The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved a new Supplemental Label for Sandea (halosulfuron) on cucumbers, cantaloupes, Honeydews and Crenshaw melons. The pre-harvest interval (PHI) for cucumber has been reduced to 14 days. The PHIs for the other vine crops do not change. The Sandea Section 3 Federal label has a 30-day PHI for cucumber, and a Michigan 24c label has a 21-day PHI for cucumber. This new Supplemental Label, issued May 11, 2016, supersedes the Michigan 24c label which will not be needed in the future.
This is an important change for pickling cucumber growers, who often harvest their crop in 40-45 days after seeding. Being able to use Sandea for broadleaf weed and yellow nutsedge control closer to harvest will provide more flexibility in their weed control programs.
This new label is a result of cooperation and work by IR-4, Michigan State University and other state research programs, the Gowan Company and EPA. Strong support from the pickle industry helped convince the regulators of the need for this label. We greatly appreciate the effort of everyone who was involved in this process.
The new label should be available on CDMS.net soon. In the meantime, contact pesticide suppliers or the Gowan Company to obtain a copy of the label.
Dr. Zandstra’s work is funded in part by MSU’s AgBioResearch.
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