By Clint Thompson
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed cancellation of mancozeb is a potential threat to the grape industry in the Southeast.
According to the University of Georgia Extension Viticulture Blog, Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, encourages growers to submit a letter to the EPA concerning this potential action. The deadline for comments has been extended until Oct. 16.
Mancozeb is essential to the grape industry. It is a fungicide that is used to manage downy mildew, black rot and other diseases of grape.
“It is also a critical resistance management tool, and without it, we will have major issues with resistance development in the fungicides that remain,” Brannen wrote. “I do not mean to sound alarmist, but I truly do not know that production of Vinifera and hybrid grapes will be possible in our environment if mancozeb is removed from the market. The situation is that serious in my estimation.”
The EPA is considering the cancellation due to potential post-application worker exposure hazards.
Cornell Grape Pathology is conducting a survey to better understand grape producer habits around the activities that the EPA believes are risk factors in its decision. Southeast grape farmers are encouraged to fill out the survey by Sept. 6.