Carbofuran Usage on Bananas in Hawaii

Date: July 5, 2006

To: Mike Kawate, Cathy Tarutani
Cc: Rick Melnicoe, Angel Chiri

From: Nicole Zinn

Subject: Carbofuran Usage on Bananas

Hi Cathy and Mike,

I am looking into carbofuran usage on bananas, as well as alterantives, as part of the reregistration process for carbofuran. Based on the comments you submitted to the EPA in March 2006, I have a few questions.

1) Do you have an estimate of the annual percent crop treated? The statement "One grower estimates that new plantings represent only 8% of land in banana production" indicates that the percent crop treated is 8 percent or less (assuming carbofuran is only applied at planting for the banana root borer).

2) Can you confirm that carbofuran is only applied at planting (except for use on nematodes)? The label allows post-plant applications of carbofuran, and the Crop Profile for Bananas in Hawaii also indicates that carbofuran is applied after planting (4 months after planting and 4 month intervals after establishment) for the banana root borer. Do growers still apply carbofuran at these other timings for the root borer?

3) Also mentioned is that growers are concerned about the effectiveness of ethoprop to control banana root borer. How does ethoprop efficacy compare to carbofuran? Do you have any efficacy data? How effective are the cultural practices currently used by growers?

Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss any of these questions. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Nicole

Nicole Zinn
Biological and Economic Analysis Division
Office of Pesticide Programs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: (703) 308-7076
Fax: (703) 308-8090