Dear Neighbor: The chemical methyl bromide has been prominent in the news in recent years and especially over this past spring in California when its continued use was debated by the State legislature. The focus of much concern has been methyl bromide's potential for contributing to ozone depletion. This has prompted governments internationally, including that of the United States, to put regulations and treaties into place that call for the eventual elimination of the fumigant's production. As people across the country prepare for this change, effective after Jan. 1, 2001, I thought I'd update you briefly on UC Davis's plans. (Attached are more details that might be of interest.) Through its pre-eminence in agricultural studies, UC Davis is playing a key role in research to develop alternatives to methyl bromide and has several active research programs in this area. However, finding a substitute that is as effective as methyl bromide in controlling a wide array of plant pathogens, insects, weed seeds and other pests will be a difficult challenge. Currently, a number of UC Davis scientists are researching chemical and nonchemical alternatives for the treatment of soil prior to planting crops and the post-harvest treatment of commodities for shipment. Not surprisingly, we use methyl bromide to conduct this and other agricultural research, with some of these applications on the west end of the campus where many of our research fields are located. UC Davis uses legal rates of application under carefully controlled conditions. We rely on methyl bromide to eliminate pests and organisms that cause disease in plants that might compromise agricultural studies. In addition, some of our programs that share plant materials around the world rely on the use of methyl bromide to ensure that pests are not transmitted elsewhere. In some cases, in fact, state and federal regulations require that we use methyl bromide. When methyl bromide is applied, the campus follows stringent state and federal guidelines. The procedure is conducted under the guidance of the county agricultural commissioner and is in accordance with the state Department of Pesticide Regulation. The Environmental Health and Safety Office for the campus also plans to monitor campus applications. At this time, the campus has two planned applications on west campus teaching and research fields. These are scheduled for the week or October 7 and involve less than ten acres. We will keep you informed if other applications are planned. The concerns surrounding the use of methyl bromide are important to UC Davis and we will continue to actively pursue the development of alternatives. If you have any questions, please contact Marj Dickinson, director of government and community relations for the campus, 752-2619. Sincerely, Robert N. Shelton Vice Chancellor for Research Attachment FACT SHEET Information about Methyl Bromide at UC Davis What is it? Methyl bromide is a broad spectrum fumigant with activity against many plant pathogens, insects, weed seeds and other pests. It is used widely in California and other parts of the world as a preplant treatment of soil, usually in combination with chloropicrin, to control soil-borne diseases and pests of economically important crops. It also has wide application as a fumigant to eliminate quarantined pests from shipments of fresh produce and to eradicate pests from structures and shipping containers. How is it used on campus? Because of its activity and wide use in agriculture, researchers at UC Davis use methyl bromide in experiments on soil microbiology, crop productivity, plant propagation, and post-harvest treatment of produce for shipment. Research on alternatives to methyl bromide also involves the use of this substance. An additional essential use of methyl bromide at UC Davis is for the propagation of pathogen- and pest-free planting materials for fruit and nut trees, grape vines, strawberries and other crops. Methyl bromide fumigation of soil permits propagation of plant materials free of known pathogens and pests, thereby allowing the production and release of healthy propagation materials used widely in agricultural production. Use of pathogen-free materials to establish crops greatly reduces subsequent need for other pesticides. Nursery certification programs and state and federal quarantines require that primary propagation materials for many crops be grown in soil fumigated with methyl bromide. Additionally, research and breeding programs at UC Davis are a primary source for many plant materials, and receive materials from around the world. Methyl bromide is used to ensure that pests and pathogens are not spread inadvertently. How is it applied? Applications of methyl bromide to soil are conducted by contractors skilled in its application. The pesticide is injected into the ground and a plastic tarp is placed over the treated area for five days. The application procedures are conducted under the guidance of the county agricultural commissioner and in accordance with the regulations of the California State Department of Pesticide Regulation. What about alternatives? Because of its possible potential to deplete stratospheric ozone, the importation and production of methyl bromide in the U.S. will cease by the year 2001, according to provisions of the U.S. Clean Air Act of 1990. It is essential that environmentally sound and economically feasible alternatives are in place and available to California farmers and pest control advisors well before the year 2001. Finding effective alternatives to methyl bromide for control of insects, nematodes, pathogens, weeds, and rodents, will be a difficult challenge. Currently, a number of UC Davis scientists are researching chemical and nonchemical alternatives to methyl bromide for preplant treatment of soil and post harvest treatment of commodities for shipment.