Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/197145
g r a p e GROWING the western United States to respond to these kinds of requests for information from federal and state agencies." Each comment coordinator maintains an active network of growers, commodity organizations, extension advisors, pesticide applicators and state IPM coordinators who can provide on-the-ground information about how a pesticide is used, applied and rotated. "We archive all of the replies to information requests our comment coordinators have written on our website," Farrar adds. "There are more than 300 replies dating back to a 2002 comment on methyl parathion and going up to a May 29, 2013, comment on fenbutatin oxide." (See them under "Info Request Replies" at wripmc.org.) David Epstein, an entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Pest Management Policy, says, "The comments from the Western IPM Center and other regional centers become the growers' voice in Washington, D.C. "We represent growers at the federal level, where policy and regulation collide. We need data to be able to argue for them. If we do not have data, then the agency charged with regulating a prod- uct may assume far greater usage and use patterns than actually exist in the field." Knowing how and where a product is used and that there are regional differences in how wine grapes may be grown in different parts of the U.S. can help the regulatory agency get a more accurate picture of the actual risk a specific product poses. "Understanding the differences between the label allowances and actual use can help identify potential ways of mitigating risk as a chemical undergoes review," Epstein notes. For example, a product labeled for aerial application has a higher risk evaluation because of the drift potential, even if it is never applied aerially on wine grapes. Knowing that kind of specific information, Epstein and his colleagues at the Office of Pest Management Policy can argue against new restrictions for the product, or go to the company that registered it and suggest they update the label by removing crops or application methods that are not being used. Some companies do and some do not, Epstein reports. "The information we get from the regional centers helps educate the pro- cess, and without information on how the chemical is actually used and applied, we do not have much to argue with," Epstein adds. Continuing to provide that information is a priority for the Western IPM Center. "Like most federally funded operations, we have had to cut our budget," Farrar says. "In making those cuts, we protected the comment coordination roles because it is so important to agriculture in the western U.S." To provide even better information to Washington, D.C., Farrar would like to recruit more growers and commodity organizations in the comment network, where they would occasionally be contacted by the center 's comment coordinators. "By becoming a resource for the center, you help all growers," Farrar concludes. "It is likely you will only be contacted once or twice each year, and your small investment of time can have a big impact on pest-management regulations." If you are interested in joining the comment coordination network, email Jim Farrar at jjfarrar@ucdavis.edu with your name, location and a brief description of your crop or pest experience. PWV WIN The Battle Against Mold Without Ozone or Chemicals INCREASE RH and stop evaporative wine loss REMOVE harmful microbiological matter from the air REDUCE labor costs DISCOVER how Airocide can work for you Rutherford Equipment Rental "Your Partner in Winery Operations" Protect the aroma and flavor of your white wines Our new analysis monitors Glutathione, a natural grape antioxidant. • Prevent premature aging • Protect'light'and'fruity'aromasandflavors • Maximizeglutathioneprotectioninfinished wines and prevent loss during winemaking Learn more: www.etslabs.com/gsh 707 253-7368 rutherfordrental.com www.etslabs.com | (707) 963-4806 pr actica l win ery & vin eya r d N OVEM B ER 20 13 97