Alternatives to Methyl Bromide: A Florida Perspective

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin N. Rosskopf ◽  
Daniel O. Chellemi ◽  
Nancy Kokalis-Burelle ◽  
Gregory T. Church
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Bromide ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Ozone Layer ◽  
Montreal Protocol ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Atmospheric Ozone ◽  
Soil Fumigant ◽  
Soilborne Fungi ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Phase Out

Methyl bromide is a soil fumigant used to control soilborne fungi, nematodes, and weeds in a wide range of agricultural, horticultural, and ornamental cropping systems. The Montreal Protocol of 1987 called for the phase-out of methyl bromide due to its ability to deplete atmospheric ozone, thus disrupting the UV protective ozone layer. This article reviews the current status of the on-going methyl bromide phase-out from the perspective of agriculture in Florida. Accepted for publication 27 September 2005. Published 27 October 2005.

scholarly journals Economics of fumigation in tomato production: the impact of methyl bromide phase-out on the Florida tomato industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Cao ◽  
Zhengfei Guan ◽  
Gary E. Vallad ◽  
Feng Wu
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Bromide ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Montreal Protocol ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Soil Fumigant ◽  
Cost Effective Treatment ◽  
Phase Out ◽  
The Impact

The Florida tomato industry is facing challenges of increased production costs and decreased yields resulting from the methyl bromide (MBr) phase-out under the Montreal Protocol for environmental concerns. MBr and several accepted alternative soil fumigant systems are analyzed in this study from an economic perspective. This article focuses on identifying optimal fumigant systems by analyzing the cost effectiveness and economic risk associated with MBr and several other commercially available soil fumigant systems using data collected from scientific field trials. The results obtained show that a 67:33 formulation of MBr: chloropicrin is the most cost-effective treatment, and no alternative fumigant systems investigated can substitute MBr cost-effectively in Florida tomato production. The analysis indicated that switching from MBr (67:33) to the new industry standard PicChlor 60 approximately resulted in a loss of $3,569 per acre in gross revenue and $1,656 per acre in profit using market prices in the 2013/14 season. Higher market prices would further increase the loss.

scholarly journals The Ozone Layer and Metered Dose Inhalers

1998 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 176-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis-Philippe Boulet
Keyword(s):  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Ozone Layer ◽  
Montreal Protocol ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Metered Dose Inhalers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Metered Dose ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Phase Out

The stratospheric ozone layer plays a crucial role in protecting living organisms against ultraviolet radiation. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) contained in metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) contribute to ozone depletion and in accordance with theMontreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layerestablished 10 years ago, phase-out strageies have been developed worldwide for this category of agents. Alternatives to CFC-containing inhalers have been developed, such as powder inhalers and those using hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) as propellants, which have been shown to be as safe and effective as CFC-containing inhalers and even offer interesting advantages over older inhalers. The transition to non-CFC MDIs requires a major effort to make the new products available and to ensure adequate comparision with the previous ones. It also requires a harmonization of actions taken by industry, government, licencing bodies and patients or health professional associations to ensure adequate information and education to the public and respiratory care providers.

scholarly journals Critical Yellow Nutsedge-free Period for Polyethylene-mulched Bell Pepper

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1045-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy N. Motis ◽  
Salvadore J. Locascio ◽  
James P. Gilreath
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Bromide ◽  
Critical Period ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Removal Experiment ◽  
Cyperus Esculentus ◽  
Soil Fumigant ◽  
Yellow Nutsedge ◽  
Important Concern ◽  
Phase Out ◽  
Pepper Plants

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) interference with bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) has become an important concern because of the phase-out of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant. The critical period for yellow nutsedge control in pepper was determined in two adjacent experiments (removal and plant-back) conducted twice in separate fields each Spring and Fall 2000 in Gainesville, Fla. In the removal experiment, nutsedge was planted with pepper in all but the full-season (13 weeks) weed-free controls and removed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after pepper transplanting (WAPT). Full-season weedy control plots in the removal experiment were obtained by never removing nutsedge planted with pepper (0 WAPT). In the plant-back experiment, all but the full-season weed-free controls received nutsedge with nutsedge planted at 0 (full-season weedy control), 1, 3, 5, and 7 WAPT. Sprouted nutsedge tubers were planted at a density of 45 tubers/m2. Results indicated that a nutsedge-free period from 3 to 5 WAPT in spring and 1 to 7 WAPT would prevent >10% yield reductions of large and marketable peppers. Full-season nutsedge interference reduced pepper yields by >70%. When planted with pepper, nutsedge shoots grew taller than pepper plants with nutsedge heights at 5 WAPT up to two times greater in fall than spring. Results indicated that yellow nutsedge control practices should be initiated earlier and continue longer in fall than spring due to faster early-season nutsedge growth in fall than spring.

Sustainable Tourism Policy Frameworks

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Coghlan
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Ozone Layer ◽  
Montreal Protocol ◽  
Scientific Advice ◽  
Holy See ◽  
Policy Frameworks ◽  
Significant Achievement ◽  
Ozone Depleting Substances ◽  
Phase Out

Having looked at the external and internal challenges facing the move towards more sustainable tourism, and the impacts of tourism, you should now be wondering how sustainability in tourism can be turned into more than an ideal. Perhaps one of the most obvious way to achieve this is simply to regulate the sector. After all regulation worked for the ozone layer: scientists raised the alarm in the 1970s that a hole was appearing in the atmosphere’s ozone layer, caused by Ozone Depleting Substances or ODS (most notably CFCs) and resulting in adverse effects on human health and the environment. By 1987 the Montreal Protocol was established to phase out the use of ODS, and by June 2015, all countries in the United Nations, the Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue and the supranational European Union had ratified the original Protocol. The result was a 98% drop in ODS since ratification, and the hole is expected to have fully repaired itself by 2050. A significant achievement in terms of international cooperation, based on scientific advice.

scholarly journals Chloropicrin as a Soil Fumigation Treatment in Southern Pine Nurseries

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-51
Author(s):  
David B. South
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Bromide ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Ozone Layer ◽  
Soil Fumigation ◽  
Equivalent Amount ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
Southern Pine ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Soil Fumigant ◽  
Annual Amount

Abstract Because of concerns over the ozone layer, the annual amount of methyl bromide used for soil fumigation for crop production is decreasing. A promising alternative soil fumigation treatment involves applying 300 lb/ac of chloropicrin (CCl3NO2) under a plastic tarp. Although this soil fumigant does not control weeds as well as an equivalent amount of methyl bromide, chloropicrin is an effective strategy for controlling many soilborne pests. The total amount of chloropicrin used for fumigation in southern pine nurseries will likely increase as use of methyl bromide fumigation declines.

scholarly journals Effects of Fumigant Alternatives to Methyl Bromide on Pest Control in Open Field Nursery Production of Perennial Fruit and Nut Plants

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 526-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally M. Schneider ◽  
Bradley D. Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Open Field ◽  
Methyl Bromide ◽  
Nematode Control ◽  
Root Knot Nematode ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Nursery Stock ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Field Nursery ◽  
Nursery Production ◽  
Phase Out

Nursery producers of perennial fruit and nut plants rely on preplant fumigation to meet regulatory requirements designed to ensure nematode-free planting stock. In the past, preplant treatments with methyl bromide or high rates of 1,3-dichloropropene were the preferred treatments. However, the phase out of methyl bromide due to environmental concerns and evolving regulations on the use of 1,3-dichloropropene has increased the need for effective and economical alternative fumigation treatments in open field nursery production. A field trial was conducted in a commercial nursery to test weed and nematode control with several tarped and untarped preplant applications of 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, and iodomethane in comparison with methyl bromide. Crop safety and nematode infestation were evaluated on a wide range of tree, vine, and berry nursery stock. No fall fumigation treatment in this study resulted in measurable injury to spring-planted nursery stock. There were few statistical differences between methyl bromide and the other fumigation treatments in crop establishment, crop quality, or nematode level at planting 5 months after treatment, although some untarped treatments had detectable levels of the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.). At grape (Vitus vinifera) and bramble (Rubus spp.) harvest after the first growing season, few statistical differences were noted in the number of nematodes isolated from roots; however, only methyl bromide had nondetectable levels in all varieties. The highest nematode levels were usually found in untarped iodomethane:chloropicrin and untarped chloropicrin plots. At tree harvest 26 months after fumigation, root-knot nematodes were isolated from the roots of highly susceptible tree varieties in several iodomethane:chloropicrin treatments and in chloropicrin alone plots. Untarped applications did not provide commercially acceptable control of weeds or root-knot nematode in this trial. Tarped applications of 30:70 and 50:50 iodomethane:chloropicrin provided nematode control similar to 1,3-dichloropropene, although not as good as methyl bromide. Iodomethane:chloropicrin combinations have been registered in other states and should be considered for use in California perennial fruit and nut crop nurseries as an alternative to methyl bromide.

scholarly journals Retrospective evaluation of costs associated with methyl bromide critical use exemptions for open field strawberries in California

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Wolverton
Keyword(s):  
Open Field ◽  
Methyl Bromide ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Montreal Protocol ◽  
Methyl Bromide Alternatives ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ex Ante ◽  
Negative Impacts

Abstract:Methyl bromide (MBr) has been widely used as a fumigant to control pests in the agricultural sector, but it is also an ozone depleting substance. After 2005, methyl bromide could only be produced when a critical use exemption was agreed to by the signatories to the Montreal Protocol. This paper examines how the EPA’sex antecost analyses for open field fresh strawberries in California for the 2006–2010 seasons compare to anex postassessment of costs. A key input into theex antecost analysis is the assumed yield loss associated with methyl bromide alternatives. The EPA used conservative assumptions given the wide range of estimates in the literature at the time, but it appears that a number of viable MBr alternatives – either new fumigants or new ways of applying existing fumigants – may have become available more quickly and resulted in lower yield loss than initially anticipated. Likewise, it appears that farmers who substituted away from methyl bromide did so without imposing large negative impacts on production in prime California strawberry growing areas.Ex postevaluation also confirms the effect of California regulatory restrictions in limiting the use of various economically competitive alternatives. It is worth noting that unanticipated complications after switching away from methyl bromide, such as new diseases, slowed the transition to MBr alternatives.

Adoption of conservation tillage in California: current status and future perspectives

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Mitchell ◽  
K. Klonsky ◽  
A. Shrestha ◽  
R. Fry ◽  
A. DuSault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Central Valley ◽  
Current Status ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Crop Acreage ◽  
Public Agency ◽  
Natural Resource Conservation ◽  
Natural Resource Conservation Service ◽  
Wide Range

While there have been several similarities between the development of cropping systems in Australia and California (including climate, the need for irrigation and very diverse, highly specialised crop rotations), the historical patterns of conservation tillage development in the two regions have been quite different. Current estimates indicate that conservation tillage (CT) practices are used on less than 2% of annual crop acreage in California’s Central Valley. Tillage management systems have changed relatively little since irrigation and cropping intensification began throughout this region, more than 60 years ago. The University of California (UC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) CT Workgroup is a diverse group of UC, NRCS, farmer, private sector, environmental group and other public agency people. It has provided wide-ranging services aimed at developing information on reduced tillage alternatives for California’s production valleys. In a short span of 7 years, the CT Workgroup has grown to over 1000 members and has conducted over 60 demonstration evaluations of CT systems. While CT is still quite new in California, a growing number of farmers has become increasingly interested in it, for both economic and environmental reasons. They are now pursuing a wide range of activities and approaches aimed at developing sustainable CT systems. As successful CT systems continue to be demonstrated, the rate of adoption is expected to increase.

scholarly journals Global Warming Potentials for the C<sub>1</sub>-C<sub>3</sub> Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) Included in the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios K. Papanastasiou ◽  
Allison Beltrone ◽  
Paul Marshall ◽  
James B. Burkholder
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Montreal Protocol ◽  
Oh Radical ◽  
Radical Reactivity ◽  
Structure Activity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Warming Potentials ◽  
Ozone Depleting Substances ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Phase Out

Abstract. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are ozone depleting substances and potent greenhouse gases that are controlled under the Montreal Protocol. However, the majority of the 274 HCFCs included in Annex C of the protocol do not have reported global warming potentials (GWPs) that are used to guide the phase-out of HCFCs and the future phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). In this study, GWPs for all C1-C3 HCFCs included in Annex C are reported based on estimated atmospheric lifetimes and theoretical methods used to calculate infrared absorption spectra. Atmospheric lifetimes were estimated from a structure activity relationship (SAR) for OH radical reactivity and estimated O(1D) reactivity and UV photolysis loss processes. The HCFCs display a wide range of lifetimes and GWPs dependent on their molecular structure and H-atom content of the individual HCFC. The results from this study provide reliable policy relevant GWP metrics for the HCFCs included in the Montreal Protocol in the absence of experimentally derived metrics.

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