Life after methyl bromide

Excerpt

Eighty seven percent of methyl bromide is used by farmers prior to planting to eradicate fungus, weeds, and microorganisms from the soil to avoid destruction to the crop. In the United States, it is used primarily for tomato, strawberry, and bell pepper crops. The problem is—and according to a recent United Nations report—methyl bromide depletes the ozone. The phase out of using this soil fumigant can be seen as going too slow for some, but others want to wait for the right alternatives.

Exemptions for 2005 were granted to the United States and ten other countries last year through the international conference in Prague, called the Montreal Protocol. Final 2006 exemption amounts for the United States will be decided at a special meeting of international technical experts in late 2005.

The chemical is used to kill nematodes, pathogens and weeds in soil before planting and as a post-harvest insecticide on stored grain, nuts and fruits. Critical use exemptions (CUEs) are allowed when no technically or economically feasible alternative exists, or when the ban would cause economic disruption. The 9,445 metric ton U.S. exemption for 2005—mostly for tomato, strawberry, cucurbit and pepper …