Methyl Iodide Eliminated

Methyl iodide is out.

Arysta LifeScience, the maker of strawberry fumigant, announced Tuesday that it would officially withdrawal methyl iodide from California and the United States.

Methyl iodide patent holder Jim Sims, the retired UC Riverside professor, told the Monterey County Weekly, "It’s a surprise, but it’s a business decision."

The immediate impact of the decision is not clear.

"This unexpected announcement has the potential to create shockwaves to the agriculture industry and could result in the loss of thousands of agricultural and agriculture-related jobs," said state Assembly Member Luis Alejo, who represents Watsonville and the agriculture-rich Salinas Valley.

There are more than 15,000 acres of commercial strawberry fields in the Watsonville/Salinas area, nearly half of the 38,373 acres of strawberries found statewide. The statewide fresh production averages 43,000 pounds of berries per acre, though Watsonville farmers have said they harvest more like 55,000 pounds an acre.

The use of methyl iodide was approved at the end of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's term and has always been controversial—it's listed as a carcinogen under state Proposition 65. Some urged Gov. Jerry Brown to reconsider, according to SFGate.com.

Conventional and organic crop protection products are critical to shied soil and produce from destructive pests and to maintain plant health and productivity in farming operations, according to a statement released by Alejo. The crop protection product methyl iodide is one of the few fumigant alternatives to methyl bromide certified for use by the State of California and the Federal Government.

“Together we need to find a safe and viable alternative to ensure maximum crop production in our state,” Alejo said.

Alejo proposed creating an advisory working group proposal would review:

• Technological advances in the application of existing, legally registered, fumigants that pose significantly less harm to the environment;
• The use of safer and environmentally sensitive materials; and
• Research into alternative pest management strategies.

In Watsonville, . Scientists and berry growers are working together in a $500,000 three-year partnership between the state Department of Pesticide Regulation and the California Strawberry Commission to research alternatives to fumigant use in berry fields. The project has shown promising results, but the current costs would be prohibitive for farmers.