[APWG] Announcement: Natural Areas Herbicides Working Group

[John Vickery]

Submitted 2.28.11 for APWG email discussion list

 

ANNOUNCING . . .

'Natural Areas Herbicides Working Group'

 

 

Introduction

An effort is underway to establish a working group for the registration of
herbicides for natural areas'.  Our goal is to improve our collective
ability to control noxious weeds and invasive plants.  The Working Group is
needed because relatively few herbicide products and active ingredients are
available for use in natural areas and similar settings.  (While a few
product labels specify 'natural areas', most of the products employed in
weed management in natural areas are those labeled for use in noncrop areas
and rangeland.)  With the participation and cooperation of the IR-4 Project,
registrants, federal departments and agencies, land grant universities, and
other interested parties it is hoped that we can secure additional noncrop
area and rangeland uses.  The IR-4 Project is a USDA-funded entity with over
forty years of experience in facilitating pesticide use registrations in
specialty crops and ornamentals.  [See   <http://ir4.rutgers.edu/>
http://ir4.rutgers.edu/]

 

Expected benefits of such new uses are one or more of the following:  

. Improved control of targeted invasive plants or priority noxious weed
species 

. Reduced environmental impacts compared to current options

. Modes or sites of action new to rangeland, natural areas, noncrop areas
including vegetated  

   rights-of-way, and related settings

 

There are other benefits or characteristics of interest that might be
pursued such as:

. Label language that allows application up to the water's edge or near
water

. Grazing tolerances; shorter grazing intervals

. Shorter preplant intervals (e.g., for revegetation, restoration,
infilling, and over-seeding 

   contexts)

 

Objectives

The objectives of the Working Group will be determined by its members, but
are likely to include:

. Serving as an action center whereby participants can facilitate
registrations of chemical products for terrestrial uses

. Serving as a forum for soliciting input from stakeholders and for
screening product suggestions and establishing priorities

. Securing the funding necessary to secure clearances through US EPA

 

Participants sought

We invite APWG members to consider participating in the Working Group.
Those who can contribute some time and expertise or other resources to the
effort are encouraged to contact us about becoming involved.  We also
welcome individuals who can only serve in a fairly limited or advisory
capacity, as well as those who just want to be kept informed of the Working
Group's activities.  Most any level of involvement or commitment is welcome.

 

Perhaps the most apt way for APWG members to be involved is to contribute
examples of weed control scenarios in which currently available products are
less than satisfactory.  In the future, we may have a preferred format or
standardized form; but at this point, we welcome brief, informal submissions
via email.  For those of you who are weed scientists, biochemists, and the
like, we are also seeking examples of potential solutions or improvements
(efficacy, reduced risk, lower cost, shorter residual, shorter grazing
interval, etc.) offered by particular products or active ingredients that
currently are not labeled for use in rangeland, noncrop areas,
rights-of-way, natural areas, wildlands, wildlife areas, and other related
settings.  It is these examples that the Working Group will review and use
as a starting point for prioritizing our efforts.

 

To prospective members or advisors:  where it would be helpful, kindly
provide some background or explanatory information about your interests,
expertise, and possible contributions in your response. 

 

I'd be happy to provide additional information.

 

Thank you,

 

 




John Vickery

jvickery_[at]_mcg.net




(Natural Areas Specialist, Denver Natural Areas Program)




 

________end, APWG announcement

 

 

John Vickery

Denver, CO

719 359 6491

 

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