From the Agricultural Research Service Administrator

The loss of methyl bromide for most current uses is now only 4 years away. With the latest Montreal Protocol-mandated reduction that occurred January 1, 2001, the availability of methyl bromide is reduced to 50 percent of what it was in 1998. Availability will be further reduced to 30 percent of the 1998 baseline in 2003. Methyl bromide shortages and increased costs for the available methyl bromide will present daunting challenges to many growers and other users as they try to adapt to this changing environment. Although research isn't the sole answer to finding methyl bromide replacements, it is a vital part of that activity. ARS intends to continue working as hard as we can with growers and other methyl bromide users, public and private scientists, and regulatory officials to make the widest array of methyl bromide alternatives available for the greatest number of uses possible.

Even though much work remains to be done, progress has been made. For some major crops, adequate alternatives have been found that will continue profitable operation by growers. In some cases, technically effective alternatives cannot be fully utilized because of regulatory constraints. USDA is working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state regulatory agencies to find safer ways to use these pesticides so that restrictions can be relaxed.

Small-acreage crops continue to be at highest risk of not having methyl bromide alternatives. With limited resources, ARS and other research organizations have been forced to focus their efforts on the crops that use the most methyl bromide. To add to this problem, pesticide companies have been reluctant to register pesticides for small-acreage, high-value crops. Many floriculture crops fall in this category. In recognition of this situation, Congress appropriated in its FY 2001 budget enough new funds to allow ARS to hire two new scientists to work on methyl bromide alternatives for floriculture crops. One scientist will be located in Florida and the other in California; recruitment for both is under way.

Finally, I would like to announce that Dr. Roy Gingery has returned to active research and has accepted a research leader position at our Wooster, Ohio, laboratory. For the last 7 years, he has been ARS National Program Leader for Plant Health and an important part of our ARS methyl bromide alternatives research management team. I hope that those of you who have worked with him over the years will join me in thanking him for a job well done.

Best wishes,

Floyd Horn
Administrator

Last Updated: March 22, 2001