Please take action if you are a grape grower that uses mancozeb, a multi-site fungicide, in your spray program for the management of Phomopsis, downy mildew, and black rot. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to cancel use of mancozeb in grape due to potential post-application worker exposure hazards. You can read more from the article by Dr. Phil Brannen (UGA), this article from Dr. Melanie Lewis Ivey (OSU), and the article by Dr. Katie Gold, Cornell University. Articles go into detail on the what is happening, why, and the actions you can take to voice your concerns and the impact it would have on your vineyard operations to the EPA .
In short, you can make public comment until September 16, 2024 at this link. You can type the comment online or upload a formatted letter. For inspiration in your writing please feel free to use the sample letter provided by Dr. Gold.
The following information below is pulled from Dr. Gold's article for further inspiration for your comment to the EPA.
"EPA is interested in receiving new and relevant information that will inform its BEAD analysis regarding the risk assessment and risk management of mancozeb in the overall grape disease and fungicide resistance management picture. Julius Farado, USDA’s plant pathologist in residence, has shared the below list of information that the EPA will consider relevant if supported with economic, quantitative, scientific data and recent information (not anecdotal).- Adoption of new sprayer technologies that reduce drift and chemical loading to environment (e.g., X number of growers associated with us have adopted Y technology that reduces drift)
- Adoption of decision support systems (e.g., forecasting tool) adopted by growers that reduce fungicide applications (e.g., We invested in weather systems to improve NEWA model use over X acres)
- Prevalence of fungicide resistance occurring in your sphere of responsibility (X growers who have reported it, X vineyards tested positive, etc.)
- Adoption of cultural practices (e.g., Y trellis system) that could help reduce occupational exposure (e.g., % of acres, growers who have adopted new practice)
- Survey data conducted from growers and grower meetings on the value of mancozeb
- Economic impact analysis relative to disease control and mancozeb in particular (e.g., $ losses suffered when DM or phomopsis went unchecked one year)
- Export/import impacts (e.g., MRL/tolerances issues)
- Changing weather patterns (e.g., climate change impacts in your region) (e.g., we have experienced X more damaging weather events in Y years than the previous decade)
- Extension or otherwise bulletin where mancozeb is the recommended as standard treatment (e.g., mancozeb is recommended in our spray guidelines for X growers who interact with us)"
