Blueberries and Pesticides

Information on the regulation, restriction, control, and reporting of the pesticides in the State of Maine.
Maine Board of Pesticides Control - http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/about/index.shtml

Information on the regulations and controls of the 'crop dusters'
National Agricultural Aviation Association - http://www.agaviation.org/naaref.htm

Information and Fact Sheets on Wild Blueberries
Maine Cooperative Extension - http://wildblueberries.maine.edu/

UMCE Fact Sheet # 209 - 2007 Insect Control Guide for Wild Blueberries
http://wildblueberries.maine.edu/FactSheets/209.htm

An article from The Ellsworth American

Properly Used, Pesticides Have Their Place

Written by David Yarborough

Thursday, October 26, 2006 - The Ellsworth American.

I would like to respond to the Another Viewpoint commentary “Pesticides are Poisons,” which appeared in The Ellsworth American of Oct. 12. It is true that pesticides by their very definition are poisons and I certainly do not advocate “a policy of poisoning Maine people, air and water.”

The University of Maine has done extensive research on understanding the biology of insects, weeds and diseases. Wild blueberry growers have been using sweeping and trapping Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques developed by the university for over 30 years. UMaine faculty have evaluated and provided support for registration of many reduced risk, biological and pesticides approved for organic production. (That’s right. Organic farmers can and do use pesticides.) I am currently a co-investigator with three other faculty members and an economist on a USDA study to evaluate organic methods to transition from conventional to organic wild blueberry production. The use of these IPM techniques developed at the University of Maine allows growers the tools to monitor their pest populations and to apply the best alternative only when it will cause economic injury to the crop. This has allowed wild blueberry growers to reduce the few pesticide applications that are needed to protect the crop.

We are fortunate in Maine in that the short growing season and severe winter naturally limit pest populations so that Maine growers apply fewer pesticide applications than those in warmer parts of this country. Blueberry growers also have a non-cropping year that also disrupts weed growth and disease and insect cycles, so that wild blueberry growers use the least amount of any pesticides of any commercial crop in this country.

What is missing from the concept of “Pesticides Are Poisons” is that it is both the dose and the exposure make the poison. Although some pesticides, especially the insecticides, are toxic to humans in the concentrated form, this is not what the public is exposed to. Pesticides are applied in a diluted solution on fields, and in the use of insecticides, at a dose that will kill a fly, not a human. These chemicals have to undergo years of tests at a cost of millions of dollars and are licensed for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

So the notion that pesticides are good for all of us is correct. Pesticides allow farmers to produce a safe, abundant and inexpensive food supply. Because we spend so little on our food we have more disposable income and are able to obtain a better education or take a vacation in Maine. It allows people with limited income access to the healthy fruits and vegetables that are proven to prevent cancers and improve the quality of our lives. Wild blueberries have the highest antioxidant level of 40 fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA, so producing and consuming more wild blueberries is beneficial for everyone.

I am proud that the University of Maine research and education provided to Maine wild blueberry growers has allowed them to increase the crop in Maine from 20 million to 75 million pounds over the past 20 years and has allowed Maine growers to remain competitive with Canadian wild and cultivated blueberries grown throughout the world. Wild blueberry fields provide open habitat and increased edge habitat for wildlife such as bear, deer and turkeys. Keeping these fields in viable agriculture is far more beneficial than the alternative of house lots and sprawl. It is unfortunate that so many resources are wasted on speculating on the effects of minute chemical residues; leaving less resources to address the proven sources of our health problems: cigarette smoke, lack of exercise, excess consumption of fats, sugars and carbohydrates and insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables.

David E. Yarborough, PhD, is a blueberry specialist and professor of horticulture at the University of Maine in Orono

Public information on Maine Pesticides -

Common Maine Agricultural Pesticides with Environmental Fate Information* and 2006 Drinking Water Advisory Levels**
Active Ingredient	Selected Trade Names	Fungicide (F) Herbicide (H) Insecticide (I)	Potential for Water Contamination			Drinking Water Guidelines (ug/L; ppb)
			Groundwater	Surface Water; Runoff		EPA		Maine
			Leaching	Solution	Adsorbed	MCL	HAL	MEG
2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETIC ACID (salts and esters)	Amine 4, Formula 40, Weedar 64, Weedestroy	H	Intermediate	Intermediate	Low	70	na***	70
ATRAZINE	Aatrex, Bicep, Lumax, Liberty Atz, Axiom AT, Basis Gold, Lariat, Bullet, Harness Xtra, Marksman, Laddok 5L, etc.	H	High	High	Intermediate	3	na	3
AZINPHOS-METHYL	Guthion, Sniper	I	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate	na	na	11
AZOXYSTROBIN	Heritage, Abound, ICIA5504, Quadris/Ridomil Gold, Dynasty, Amistar, Quilt, Protégé	F	Low	High	High	na	na	na
CAPTAN	Captan, Captec	F	Low	Intermediate	Low	na	na	146
CARBARYL	Carbaryl, Sevin	I	Very Low	Low	Low	na	na	70
CARBOFURAN	Furadan	I	High	High	Intermediate	40	na	35
CHLOROTHALONIL	Bravo, Echo, Equus, Daconil	F	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate	na	na	45
CHLORPYRIFOS	Dursban, Lorsban	I	Low	Low	Intermediate	na	2	20
CYMOXANIL	Curzate, Dupont Tanos, Evolve	F	Low	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
DIAZINON	Diazinon	I	Low	High	High	na	1	0.6
DIQUAT	Reglone, Reward, Prosecutor	H	Very Low	Low	High	20	na	15
DISULFOTON	Di-Syston	I	Intermediate	High	Low	na	0.7	0.3
DIURON	Direx, Karmex, Krovar	H	Intermediate	High	Intermediate	na	na	14
ENDOSULFAN	Thiodan, Phaser	I	Very Low	Intermediate	High	na	na	42
ENDOTHALL	Des-I-cate	H	Intermediate	Intermediate	Low	100	50	140
ESFENVALERATE	Asana	I	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate	na	na	na
ETHOPROP	Mocap	I	High	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
FENVALERATE	Crossfire	I	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate	na	na	na
FLUTOLANIL	Prostar, Contrast, Systar, Montero, Moncoat, Artisan	F	Intermediate	High	Intermediate	na	na	na
FOSETYL-AL	Aliette, Lesco Prodigy Signature, Terronate	F	Low	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
GLUFOSINATE-AMMONIUM	Finale, Derringer	H	Low	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
GLYPHOSATE	Touchdown, Roundup	H	Very Low	High	High	700	na	700
HEXAZINONE	Velpar, Pronone	H	High	High	Intermediate	na	400	230
IMIDACLOPRID	Admire, Provado, Gaucho, Merit	I	High	High	Intermediate	na	na	na
LAMBDA-CYHALOTHRIN	Demand, Warrior	I	Very Low	Low	Intermediate	na	na	na
LINURON	Linex, Lorox, Layby	H	Intermediate	High	Intermediate	na	na	na
MALEIC HYDRAZIDE	Royal MH-30, Sprout Stop	Plant Growth Regulator	Intermediate	Intermediate	Low	na	4000	3500
MANCOZEB	Manzate, Penncozeb, Dithane	F	Low	High	High	na	na	6
MCPA	Rhomene, Tripower, Trimec	H	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate	na	30	4
MCPP	Tripower, Trimec	H	High	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
METAM-SODIUM	Vapam	Fumigant	Intermediate	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
METHAMIDOPHOS	Monitor, Orthotox	I	Intermediate	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
METHOMYL	Lannate	I	High	Intermediate	Low	na	200	175
METIRAM	Polyram	F	Very Low	Low	Intermediate	na	na	na
METRIBUZIN	Boundary, Sencor, Turbo, Axiom, Domain, Authority, Canopy, Top Gun, Metri	H	High	High	Low	na	70	na
NAPROPAMIDE	Devrinol	H	Intermediate	High	Intermediate	na	na	na
PARAQUAT	Gramoxone, Cyclone, Surefire, Marman Herbiquat	H	Very Low	Low	High	na	30	3
PENDIMETHALIN	Prowl	H	Low	Intermediate	High	na	na	na
PENTACHLORO- NITROBENZENE	Terraclor	F	Low	Low	Intermediate	na	na	na
PHOSMET	Imidan	I	Low	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
PROPICONAZOLE	Orbit	F	Intermediate	High	High	na	na	9
SETHOXYDIM	Poast	H	Low	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
SIMAZINE	Princep	H	High	High	Intermediate	4	na	3.5
S-METOLACHLOR	Dual, Bicep	H	High	High	Intermediate	na	700	100
TERBACIL	Sinbar	H	High	High	Intermediate	na	90	90
THIABENDAZOLE	Mertect	F	Low	High	High	na	na	na
THIOPHANATE- METHYL	Topsin M, Banrot	F	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate	na	na	na
TRIPHENYLTIN	Super Tin	F				na	na	na
VINCLOZOLIN	Curalan, Lesco Touche, Ronilan, Vorlan	F	Intermediate	Intermediate	Low	na	na	na
All environmental fate information in this table was provided by the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. For details on how these values were established call Joseph Bagdon, Pest Management Specialist and WIN-PST Team Leader, at (413) 253-4376, or email joseph.bagdon@ma.usda.gov. Written correspondence can be sent to: USDA/NRCS National Water and Climate Center, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002-2995, Fax: (413) 253-4375. There are basically two types of health-based acceptable levels for pesticides in drinking water; these are the standards (EPA's MCLs) and the guidelines (EPA's HALs and Maine's MEGs). MCLs are enforceable for public water systems, as defined by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and in setting them, the best available technology to achieve the level has to be considered. MEGs are set by the Environmental Toxicology program in the Maine Centers for Disease Control (MeCDC), and some of the values listed are final MEGs and some are interim. The MCLs and the guidelines (HALs and MEGs) are all used for guidance in private well situations. Other potential routes of pesticide exposure to humans include dermal and inhalation.* For more information, please contact Lebelle Hicks, BPC Toxicologist, (207) 287-7594, or lebelle.hicks@maine.gov. *** na = not available Acronyms and abbreviations used in this table: EPA—US Environmental Protection Agency HAL—Health Advisory Level MCL—Maximum Contaminant Level MEG—Maximum Exposure Guidelines