Purdue News

August 6, 1999 Insecticide restrictions won't affect many growers WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ‹ Restricting the use of two commercial insecticides for fruit and vegetable production won't affect many Indiana growers, according to Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service entomologist Rick Foster. Foster, who teaches integrated pest management and responsible pesticide use to Indiana's apple producers and other fruits and vegetable growers, said the Environmental Protection Agency's restrictions on the insecticides methyl parathion and azinphosmethyl are part of the requirements under the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act. "The EPA has assured the public that produce that has been treated with these insecticides this year is safe to eat. The purpose of these new restrictions is to add an additional margin of safety for the food supply in the future," Foster said. Beginning in 2000, the insecticide methyl parathion, sold primarily as Penncap M (manufactured by Elf Atochem) may no longer be used to control insects on any fruits or on 17 different vegetables for which it was previously registered. "The elimination of methyl parathion use on fruits will have minimal impact on Indiana apple growers," said Foster. "Of the vegetables for which uses were canceled, only succulent beans and tomatoes receive any appreciable amount of methyl parathion application in Indiana, and there are alternative pesticides available to replace it on those crops." Foster based his analysis on a 1995 Purdue Extension survey of pesticide use by Indiana apple, peach and blueberry growers. It showed that little or no methyl parathion is used on Indiana fruit crops. The EPA announced restrictions on the use of azinphosmethyl on apples, pears, quince, and crab apples. To reduce the amount of possible residues and the potential exposure to children, growers will have to reduce the total amount of azinphosmethyl used each year and cannot apply azinphosmethyl within 21 days of harvest, compared to 14 days as is now required. Phosmet is another insecticide that is an acceptable substitute for azinphosmethyl. The Purdue pesticide use survey showed that azinphosmethyl and phosmet (Imidan, Gowan Co.) are the most widely used insecticides by Indiana apple growers. The EPA also has said that they will begin a risk management proposal for phosmet during the first quarter of 2000. Should severe restrictions be placed on phosmet, Indiana apple growers may have a difficult time producing marketable apples, Foster said. The Indiana apple growers had previously instituted a voluntary check off program to fund research at Purdue, a portion of which is being used to fund research designed to find replacement insecticides for azinphosmethyl and phosmet on apples. CONTACT: Rick Foster, (765) 494-9572; e-mail, rick_foster@entm.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page