11/21/08 Wash Potato Commission proposes alternative to fumigant buffers

Potato Commission proposes alternative to fumigant buffers. This is the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. I'm Bob Hoff. Today's report next. Farm and Ranch November 21, 2008 The Washington State Potato Commission has submitted comments to the EPA in response to proposals the agency has made in the re-registration process for soil fumigants. One of the fumigants is metam sodium, which is widely used by Washington potato growers to control a soil fungus verticillium wilt. Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt says the proposal that would have the biggest impact would require buffers between a fumigation application and bystanders or buildings. Voigt: "Currently the majority or our metam sodium applications occur through center pivot irrigation systems. And probably the most common application that we would do would require a buffer of 875 feet. That is very difficult for a lot of our growers to accomplish." Voigt says just a 100 foot buffer would take 18 acres out of a field. He says checking the records shows few incidents involving bystanders, so an alternative has been proposed to the EPA. Voigt: "We found that where there were problems it was generally caused by a high pressure, overhead irrigation system. So I think if we were to eliminate some of these types of applications we would have an immediate impact on increasing the safety of this product." Without the need for huge buffers. 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.