Release Date: September 1, 2016
Contact: Donna Gilson, 608-224-5130, donna.gilson@wi.gov
Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020, William2.Cosh@wi.gov
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MADISON – Public comments are open through Friday, Sept. 9, on a proposed special pesticide registration that would allow potato growers to use more Echo® 90DF than the label normally allows to control fungal diseases in potatoes.
The active ingredient in these products is chlorothalonil, which must be applied to potatoes before conditions develop that encourage fungal diseases, particularly late blight. It breaks down, so must be reapplied during the growing season. The product is already registered for use in Wisconsin at a rate of 11.25 pounds per acre. The special registration would increase that to 16 pounds. This would give growers the ability to apply it to full-season potatoes that take longer to mature and are harvested later in the season.
SipcamAgro USA Inc., Durham, N.C. is the manufacturer. This is the first time the company has applied for a special registration for this formulation of Echo®, but other formulations of the product have been approved four times.
The preliminary environmental assessment indicates that the proposed registration will not require a full environmental assessment. This special registration will expire Dec. 31, 2020.
For a copy of the assessment, contact Otto Oemig, DATCP, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI, 53708-8911, 608-224-4542, otto.oemig@wisconsin.gov. It is also available for review at the department Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 2811 Agriculture Dr., Madison, second floor. Comments received on or before 4:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9, will become part of the preliminary environmental assessment record. Send comments to Otto Oemig by mail at the above postal or email address.
The special registration process allows states to register additional uses of pesticide products other than those listed on their labels, without prior federal approval. It helps growers address local pest problems that cannot be adequately controlled by any available federally registered product. These problems include insect outbreaks, fungal diseases, and grasses and weeds that outcompete crops. Find more details about the special registration process.
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