07/18/08 New soil fumigant rules major concern for spud growers

Farm and Ranch July 18, 2008 New regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency for soil fumigants like metam sodium are bad news for Washington's potato growers. Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says that when metam sodium is applied through chemigation EPA's new rules require a buffer zone of anywhere from 500 to 700 feet. Voigt: "Going through some of the data we have it looks like it will affect about 60% of all potato fields in the state. So we are very concerned that we are going to be put at a tremendous disadvantage with these new regulations in place." And Voigt says metam sodium is the only control for verticillium wilt, a devastating disease of potatoes. Voigt: "And actually Bob this is a very good chemical. There is no residue detected. There is no residue in the soil. No residue in the produce. So it is a good product to work with." EPA says the new rules are designed in part to better protect communities from drift when soil fumigants volatilize, which has happened in California. But Voigt says that's because of the hot temperatures California has and it's different here. The new rules are in a comment period and are not expected to take effect until 2010. Potato and onion growers and others are urged to comment. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.