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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 #117053
Title: FUMIGANT USE TRENDS IN CALIFORNIA

Author
item Trout, Thomas

Submitted to: Proceedings of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) requirements in California result in a database, maintained by CA Department of Pesticide Regulation, that allows relatively accurate estimation of fumigant use in the state. With this data, we can determine what alternative fumigants growers use for various crops as methyl bromide is phased out. Use of MeBr has declined gradually since 1991. By 1998, the use was about 75% of the 1991 use. About 93% of the MeBr use in California was for preplant soil fumigation, 3% for structural fumigation, and 3% for post-harvest commodity fumigation (1% uncategorized). Use of metam sodium increased dramatically from 1991 through 1995 and it's total use for soil fumigation surpassed MeBr in 1998, when it was applied to three times the number of acres as MeBr. Since Telone was re-introduced in 1994, use of this product has increased dramatically for certain crops. While the euse of MeBr in California has declined, total fumigant use has increased. Growers of high-value nematode sensitive crops are adopting Telone as an alternative, while metam sodium is used on lower-valued crops.

Technical Abstract: The California Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) database was used to determine what alternative fumigants growers use for various crops as methyl bromide is phased out. Use of MeBr has declined gradually since 1991. By 1998, the use was about 75% of the 1991 use. About 93% of the MeBr use in California was for preplant soil fumigation, 3% for structural fumigation, and 3% for post-harvest commodity fumigation (1% uncategorized). Use of metam sodium increased dramatically from 1991 through 1995 and it's total use for soil fumigation surpassed MeBr in 1998, when it was applied to three times the number of acres as MeBr. Since Telone was re-introduced in 1994, use of this product has increased dramatically for certain crops. While the use of MeBr in California has declined, total fumigant use has increased. Growers of high-value nematode sensitive crops are adopting Telone as an alternative, while metam sodium is used on lower-valued crops.