California announced proposed decision to register MIDAS

Arysta LifeScience announced the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) has announced the proposed decision to register MIDAS®, a broad spectrum soil fumigant that effectively controls a broad range of soil-borne diseases, nematodes, weed seeds and insects that threaten high-value crops such as ornamentals, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, tree fruit, nuts and vines as well as turf. California will now move into a risk mitigation phase to determine the final label for the sale and use of MIDAS®.

"This announcement is a step in the right direction for California,” said Bill Lewis, President and CEO of Arysta LifeScience North America. “The strong efforts made by CDPR in conducting a separate and thorough review of the weight of scientific evidence supporting their conclusions has delivered a decision that is in keeping with career EPA scientists, 47 other U.S. states and other countries. Arysta LifeScience remains committed to bringing MIDAS® to market in California.”

MIDAS® is comprised of a formulated blend of iodomethane and chloropicrin and is effective at more than 40 percent lower use rates compared to methyl bromide. Growers using MIDAS® may reduce the total amount of chemicals used in their fields and as well as emissions into the environment while still producing healthier, high-yielding crops.

In addition, MIDAS® does not deplete the earth’s ozone layer. In April 2009, the United States EPA awarded Arysta LifeScience and several notable researchers from Universities and the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture the prestigious Ozone Layer Protection Award in recognition of the non-ozone depleting characteristics of MIDAS®.

"This is a step in the right direction for the agricultural community and the environment,” said Royce Schulte, U.S. Product Manager for Fumigants for Arysta LifeScience.

"Growers in other areas of the country have been using MIDAS® for more than two years. It’s time that California growers have access to this important tool.”

MIDAS® is one of the most comprehensively researched compounds in the history of modern agriculture. More than 100 renowned national and international scientists worked to develop the state-of-the-art toxicology and environmental studies that support the MIDAS® data package. The MIDAS® label is the most protective label in the fumigant industry, and is backed by a superior stewardship and training program for certified applicators to ensure proper handling and application. To date, MIDAS® has been used on more than 15,500 acres in the Southeast U.S.

Iodomethane is currently registered in the U.S., Japan and Turkey. Registration is pending internationally in New Zealand, Australia, Morocco, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Argentina with development in progress in many other countries.