Farmers, bugs and chemical warfare

Local farms adapt (as usual)

By: Cara Latham
   The pesticide Azinphos-methyl, or AZM, sold under the common brand name Guthion, is the latest to be phased out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but local farmers say the decision will not cause too much hardship for them.
   "We do use some of it, but not much of it," said Allentown farmer Nick Russo about the pesticide Guthion. "There is another alternative."
   Bill Sciarappa, an agricultural agent with the Rutgers Cooperative Research Extension, said farmers who use the pesticide for blueberry and cranberry crops might find it a little harder to find another effective pesticide, but in most cases, farmers are already using substitutes.
   "There are new, safer environmentally more friendly materials becoming available," Mr. Sciarappa said, noting substitute pesticides vary depending on the crop. "There’s a whole slew of other stuff out there that does the job."
   In addition, the pesticide, which has been around for more than 40 years, may not be as effective as it used to be, because over time some insects may have developed a resistance to it, Mr. Sciarappa said.
   But it does have environmental risks associated with it, which is why the EPA has required phasing it out, he added.
   "It’s inherently not safe" because it contains neurotoxins, he said. The chemicals "not only kill the intended target, they also have significant side effects, whether it’s on people, wildlife, avian, or insects."
   Mr. Sciarappa said that when applying Guthion to the crops, the the person applying the chemical must wear gloves and a respirator, to keep the chemicals out of the eyes, nose and mouth.
   "It will cause nervous system problems," he said, adding that chronic exposure to even low levels of this pesticide can lead to birth defects or, sometimes, cancer.
   But AZM has not been the worst chemical pesticide on the market; others banned by the EPAin the past posed much more of a threat, he said.
   Art West, of Westhaven Farm on Route 524 in Allentown, said that he, like Plumsted farmer Doug Hallock, stopped using Guthion, along with most chemical pesticides a few years ago.
   Art West of Westhaven Farm on Route 524 in Allentown, and Plumsted farmer Doug Hallock both say they stopped using Guthion along with most chemical pesticides, a few years ago.
   "As far as insecticides, we go as much with natural (insect-control measures) as we can," Mr. West said.
   But he said it is actually costing more to use natural substitutes. For example, he uses herbicides and natural parasites that kill the insects that cause problems for his crops, which include blackberries, peas, strawberries, snap beans, and pumpkins.
   "It’s a lot more difficult, it costs more, and you have to have a much closer inspection," he said. "Chemical insecticides were a remedy."
   Mr. West compared farmers who use natural predators and other safer materials with people taking vitamin C to prevent catching a cold — good for prevention, but not a cure once they are already sick. Using natural pesticides requires farmers to monitor their farms more closely to ensure the natural predators are used at the right time before insects destroy the crops.
   "We’re not trying to cure it; we’re trying to prevent it."
   Another reason Mr. West said he stopped using Guthion is that he didn’t really need it for his strawberry crops anymore.
   "There’s still definitely a need for the synthetic chemicals if you have the right crop," he said.
   Mr. Russo, owner of Russo’s Orchard Lane Farm in Allentown, which grows fruits and vegetables, including apples, said that he doesn’t anticipate any hardships with the phasing out of Guthion, and that the family farm will just use alternatives.
   Mr. Russo said that Guthion had only been used on his farm sparingly when recommended by the Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension.
   "You never use any more than absolutely necessary at the time," he said. Most of the time when they phase out the chemicals, it costs too much money to get the patents back to use them. Not only that, they also want to sell just more expensive chemicals."
   But the farm will just have to make the necessary and mandated adjustments, he said.
   "You just deal with it," Mr. Russo said. "That’s all you can do."