SALINAS, Calif. - There's a battle in Sacramento to reverse a controversial decision approving the use of Methyl Iodide on our California agriculture fields.
The product, manufactured by Arysta LifeScience (the brand name is called Midas), has been approved in 47 states and 6 countries. Methyl iodide is used mainly on strawberry crops and is seen as a replacement for methyl bromide, which is being phased out across the globe on concerns it depletes the ozone.
Central Coast Assemblyman, Bill Monning (D-Carmel) is fighting the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) after it gave methyl Iodide it's stamp of approval in December, 2010. Monning has said, "Methyl iodide, while it is not an ozone depleter, is perhaps more highly toxic, more unstable in the ground. We think it poses even greater risk than even methyl bromide to work force and rural residents."
Monning has joined an advocacy group called Pesticide Watch.
According to Arysta LifeScience, the first research on their methyl iodide product (midas) as a pesticide began in the early 1990's at University California Riverside. It was submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2002 and was approved for use in October, 2007.
Central Coast News spoke to Jeff Tweedy, Head of Business Development at Arysta LifeScience. "Methyl iodide is different in that it delivers the broad spectrum of control that methyl bromide would deliver... control of diseases, control of nematodes and control of weeds. That makes (methyl iodide) unique," said Tweedy.
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has some strict guidelines for it's use. There would be buffer zones between the nearest schools and homes. Plus, restrictions on how much/often it's used and mandatory tarps to cover up the ground.
Applicators would also need to pass a test and would wear respirators for safety. Tweedy explained, "You or I could not go out and buy (Midas) and apply it ourselves, we need to have someone certified and trained in this (application process) and the equipment to do it correctly."
While speaking in Sacramento in March, Monning said, "This chemical, and nobody disputes this, it is cancer causing, it is birth defect causing, it is a neurotoxin, and it is a water contaminant, that is not in dispute, that's what comes with this chemical. What is in dispute is can it be applied and used safely."
Tweedy told Central Coast News that information is based on old data. "If you look at the new research done by the Cancer Institute, other agencies and the EPA... It's not cancer causing at all," said Tweedy.
The California Strawberry Commission said banning Methyl Iodide would be a bad idea.
At this point, neither Santa Cruz nor Monterey County has received an application from a grower to actually use Midas. Central Coast News was told those applications would not arrive until later this year, as local growers prepare for the 2012 crop.
Tweedy ended with saying, "Listen to both sides, we've got good information on our product and the stewardship on how it's been used. We want to be good stewards of the land we want to make sure there's a good urban/agriculture balance."
The EPA is accepting public comments until April 30th on a petition to remove methyl iodide from the marketplace. To find more information, visit the website www.regulations.gov.
