Dept. of Agriculture: Comments open for special registration of ginseng fungicide

Media Contacts:  Donna Gilson, 608-224-5130, donna.gilson@wi.gov

Bill Cosh, communications director, William2.Cosh@wi.gov, 608-224-5020

 

MADISON – The public can comment until April 16 on a proposed special pesticide registration to help ginseng growers control Alternaria blight in years when the crop is not to be harvested.

The special registration proposed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is for Bravo WeatherStik®. The active ingredient is chlorothalonil. It is registered by Adama.

The special registration will allow additional applications to provide coverage for the full growing season. However, the applications can only be made to ginseng in pre-harvest years. Ginseng grows for several years before it matures and is harvested.

The preliminary environmental assessment indicates that the proposed registration will not require a full environmental impact statement. This special pesticide registration would expire December 31, 2022.

For a copy of the assessment, contact Alyssa Foss, DATCP, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI, 53708-8911, 608-224-4547. It is available for review at the department MondayFriday7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.2811 Agriculture Dr., Madison, second floor. Comments received on or before 4:30 p.m.April 16, will become part of the preliminary environmental assessment record. Send comments to Alyssa Foss by mail at the above address or by email at alyssa.foss@wi.gov.

The special registration process allows states to register additional uses of pesticide products 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. Details about the special registration process are available athttps://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/SpecialPesticideRegistrations.aspx.

DATCP had previously authorized similar requests for Bravo WeatherStik® use on ginseng, the most recent of which expired Dec. 31, 2017.  The department has not received any reports of adverse effects from previous special registrations of this product.