to suggest that synthetic pesticides contribute significantly to overall cancer mortality. The panel also concluded that it did not believe that any increased intake of pesticide residues associated with increased intake of fruits and vegetables poses any increased risk of cancer. The panel further concluded, among other things, that tobacco use continued to be the most important preventable cause of cancer and premature mortality and, thus, is an appropriate focus for cancer control strategy."

The American Cancer Society's Public Affairs Office can be reached at (212) 382-2169. A copy of the 15-page paper may be obtained from the Food Industry Environmental Network (FIEN). To order by fax or E-mail, send your request referencing Issue Number 97-48, November 14, 1997, FIEN's Environmental Weekly to Jack Cooper, FIEN, at (301) 384-9340 or JLC@fien.com. With your request please include your name, organization, address, phone, fax, and Internet E-mail address.

There is a $15 service charge for all items ordered at one time, plus costs of mailing and charges for fax or E-mail.

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PNN Update

The information contained here is not to be construed as a substitute for obtaining and reading product labels. Always read the label before applying a pesticide.

The Pesticide Notification Network is operated by the Washington State University Pesticide Information Center for the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration. The PNN system is designed to distribute pesticide registration and label change information to groups representing Washington's pesticide users. The information below (with the exception of the tolerance data) is a summary of what has been distributed on the PNN within the past month.

The Pesticide Information Center (PIC) operates the Pesticide Information Center On-Line (PICOL) web page. This provides a label database, status on registrations, and information on related issues. PICOL can be accessed on the Internet at http://picol.cahe.wsu.edu. The PIC office phone number is (509) 372-7492.

• WSDA has issued a new registration to Novartis for its fungicide Dividend XL RTA. This product is registered for use as a seed treatment for wheat.

• On October 20, 1997, WSDA announced that SLN WA950043 had been voluntarily cancelled by the manufacturer. This SLN had previously been issued for the use of UCB's fungicide Thiram 65% WP on apples. This registration is being cancelled because the usage allowed for by the SLN is now included on the main product label.

• On October 30, 1997, WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA960037, removing the expiration date. This SLN had previously been issued for the use of Botran 5F to control white mold in potatoes.

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• Gowan has revised the label for its fungicide Botran 75WSP, adding the crop fennel.

• Zeneca has issued a federal supplemental label for its herbicide Gramoxone Extra. The supplemental label provides directions for use of this product on potatoes for preharvest vine killing and weed desiccation.
• Zeneca has issued a federal supplemental label for its herbicide Touchdown. The supplemental label adds directions for aerial application, use with ammonium sulfate, as well as fallowland and post harvest use.
• Zeneca has issued a federal supplemental label for its insecticide Force 1.5G. The supplemental label provides aquatic precautions and spill information under the general use instructions and also gives directions for use on highly erodible lands planted to field corn, popcorn, corn seed, and sweet corn.
• Griffin Corporation has issued a federal supplemental label for its herbicide Linex 50DF. The supplemental label allows for chemigation application to carrots grown in Washington.
• Mycogen has issued a federal supplemental label for its insecticide M-Pede. The supplemental label provides directions for the use of M-Pede as a fungicide to control powdery mildew on cherries.
• Zeneca has issued three federal supplemental labels for its Reward Aquatic & Noncrop herbicide. These supplemental labels provide PPE and aquatic use directions, turf use directions, and aquatic posting notification information.
• Gowan has issued a use recommendation for the use of its insecticide, Mesurol 75% WP, to control western flower thrips in flowers, shrubs, and trees grown in greenhouses and nurseries.
• Zeneca has issued a recommendation for the use of its insecticide Scimitar GC to control European crane fly in turf.
• Zeneca has issued a supplemental label for its FulTime Herbicide. The supplemental label provides use directions for tile-terraced fields containing standpipes that are planted in field corn, seed corn, corn for silage, or popcorn.
• Elf Atochem has issued two supplemental labels for its fungicides Penncozeb 75DF and 80WP. Both supplemental labels provide directions for split rate applications to tomatoes.
• Elf Atochem has issued a supplemental label for its fungicide Ziram 76DF. The supplemental label provides directions for the use of this product on blueberries.
• DowElanco has issued three supplemental labels for its herbicide Treflan HFP. The supplemental labels provide:

1. Directions for use of a Coulter Caddy system for second fall applications
2. Directions for chemigation in established plantings of tree and vine crops
3. Modified chemigation instructions

• BASF has issued supplemental labels for its fungicides Ronilan EG and Ronilan DF. The supplemental labels provide directions for ground and aerial use of these products on snap beans.
• Valent has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Envoy. The supplemental label provides directions for use on conifer trees.
• Valent has issued a use recommendation for its insecticide Pinpoint 15 Granular. The use recommendation applies to selected container-grown nursery stock.
• Rhone Poulenc has issued a use recommendation for its nematicide/insecticide MOCAP EC. This use recommendation provides directions for tank mixing MOCAP EC with Metam Sodium for spring application to control northern root-knot nematode and for suppression of Columbia root-knot nematode in potatoes.
• Rhone Poulenc has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Weedar 64. The supplemental label provides directions for the control of annual broadleaf weeds in apples, pears, stone fruit, and nut orchards.
• American Cyanamid has issued two supplemental labels for its herbicide Lightning. The supplemental labels provide:

1. Directions for the use of Lightning in combination with other postemergence herbicides for weed control in IMI-corn
2. Directions for the use of Lightning with crop oils and methylated seed oils as adjuvants for weed control in IMI-corn

• Zeneca has issued a supplemental label for its Surpass 100 herbicide. The supplemental label provides use directions for tile-terraced fields containing standpipes that are planted in field corn, seed corn, corn for silage, or popcorn.
• American Cyanamid has issued six supplemental labels for its product Counter CR Systemic Insecticide-Nematicide. These supplemental labels provide:

1. Directions for the use of flumetsulam products (e.g., Broadstrike Plus, Broadstrike SF + Dual, Broadstrike + Dual, Scorpion III) before or after banded applications of Counter CR in field corn
2. Directions for use of primisulfuron-methyl or prosulfuron containing products (e.g., Exceed) 10 days after banded applications of Counter CR in field corn at planting
3. Directions for use of halosulfuron-methyl products (e.g., Permit) before or after banded applications of Counter CR in field corn
4. Directions for the use of prosulfuron products (e.g., Peak) 15 days after banded applications of Counter CR in grain sorghum at planting
5. Directions for use of nicosulfuron products (e.g., Accent) after banded applications of Counter CR in field corn
6. Directions for use of primisulfuron-methyl products (e.g., Beacon) 7 days after banded applications of Counter CR in field corn

• American Cyanamid has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Resolve SG. The supplemental label provides direction for use of this product for weed control in IMI-corn.
• Monsanto has issued three supplemental labels for its herbicides Bullet, Harness Extra, and Lariat. Each supplemental label provides direction for application of the herbicide to tile-terraced fields.
• Monsanto has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Roundup Ultra RT. The supplemental label provides direction for use of this product in dormant alfalfa.
• Monsanto has issued additional use directions for its product Rodeo Emerged Aquatic Weed & Brush herbicide. This use recommendation provides direction for tank mixing Rodeo with Hydrothol 191 for the control of emerged aquatic weeds.
• Monsanto has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Accord. The supplemental label provides for broadcast applications of this product in Christmas tree plantations.
• Monsanto has issued an additional use recommendation for its herbicide Accord. The recommendation provides for tank mixing Accord with Garlon 4 or Garlon 3A for forest site preparation.
• Monsanto has issued supplemental label information for its herbicide Accord and Roundup Pro. These supplemental labels provide use directions for control or suppression of Bromus species and medusahead in industrial, rangeland, and pasture sites.
• Monsanto has issued a use recommendation for its herbicide Roundup Ultra. The use recommendation provides directions for the use of this product for woody brush control in and around cranberry bogs.
• Monsanto has issued three use recommendations for its herbicides Roundup Ultra and Roundup Ultra RT. The use recommendations are as follows:

1. Roundup Ultra - Recommendation for application as a preemergence treatment in renovation of grass seed production areas
2. Roundup Ultra - Recommendation for spot spray application in grass seed production
3. Roundup Ultra RT - Recommendation for spot spray application in grass seed production

• Monsanto has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Roundup Ultra. The supplemental label provides directions for postemergence application of this product to corn containing the Roundup Ready gene.
• Du Pont has issued four supplemental labels and use recommendations for its fungicides Benlate and Benlate SP. These documents provide:

1. Benlate SP - for control of white mold on radish seed crops
2. Benlate - for control white mold on radish seed crops
3. Benlate SP - for control of powdery mildew in grapes
4. Benlate SP - for use with Tilt for control of Septoria leaf and glume blotch in winter and spring wheat

• Du Pont has issued a use recommendation for its herbicide Assure II. The use recommendation provides directions for tank mixing this product with Basagran for selective postemergence control of annual and perennial grasses and broadleaf weeds in dry and succulent peas.
• Du Pont has issued a supplemental label for its insecticide Force 3G. The supplemental label provides directions for use of this product on highly erodible lands planted in field corn, popcorn, corn seed, and sweet corn.
• Du Pont has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Krenite S. The supplemental label provides directions for cut surface applications for the control of brush.
• Du Pont has issued two supplemental labels for its herbicide Basis. The supplemental labels provide direction for use in field corn for the control of shattercane and emerged woolly cupgrass.
• Drexel has issued a supplemental label for its insecticide Dimethoate 2.67. The supplemental label provides directions for foliar spray and soil injection applications to control leaf beetle, aphids, and bagworms in cottonwood (poplar) trees.
• Rhone Poulenc has issued a supplemental label for its insecticide Sevin 80S. The supplemental label provides additional directions for use on poultry, poultry quarters, pome fruits, apples for thinning, field corn, and popcorn.
• American Cyanamid has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Assert SG. The supplemental label provides for tank mixing Assert SG with Avenge for use on barley and wheat. Note that while Assert is not registered for use on potatoes, the supplemental label also allows for a potato plantback interval different than that given on the main label. In Adams, Benton, Franklin, Grant, and Lincoln counties only, potatoes (excluding seed crops) may be planted 11 months after an application of the above tank mixture.
• Griffin Corporation has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Linex 50DF. The supplemental label allows for chemigation application to asparagus grown in Washington.
• Griffin has issued a supplemental label for its fungicide Kocide LF. The supplemental label provides directions for use of this product as a seed dressing for wheat and barley.
• Micro Flo has issued a supplemental label for its fungicide Nu-Cop 50DF. The supplemental label provides for the use of this product to control bacterial canker on blueberries.
• Zeneca has issued a use recommendation for its insecticide Warrior. The use recommendation provides lower application rates for managing low populations of corn earworm in sweet corn grown for processing, following an initial application of Warrior.
• Du Pont has issued three supplemental labels for its herbicide Basis Gold. The supplemental labels provide for:

1. Using Basis Gold as a sequential postemergence treatment in corn following a reduced rate application of Extrazine II 4L, Extrazine II 90 DF, or atrazine
2. Using Basis Gold for the control of large crabgrass in field corn
3. Tank mixing Basis Gold with Accent for control of rhizome johnsongrass in field corn

• Du Pont has issued supplemental labels for its herbicides Extrazine II 4L and Extrazine II DF. The supplemental labels provide directions for use of these products in tile terraced fields.
• Du Pont has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Extrazine II 4L. The supplemental label provides directions for tank mixing this product with Lorox DF for control of waterhemp in field corn.
• Du Pont has issued a supplemental label for its herbicide Accent. The supplemental label allows for planting sprinkler irrigated potatoes 10 months after applying Accent to sprinkler irrigated corn.
• Drexel has issued a supplemental label for its fungicide Captan 4L. The supplemental label provides directions for use of Captan 4L on blueberries.
• Du Pont has issued supplemental labels for its herbicides Bladex 4L and Bladex 90DF. The supplemental labels provide directions for the use of these products in terraced fields containing engineered drains.
• Rhone Poulenc has issued a use recommendation for tank mixtures of its herbicides Bronate and Weedone 638 to suppress Canada thistle and to control annual broadleaf weeds in wheat and barley.
• Micro Flo has issued a supplemental label providing chemigation instructions for its insecticide Dimethoate 4E. This product is registered for use on: alfalfa, alfalfa seed crop, apple, bean, broccoli, bulb, cabbage, cauliflower, collard, endive, field corn, kale, lentil, lettuce, lima bean, lupine, melon, mustard, pea, pear, pepper, potato, rose, shrub, sorghum, soybean, spinach, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, and wheat.

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The following tolerances were granted by EPA since the last report (October 1997). These data do not mean that labels have been registered for these uses. These pesticides must not be used until labels are registered with EPA or a state department of agriculture.

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Contributors to the Agrichemical and Environmental News:

Alan Schreiber, Allan Felsot, Catherine Daniels, Mark Antone, Eric Bechtel, Jane Thomas

Contributions, comments, and subscription inquiries may be directed to Dr. Catherine Daniels at the Food and Environmental Quality Laboratory, Washington State University, 2710 University Drive, Richland, WA 99352-1671, ph: 509-372-7495, fax: 509-372-7491, E-mail: cdaniels@tricity.wsu.edu

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