WHAT IS A MINOR USE?

Minor use pesticides produce relatively little profit for their manufacturers, considering the cost of maintaining registrations. But, these pesticides are important to agriculture. They are used on:

• fruits
• vegetables
• commercially-grown ornamentals
• trees
• turf grass;
• infrequent or very limited acreage on
• major crops - wheat, soybeans or corn.

WHAT'S THE MINOR USE PROBLEM?

Minor uses are not attractive to the pesticide industry since the amount sold is limited and revenues are low, while the costs of obtaining and maintaining registrations are high. In addition, registrants can face liability costs if products do not perform as intended and high value crops are lost. Thus, there is little incentive to register new products or reregister existing ones for minor uses, or to add minor uses to currently approved labels.

HOW DOES REREGISTRATION AFFECT THE PROBLEM?

EPA is reviewing older pesticides to be sure they meet current regulatory standards, such as the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA).  Registrants will have to conduct studies for EPA's data requirements, and pay the required fees. Because of the costs involved, many registrants find it is not economical to support some uses of their products. The most vulnerable uses are those that are least profitable -- minor use.

WHAT'S THE LIKELY OUTCOME?

Already, the number of registered products has dropped as a result of the reregistration program. About 25,000 out of 45,000 products have been canceled. Many of the products canceled have not been produced for years, so they will not be missed. However, as the number of registered uses drops, some important minor uses will be among those that registrants won't support. Unless someone steps in to support these uses, they will be lost.

WHAT CAN GROWERS DO?

As an agricultural producer, your awareness about reregistration and your readiness to act may help you keep needed pesticide uses. If you are not already participating, the time to become involved is now .

Develop a needs inventory

List your pest control needs. Consider all the alternatives--could IPM or non-chemical strategies do the job? Make an inventory of the pesticide uses that are essential to you.

Get organized

Get together with other growers in your area. Join or form a grower group to share information, develop strategies, voice needs and, if necessary, act to support essential pesticide uses. Your County Agent can help you:

New Castle County: 831-2506
Kent County: 697-4000
Sussex County: 856-7303

Get informed

Get information about the regulatory status of pesticides that are vital to the production of your crops. Learn which are in danger of cancellation, and which of those you may be able to help support. 

Speak up

If an essential pesticide use appears to be in jeopardy, speak up and let your need for that use be known. Contact the pesticide registrant through your grower group.

Act on your own behalf

Be prepared to jump in and help rescue a pesticide use that is vital to you and is in danger of being voluntarily canceled! Grower groups working with pesticide registrants, under EPA's guidance, can take effective action to:

• Fund studies that must be submitted to 
    EPA to support pesticide product/ use;
• Support development of a petition for a 
     crop group or regional tolerance;
• Obtain a "third party" registration.

Pursue alternatives

Realize that sometimes it will be too late or too difficult to save a needed use. If this is the case, look for new pest control chemical and non-chemical alternatives, working closely with Delaware Cooperative Extension.