Agrian has developed a feature in a recommendation writing program which will support the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) requirement to restrict the time of year products designated as non-fumigant high volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be applied.

Agrian users able to use the feature include those in the San Joaquin Valley counties of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare, and the valley floor areas of Kern County.

It impacts those who can write recommendations on alfalfa, almonds, citrus, cotton, grapes, pistachios, and walnuts.

The feature will provide a series of warnings that will guide the user through the recommendation writing process. It alerts the user if they intend to use a product that contains a non-fumigant high VOC active ingredient within the restriction period.

The high VOC active ingredients components are abamectin, chlorpyrifos, gibberellins, and oxyfluorfen.

High non-fumigant VOC products with these actives cannot be applied to the above crops form May 1 through Oct. 31.

There are special exception scenarios to allow non-fumigant high VOC applications to take place. Those exceptions must be verified by the grower and a licensed pest control adviser.

According to DPR, the restricted application period goes into effect for a two-year cycle of 2015 and 2016.

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