09/30/08 Japanese finding malathion in grain shipments

Farm and Ranch September 30, 2008 The use of malathion in home grain storage is back on the radar screen again. Tom Mick, CEO of the Washington Grain Alliance explains. Mick: "The Japanese have identified a few cargoes showing malathion. They are of course opposed to this and they could reject shipments. Producers need to realize they have to be aware of the pesticide residues than can exist. We are finding out that there is an increase in the use of malathion in farm storage. This is starting to show up in the export shipments and we are become very concerned. I would just like to warn producers, there are other products out there and if at all possible please don't use malathion." Mick doesn't know why there has been an increase in the use of malathion when there are alternatives available. Grain Alliance director of communications Scott Yates, who accompanied a recent Japanese trade team visiting the northwest, told a Washington Wheat Commission meeting that the Japanese asked about pesticide use at stops on the tour. Grain elevators said they didn't use malathion. Commissioners wanted to know if the Washington State Department of Agriculture could stop the use of malathion on stored grain but WSDA Wheat Commission member Dennis Hennepen said if the use is on the label, and it is, the state can't stop it. The Japanese run a battery of tests on their grain imports checking for numerous chemical residues. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.