New and localized pest problems can be extremely challenging in fruit production.  In response, researchers, pesticide registrants and the Wisconsin DATCP often work together to get time-limited special pesticide registrations or permits to address these situations.  These rather dire pest situations, however, are a subject of many grower questions during this time of year.  What special labels are available in Wisconsin and for which crops?  Did the special label that I used last year expire or can I still use the pesticide? 

The Wisconsin DATCP has combined all of the relevant information to answer these and other questions into a useful table that is accessible online at: http://datcp.wi.gov/Plants/Pesticides/Special_Registrations/.  From this web page, simply click on “Wisconsin Special Registration Pesticide Listing”.  The table includes the pesticide name, specific pest situations and crop sites that are addressed by the special label and the valid dates for use, among other information.  Additionally, clicking on the product name will open a copy of the Wisconsin label.

There are two types of special pesticide labels often found on this page: Special Local Need Registrations (Section 24c) and Emergency Exemptions (Section 18).  The section numbers refer to parts of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) that dictate how the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pesticide use.  These sections recognize that localized outbreaks and emergency situations require a rapid pesticide registration process to address the need.  The type depends on the pest situation:

• Special Local Need (24c) registrations are issued by the state and reviewed by EPA for a demonstrated special local pest management need.  In most cases a pesticide tolerance in the harvested product or exemption from a tolerance has been established.  These registrations are often valid for longer than Emergency Exemptions.
• Emergency Exemptions (Section 18) are requested from EPA by DATCP to permit an unregistered use of a pesticide and typically are valid for only up to one year.  The Emergency Exemptions address urgent, non-routine pest problems that jeopardize agricultural production and aren’t managed by current options.

These tools can be very valuable components of an integrated pest management program in fruit crops where pest outbreaks are often unpredictable.  Even more so than typical pesticide labels, special labels change often and are time-limited!  As always, read and follow the label prior to use!

This article was posted in Insects, WFN, Vol. 1-4 and tagged fruit pest management, Jed Colquhoun, pesticide registrations, pesticides.