Michigan Blueberry/Azinphos-methyl Reregistration Conference Call

September 27, 2006

MI Blueberry Stakeholders

1. Dennis and Pat Hartmann, True Blue Farms, Grand Junction, MI. Dennis
is 

also involved in the Michigan Blueberry Advisory Committee.

2. Larry Bodtke, Cornerstone Ag, Grand Junction, MI. Chair of Michigan
Blueberry Grower Association Research Committee and Blueberry RAMP
Project cooperator.

3. Bob Carini, Carini Farms, West Olive, MI. Michigan delegate to US 

Highbush Blueberry Council, and Blueberry RAMP Project cooperator.

4. Dave Trinka, Director of Horticulture, Michigan Blueberry Growers
Association.

5. Mark Longstroth, District Extension Educator for Horticulture and
Marketing, Paw Paw, MI. Mark is responsible for fruit extension
programming in SW Michigan.

6. Carlos Garcia-Salazar, District Small Fruit Extension Educator,
Ottawa County, MI. Carlos is based in the northern region of blueberry
production centered around Holland, MI

7. Rufus Isaacs, Small Fruit Extension Specialist, Department of
Entomology, Michigan State University.

Michigan Department of Agriculture

Brian Hughes, Pesticide Registration

EPA

Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances

Jim Gulliford, Assistant Administrator

Office of Pesticide Programs Immediate Office

Pat Cimino

Office of Pesticide Programs

Katie Hall, Special Review and Reregistration Division (SRRD)

Tom Myers, SRRD

Nikhil Mallampalli, Biological and Economic Affects Division (BEAD)

Elisa Rim, BEAD

Tim Kiely, BEAD

Jonathan Becker, BEAD

Region 5

Barbara VanTil

A call with Michigan blueberry growers was held on September 27, 2006 to
discuss the growers’ use of azinphos-methyl (AZM).  The Agency is
considering an application by the chemical registrants to extend the use
of AZM on blueberries and other crops beyond October 30, 2006.  A trip
to Michigan by the OPPTS Assistant Administrator was made on August 24,
2006 to visit with growers potentially affected by this decision.  At
the onset of the call, Michigan blueberry growers were asked to explain
their blueberry cultural practices to the Agency.  The following are
notes from their answers:

The main pests of concern for Michigan blueberry growers are the
cranberry fruit worm and the cherry fruit worm.  AZM has been an
important tool to control these pests.  Growers mentioned the proposed
REI of 14 days will be troublesome because growers need to get into
their fields before 14 days to do maintenance activities and harvest. 
Alternatives to AZM include Asana (esfenvalerate) and Confirm
(tebufenozide).  Both chemicals have 14 day PHIs, limiting when they can
be used.  Confirm is used during bloom, as it is less harmful to
pollinators in the field.   Confirm is less efficacious than AZM, and
requires more applications to attain a level of control similar to AZM. 
Confirm adoption has also been limited as it is more susceptible to
unfavorable weather conditions, requires a very good cover, and precise
timing of application.  Fruit damage is more likely with Confirm, as the
pesticide must be consumed before the leptidopteran pest will die.  Both
Asana and Confirm cannot be used later in the season due to the nature
of the multiple harvests occurring in blueberries.  Phosmet is used on
blueberries, but is generally used at the end of the season for Japanese
beetle control.  There are some prospective alternatives such as
Intrepid (methoxyfenazide), Rynexapyr, and Rimon (novaluron), but these
chemicals have not been approved yet for blueberries and they are
untested in field conditions.  Growers noted that it is important that
these new compounds have workable REIs and PHIs.  The Michigan folks
explained the different markets for the blueberry crop - fresh,
processed, and juice.  For fresh and process markets, a single detection
of larvae results in the rejection of the entire load, typically a
43,000 lb. truckload.   The growers are concerned about the MRL levels
being established in foreign markets for the new compounds; currently
Guthion is the only pest management option for exported fruit.   Through
training efforts by Michigan State University, over 100 blueberry
growers and farmworkers have been trained in integrated pest management
(IPM) scouting, the first step needed to adopt the newer chemistries.  

