HERBICIDE OKAYED FOR CANKER CONTROL


The state of Florida Thursday (July 7) exercised its Crisis Exemption authority under Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for the use of the herbicide Reglone Desiccant (diquat) on citrus trees for tree desiccation to impede the sustainability and spread of citrus bacterial canker.
This diquat product can be applied on up to 5,000 acres of citrus during the 15-day crisis period. Applications can be made by ground using conventional air blast sprayers typically used in citrus production. Obviously special sprayer and sprayer tank cleaning procedures will need to be observed.
Following conclusion of the 15-day crisis period, a Special Local Need Registration [24(c)] will be submitted to extend and expand availability of this registration. No published tolerance for this use pattern exists, so any and all plant material and fruit that receive a diquat application under this use pattern must be destroyed. Fruit destruction must be verified by FDACS at each treatment location.
The desire behind this herbicide application to the tree itself is to kill the foliage where most of the citrus canker lesions occur. This then should reduce the amount of inoculum and provide additional time for the ultimate removal of all positive and exposed trees using conventional removal procedures. Questions surrounding this crisis exemption can be directed to FDACS or to FFVA's Environmental and Pest Management Division.

HERBICIDE CRISIS EXEMPTION DECLARED FOR CITRUS CANKER