The AWRI publication Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture 2007/2008 is now available.
Major changes in the 2007/2008 Dog Book
NEW ACTIVES
APVMA 55736
Green Guard SC Biological Insecticide is a Becker Underwood product containing Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum spores. Green Guard SC is registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of nymphs of the Australian plague locust, wingless grasshopper and pest grasshoppers in agricultural areas, pastures, crops, forage crops and non-crop areas. The APVMA has recently confirmed that crops is considered to include vineyards for this particular product.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 7 days prior to harvest (temporary).
APVMA 53738
Py Bo insecticide is registered by the APVMA for the control of aphids, ants, cabbage moth and other caterpillars, earwigs, leafhoppers, thrips and whiteflies in fruit and vegetable crops. Grapevines are considered as a fruit crop therefore, this product can be used on grapevines.
Py Bo is a Pestech Australia product. It contains two active constituents: pyrethrins (Group 3A) and piperonyl butoxide (benzodioxile). Piperonyl butoxide restricts an enzyme that insects use to detoxify the pyrethrins which allows the insecticide to be more effective.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 80% capfall.
APVMA 60504
The herbicide active Glyphosate MEA is a new form of glyphosate (MEA = monoethanolamine salt).
SOME NEW PRODUCTS
APVMA 60541
Microsul WG Elite has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of vine mites, grape leaf blister mite, powdery mildew and mites on grapevines.
Microsul WG Elite is a Melpat product. It contains the active constituent sulphur which is a Group Y fungicide/miticide.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than 30 days before harvest.
Note: The use of generic terms such as mites and vine mites on many of the sulphur products registered for use in viticulture, encompasses all mites that are found on grapevines.
APVMA 52546
Avatar has been granted registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for the control of Garden Weevil and Grapevine Moth on grapevines (wine grapes only). Avatar previously only had a registration for LBAM.
Avatar is a DuPont product. It contains the active constituent indoxacarb which is a group 22A insecticide.
Restriction on use for export grapes: Use no later than E-L 31 (before bunch closure), but do not use later than 8 weeks before harvest.
Correction to the copper oxychloride entry: The 2007/2008 Dog Book lists Copper Oxychloride WG under the copper oxychloride active as one of the products. Copper Oxychloride WG should be removed as it is a WP formulation.
PERMITS
AWRI: Permit 7810
Permit 7910 which is currently issued by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, allows the use of Sumi-Alpha Flex (50g/L esfenvalerate) and Sumi-Alpha 19EC (19 g/L esfenvalerate) for the control of garden weevil on grapevines. This permit expires on 30 June 2007.
RESTISTANCE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES
The CropLife resistance management strategy for Grey Mould (Bunch Rot) has been revised and is now much clearer.
EXPORT MARKET MRLs
The fungicide Domark 40ME which contains the active constituent tetraconazole was registered for use on grapevines by the APVMA in 2006. The APVMA proposed MRL is 0.5 mg/kg. However, this has not been gazetted in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Therefore, until this is gazetted no detectable residue of tetraconazole is allowed in Australian wine.
Other agrochemical issues
OTHER PRODUCTS
APVMA 53696
Hammer herbicide has been granted registration by the APVMA for the control of unwanted suckers (water shoots) arising from the main stem or trunk of grapevines. Hammer is distributed by Crop Care. It contains the active constituent carfentrazone-ethyl which is a Group G herbicide.
Surround does not require APVMA registration.
Due to the recent hot and dry season, the use of products such as Surround were being considered as a way of reducing leaf temperatures relative to ambient temperatures.
Surround as a protectant against sunburn and heat stress. is not required to be registered by the APVMA and there is no State or Territory legislation regulating its use. The registration process is governed by Commonwealth legislation. The agricultural chemical products that require registration encompasses all herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and growth regulators. It does not include products such as Surround because they do not fit the definition of an agricultural chemical product (For more information on this definition go to http://www.apvma.gov.au/registration/chemreg.shtml). Therefore, Surround can be used on grapevines despite the fact that grapevines do not appear on the label. Given the nature of the product, residues might be present at harvest, especially in the case of late season applications. We do not know if this will have any impact on the winemaking process and final wine quality. It is advised that you contact your winery or grape purchaser prior to application of this product.
CHEMICAL REVIEWS
Carbaryl
The final APVMA review has proposed that grapes be removed from the label of products currently containing carbaryl. The only use remaining for carbaryl on grapevines is for control of cutworms by application to the vine base (i.e. butt spray only).
Carbaryl is currently registered for use in viticulture against grape leaf blister mite, grapevine hawk moth, grapevine moth, LBAM, cutworm, mealybug and scale.
Methomyl
After a review by the APVMA, methomyl (Electra, Marlin, Lannate and Nudrin) is no longer registered for use on horticultural crops grown in protected cropping situations (glasshouse, greenhouse, shade houses etc.)
Carbendazim
The APVMA has announced a review of carbendazim is to take place for the same reason that benomyl was reviewed i.e. the potential to cause impairment of reproduction and development in laboratory rats may be relevant to human exposure.
For more information on these reviews go to http://www.apvma.gov.au/chemrev/chemrev.shtml
This information is provided to inform the wine industry of agrochemical product information, and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.