Contact: Jane H. Larson (608) 224-5005
MADISON—Wisconsin strawberry growers will have another tool to manage weeds in their strawberry beds under a special pesticide registration proposed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The special registration will allow growers to control Canada thistle and similar weeds using Stinger TM herbicide. Wisconsin citizens have until June 3 to review and comment on the five-year special pesticide registration.
The special registration process allows states to register pesticide products without prior federal approval, giving states flexibility to meet local needs such as controlling a plant disease or insect outbreak. The special pesticide registrations are then sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency where EPA has 90 days to review the states’ decision.
Another aspect of the special registration process is gathering comments from the public, strawberry growers or other interested parties. The comments become part of the environmental assessment of the proposed registration.
Canada thistle and similar weeds can cause problems that reduce the strawberry harvest. This is especially true in ‘U-Pick’ operations, where customers often avoid the areas that contain these weeds. In fields where hand-laborers do the weeding, Canada thistle can cause painful workplace injuries. Uncontrolled weeds can become so abundant they take soil nutrients away from the strawberry plants.
The herbicide products that are currently registered for use on strawberries do not offer adequate weed control for Canada thistle and other broadleaf weeds.
Stinger TM is manufactured by DowAgrosciences, LLC. Stinger TM contains the active ingredient clopyralid and is already labeled for use on numerous other food crops. EPA has evaluated the use of this product on strawberries. Stinger TM cannot be used within 30 days of berry harvest.
For a copy of the environmental assessment, contact Pat Kandziora, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911, (608) 224-4542 or review the assessment at the department, Mon.-Fri., 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 2811 Agriculture Dr., Madison, 2nd floor. Comments received on or before 4:30 p.m., June 3, 2010 will become part of the preliminary environmental assessment record. Send comments to Pat Kandziora by mail at the above address, or fax to (608)224-4656, or send an email to pat.kandziora@wisconsin.gov.
