Methyl Bromide Alternatives

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Whafci
., . - • . v -^.rT" ".-"
fe^a'chemical pesticide used by ji^i.'
, the agrifc.^lfJjA;comniunity to cbjatirdt'itis^cts^'-"1"
neffiatodes,'"^eefs; pathbgens.'ahd other pests. It fs'J"'.''_'"':
used to fumigaKsotbefore planting, commoditiesji
est, storage facilities, and transport-vehicles. :."...
MethylJBjpniideTfused in the production of oyer 100
-. crops* including-tomatoes in Florida and strawberries iff
California: However^ inethyl bromide depletes stratospheric" •,
-JbzSQs, and-the United States and other industrial countries will
phase out productionbyj2005. jlhe U.S. Environmental Protection- .
Agency (EPA) is worJdng.wjth's^akeholders to ensure the agricultural
community has viable alternatives before methyl bromide is-
- unavailable. The alternatives briefly described in this brochure
, .show gSod-pr^mise to replace methyl bromide in a number of pest
control applications. While no single alternative pest control mate-
riafor method will substitute for methyl bromide on a
one-to-one basis, similar pest control can be
achieved with a combination of alterna-
tives,;materials', methods, and ~
. .application practices.
1,3-dichloropropene
(Telone) is. a soil
fumigant that has the
'potential to replace
methyl bromide
when combined with
chloropicrin for the
production of straw-
berries in California and appears to be promising
when applied with drip irrigation under gas
impermeable plastic tarps. A combination of Telone
and chloropicrin and an herbicide, such as pebulate
(Tillam), has the potential to replace methyl bromide
in the production of tomatoes in Florida. In addition
to suppressing pests in tomatoes, strawberries, and
. peppers, Telone.has;effectively;protected rffcfrethan
1(3.0; other'crops. Hb^eyer, additionalfeseareh and
development will be.rieededtO'addfess current
product use restrictions in some states.
; • The energy of
the sun is used
'' .to heat soil to
••• . iernperatufes'
• that destroy or
Inhibit most pest-
organisms and can
eliminate the need
for furqigation with.
. methyl bromide.
The production''
offresh.idmatbes
can be accom- .- .
plished without .';'•
•methyl- bronjld.e.by:
using" registered .
pesticides.,. ;, ' ;'•;
Strawberries can
' be produced
without the use of.
methyl bromide
'through crop
rotations, organic
• amendments, or
non-ozone deplet-
. ing'pesticides.
Reforestation need
not be dependent
on methyl bromide;
alternatives, Includ-
ing both chemical
and non-chemical
pesticides, can be
used to produce
strong and
viable trees.

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Solarization is a method
in which clear plastic is
laid on the soil surface
to trap solar radiation
and heat the soil. It
can be used in place ,
of applying methyl
_
disease^;.
>, crags,
toes, peppers, and
strawberries. However,
this pest control tool can only be used in areas where
the sun shines for long periods uninterrupted by
clouds, and the land can be fallow for one to three
months. The efficacy of solarization can be signif-
icantly improved (especially in cloudy areas) by •
tig this method with low doses of chemical
:s, biological control agents, or appropriate
'&
*„. •#&£
& %%.
Sulfuryl fluoride
(Vikane) is a good
pest control alternative
to methyl bromide for
use in buildings such
as homes, museums,
rare book libraries,
historic landmarks,
and government
archives. Since 1961, it
has been used in more
than one million build-
ings. Vikane works
against a wide array
of pests, including termites, cockroaches, bed bugs,
, .,.\v;3pd rodents;:'ttri?.enetratesisttucturaL;materials.jnore .
/;'"' rapidly rnei&nethyl bromide andleaVes noiresidues;;''
V.'- afteraeratio'h. Sulfuryl fluoride is currently:being •.;,.
,;'•'•.- evaluated for control of pests in stored food.
I - •
I

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       • «• • iX ** *™     ,r           •     ...,••..     -      .
       t .iJslMetanpfsodiumvcan be an effective soil fumlgant'fpr
            eed contra}. aiKJ. general pest management- Metam.
            idiiinj is a yetSatile pesticide that has been uSedfor;  .
            .ore.mafrfour decades iii-California'to^prote.cttoma-
         V-*S~ ~'t 'V -''••'•I  :»\  lu', ,,',     '       ,.    '    *\" •"-•&'?••• '
                   erryijaiid'pSpper crops from weeds,;plant
                  > and soil'pathogens. It has:also been i|s,ed'in  :
                    :plpridalo:'protect tomatoes;from similar^ •
                       ,caii ti.e'iised in the production of-the
          ^k|o^.ty-^f .crisps where methyl promise'is n
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