The National Potato Council has created a grower survey (https://forms.gle/Xvy2JMJ9DKx14zBn8) that, while targeted towards the Mancozeb PID, also will provide the industry with critical information about potato seed piece treatment practices as a whole. The industry will be able to use this information in conjunction during other comment periods.
Please complete the survey by August 16.
Any information shared by NPC with either USDA or EPA will be as shared as aggregated data.
Background
Two weeks ago, EPA released their Proposed Interim Decision (PID) for Mancozeb that if adopted would impact the use of Mancozeb in potato production with the elimination of the on-farm treatment of seed potato pieces with Mancozeb, in both the liquid and dust forms (commercial treatment would still be allowed).
Over the past several months we have been discussing our efforts to work with the Mancozeb Task Force on conducting a seed treatment study. This study was discussed and supported by the NPC Board of Directors at our 2024 Summer Meeting. The study is being designed to provide the necessary data to EPA to amend the PID to again allow for the use of on-farm seed treatment. Additional details on the study are being developed .
The Mancozeb PID also addresses several concerns to increase worker protections related to mixing and applying it as a foliar application. These protections include the need to wear double layers of clothing and gloves, the use of an APF10 respirator, using a close-loading system, and having closed cabs on all sprayers and tractors used when making applications.
From a big picture perspective, it appears the concerns related to seed treatments in the Mancozeb PID are going to be applied beyond Mancozeb. Last week the Agency released updated Occupational Exposure Assessments for three neonicotinoids (Clothianidin, Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam). Both Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam are critical as potato seed piece treatments for the industry – and the agency has identified that there are significant risks associated with seed treatment that may result in proposed restrictions like what is being proposed for Mancozeb.