Feb 15, 2017

California authorizes fungicide in orchards with standing water

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA DPR) has authorized the emergency application of Pristine fungicide and select other products to orchards with standing water in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties until June 1.

Full details and conditions for making such applications can be found by viewing the authorization at: https://www.co.sutter.ca.us/contents/pdf/ag/Emergency%20Application%20of%20Fungicides%20to%20Orchards%20with%20Standing%20Water.pdf

Pristine fungicide is labeled for aerial applications to citrus, grapes, pome fruits, stone fruit and tree nuts. BASF supports that use when ground applications are not possible.

CA DPR is granting the exemption because the rain has made ground orchard access difficult to impossible for many growers.

Aerial applicators are advised that:

1. Thorough coverage is necessary to obtain optimum disease control with Pristine fungicide.
2. Sufficient application volumes need to be used to obtain thorough coverage of the whole plant.
3. The Pristine fungicide label requires a minimum of 10 gallons per acre be used for aerial applications.

Conditions for application are:

1. Water must be standing and will not flow into state waterways where fish and wildlife are likely to be affected.
2. Standing water will not be pumped from the orchard after the fungicide application.
3. Applications are made in accordance with all other label directions.

Please be sure that any standing water does not find its way to any moving water (i.e., habitat for aquatic species) due to pumping or run-off.

For more details, contact your local BASF Representative.