# Presentation: 582960

## Assessment of National Program 308:  Methyl Bromide Alternatives

**Gary L. Obenauf**
**Agricultural Research Consulting**
**(559) 449-9035**
- _[gobenauf@agresearch.nu](mailto:gobenauf@agresearch.nu)_
**Visit us at:**
**http://mbao.org/**

## NP 308 Review

- Overarching Review
- Not OSQR Review
- Accomplishment 2000-2005 Report
- NP 308 Action Plan
- Publications
- Databases
- Professional Knowledge
- Short Time Frame

## NP 308 Panel

- Gary Obenauf, ARC, Panel Chair
- Mike Aerts, FFVA
- Dan Legard, CSC
- Jim Bair, NAMA
- Bill Chism, EPA-OPP
- Larry Zettler, USDA-APHIS

## Assessment Criteria

- Environmentally Acceptable
- Practical
- Economically Feasible
- Sustainable (Preplant only)
- Effective
- Outreach
- Potential Impact

## Positive Comments

- NP 308 Stay Stand Alone Program
- Significant Progress/Lot of Work Remains
- Good Variety of Approaches
- High Quality Research
- Responsive to Stakeholders/ComplimentsStakeholder Funded Research

## Positive Comments 2

- 6.	Communication of Results
- MBAO
- Quarterly Research Bulletins
- Grower/Industry Meetings
- Information for CUE Program
- 7.	Significant Success Application, Films &Lower Rates but Additional Research Needed

## Positive Comments 3

- Recovery Technology Improving but Needs Improvement
- Projects Completed and New Research Started

## Constructive Comments

- Summary Only Selected Projects
- Overall Impacts of All Research Projects
- Matrix: Crops-sites-pests-technologies
- Lack of Information in Report/Better Organization of Plan
- Economic Feasibility not Addressed but was a Key Criterion set by ARS

## Constructive Comments 2

- Report Relative to Goals
- Limitations/Problems
- Lot not Reported at MBAO Conference/Biannually Plus Written Off Years
- Use Figures on MB should be Used to Help Prioritize Research

## Constructive Comments 3

- Progress Reports not Easy to Find/List Server Interested Parties Also Identify Parts of NP308 Results if not Listed as NP 308 Project
- Lack Of Extension Service Activity
- More Emphasis Short Term Research to Meet Phase Out of Montreal Protocol

## PrePlant 1a Chemical Controls 

- Rating High
- Inconsistency of Data Years & Locations
- Highest Probability of Success & Needs Additional Support

## PrePlant 1a Virtually Impermeable Films

- Rating High
- Low Emission Films
- Disposal Needs Additional Work
- Need Summary of Progress to Date

## PrePlant 1a Alternative Chemistry-Annuals

- Rating High
- Propargyl Bromide?
- Technical Economic & Safety Limitations Needs to be Identified
- Regulatory Restrictions

## PrePlant 1a Alternative Chemistry-Perennials

- Rating High
- Limitations of Alternatives-Townships Caps, etc

## PrePlant 1a Application

- Rating High
- Some Excellent Results in Area-Drip Appl.
- Not All Appl. Equipment Effective or Practical
- Remote Sensing?
- Questions about Power-Tiller Use/Limitations
- More on Reduced Rates of Fumigants

## PrePlant 1b Biorationals

- Rating Low
- High Risk, Long Term but Needed with Much Less Emphasis
- Lack of Progress and Other Areas Way Under-funded

## PrePlant 1b BioControl Plant Pathogens & Nematodes

- Rating Low
- Research Results have not easily fit into Production Agriculture
- Limited Potential as Replacement for MB

- PrePlant 1b BioControl Weeds
- Rating Low
- Research Results have not easily fit into Production Agriculture
- Limited Potential as Replacement for MB

- PrePlant 1b BioControl Ecological Evaluations
- Rating Low
- Too Long Term for Short Term Demands of MB Phase Out

- PrePlant 1b BioControl Molecular Traits
- Rating Very Low
- Even when Identified, Implementing into Practical Use seems Problematic
- High Risk not likely to Solve Problems to Other Areas of Research

- PrePlant 1c Cultural Controls
- Rating Medium
- Long Term Relative to Chemical Controls but Shorter than Biorationals
- Limited Success to Date
- Like to Become More Important as Other Fumigants Face Increased Regulatory Restrictions

- PrePlant 1c Host Resistance for Disease Management
- Rating Medium
- Long Term
- Limited Specific Host/Pest
- Will do Little to Meeting Phase Out Schedule

- PrePlant 1c Crop Rotation, Fallow and Solarization
- Rating Medium
- Limited Cases with Viable Fit
- Not Practical or Economically Viable
- Like to have Limited Impact

- Postharvest IIa Stored Durables-Heat/Cold
- Rating High
- Will probably have a Limited Fit

- Postharvest IIa Stored Durables-Biological
- Rating Low
- Too Narrow Host Range
- Limited Use

- Postharvest IIa Stored Durables-Pheromone
- Rating High
- Effective Monitoring Tool-not Direct Replacement
- Can Reduce Number of Treatments
- Combine with IId (Phys. Chem. Det.)

- Postharvest IIa Stored Durables- Alternative Fumigants
- Rating High
- Most Promise for Alternatives to MB
- All Potential Alternatives Need to be Evaluated i.e. Sulfuryl Fluoride

- Postharvest IIb Quarantine for Export
- Rating High
- Research Emphasis has not been High
- Need a Viable Alternative for every Quarantine Treatment
- ARS & APHIS need to Prioritize Research, may need Help from FAS, ERS & Stakeholders

- Postharvest IIb Quarantine for Export-Systems Approach
- Rating High
- Limited Use to Date
- Specific Pest/Commodity/Location/Time of Year

- Postharvest IIb Quarantine for Export-Methyl Bromide
- Not Rated
- Cited Research was not Appropriate as an Alternative to MB

- Postharvest IIb Quarantine for Export-Alternative Fumigants
- Rating High
- Greatest Potential as Alternative
- All Potential Alternatives need to be Evaluated i.e. Sulfuryl Fluoride

- Postharvest IIb Quarantine for Export-Controlled Atmospheres
- Rating Medium
- Has Potential with Use Cited for Lettuce but even then Limited Use
- Will not Work Well with Most Commodities

- Postharvest IIb Quarantine for Export-Combination Systems
- Not Rated
- Combine with Controlled Atmospheres

- Postharvest IIb Quarantine for Export-Physical/Heat, Cold & Irradiation
- Rating High
- Limited Use
- Concerns with Irradiation
- Costs can be an Issue

- Postharvest IIc Capture/Recycle
- Rating High
- Limited Use to Date
- Need to Improve Costs, Recovery Efficiencies & make Applicable to Large Fumigations
- May be Requirement for Continued Use of MB
- Does not Address Structural/Processing Facilities to date

- Postharvest IId Physical or Chemical Detection Systems
- Rating Low
- Combine with Pheromone Attractiveness and Trapping
- Not Alternative Treatment but may delay Treatment

- Postharvest IIe Processing & Food Storage Facilities
- Rating Medium

- Postharvest IIe Processing & Food Storage Facilities-Aerosol
- Not Rated
- Not Alternative but could Delay Treatment
- No Technology Developed Since 2000
- No Literature References

- Postharvest IIe Processing & Food Storage Facilities-Contact Insecticides
- Rating Medium
- Not Replacement but could Delay Treatment

- Postharvest IIe Processing & Food Storage Facilities-Heat
- Rating Medium
- Few Processing Facilities will Withstand Treatment
- Some Newer Mills have been able to Use because of Newer Construction
- Methods of Using Heat Economically not Available

- Postharvest IIf Movement of Commodities out of Quarantine Areas
- Rating High
- Important Area
- Need Additional Alternatives

- Postharvest IIf Movement of Commodities out of Quarantine Areas-Behavioral
- Rating High
- Limited Impact-Specific Pest/Host

- Postharvest IIf Movement of Commodities out of Quarantine Areas-Physical
- Rating High
- Has Potential but Limited Use
- Case given is Incorrect in that Olive Fruit Fly is in Major Production Areas

- Postharvest IIg Prevent Quarantine Pest into and within U.S.
- Rating High
- Important Area but Limited Research to Date

- Postharvest IIg Prevent Quarantine Pest into and within US-Sterile Insect
- Rating High
- Will not Replace Need for Control of Current Pests
- Can Limit Outbreaks
- Not all Pests of Concern in Sterile Program

- Postharvest IIg Prevent Quarantine Pest into and within US-Insecticide Baits
- Rating High
- Make Bait Applications More Acceptable
- Important to Prevent Outbreaks
- Will not Replace need for Control of Current Pests

- Postharvest IIg Prevent Quarantine Pest into and within US-Prohibition of Imports
- Rating High
- Can be Effective
- Limited Use as most Exotic Pests like Med Fly have a Wide Host Range