Arysta Fumigant Approved In US

By Scott C. Lucas|18 October 2007

Arysta states that Midas was developed to serve as a replacement for the phased-out methyl bromide. Worldwide, about 72,000 tons of methyl bromide are used each year according to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data. North America uses about 27,000 tons annually, 85% of which is used for soil fumigation.

“MIDAS is the fumigant answer for which many growers have been looking,” said Mike Allan, Global Product Manager for Midas.

The product is applied pre-plant to bare soil. In trials in the Southeast US, half of the growers who participated saw an increase in yield over their methyl bromide-treated acreage, and the remaining growers saw results similar to those achieved with methyl bromide, according to Arysta.

Midas is the first new soil fumigant to be registered by the EPA in 20 years. It is approved for use on strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, ornamentals, stone fruits, nut crops, vine crops (including table and wine grapes), turf, and nursery crops. Further trials are underway in many countries including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Morocco, South Africa, Israel, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico, and Chile.