A Message From Degesch America, Inc.

Transcription

1 DEGESCH America, Inc. Newsletter Issue XXVI Degesch America, Inc. Announcement Sulfuryl Fluoride Update A Few Words from Mike Holcomb Milestones A Message From Degesch America, Inc. DEGESCH AMERICA, INC. Degesch America, Inc. Announcements 2013 I m pleased to announce Pestcon Systems, Inc. has merged with Degesch America, Inc. effective January 1, We welcome them as our newest Division and Mr. Keith Hamm as the Pestcon Division Manager. Pestcon brings with them many years of professional fumigation experience and quality services. Fumitoxin will continue as their flagship brand of Aluminum Phosphide and the full line of DAI products will be available through their office. Our commitment to customer service and product stewardship remains unchanged and is strengthened by the addition of this new office. Other changes include the appointment of Mr. Charles L. Wright as Vice President of Degesch America, Inc. Chuck will be working from our manufacturing center in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Additionally, Mr. Bartek Drewnowski will serve as the Director of Division Operations and will be working from Richmond, Virginia. Detia-Degesch GmbH our parent company is the leading manufacturer and supplier of phosphine producing products. With their global support and our commitment to quality and safety we re looking at 2013 with great optimism. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you in the future. Yours Truly, Herbert C. Yeaman, Jr. President, Degesch America, Inc.

2 Solutions for The Growing World Food Tolerances Docket EnvironmEnTal ProTEcTion agency DockET On January 19, 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened a docket (EPA-HQ- OPP ) for the public to comment for six months on the proposed withdrawal of food tolerances for fluoride and sulfuryl fluoride (constituents of Dow AgroSciences ProFume gas fumigant) over time. The responses from industry, researchers, and government and nongovernmental organizations in support of food tolerances for fluoride and sulfuryl fluoride were predominantly opposed to the proposed action and were outstanding. This response resulted in the EPA reopening the docket, from May 2 to July 30, 2012, for a second public comment period to request more detailed legal and technical information on the proposed withdrawal of food tolerances for ProFume. ThE review ProcEss It will take EPA time to review all the submissions to both public dockets and finalize its decision. ProFume can continue to be used as labeled, and there are no changes in the food tolerances for sulfuryl fluoride. During this time, the Sulfuryl Fluoride Agricultural Coalition (SFAC) will actively work with EPA, legislators, and other government agencies to seek an alternative solution and preserve the use of ProFume as it is currently labeled. SFAC is comprised of members and organizations actively supporting the objectives of the Coalition and include: American Agri-Women American Farm Bureau Federation American Seed Trade Association California Grape and Tree Fruit League California Walnut Commission California Women for Agriculture Cocoa Merchants Association of America, Inc. Dow AgroSciences National Confectioners Association s Chocolate Council National Pasta Association National Pest Management Association North American Millers Association Sunsweet Growers Inc. Trical USA Rice Federation Western Growers If you would like additional information on the SFAC, please contact Constance Cullman at Dow AgroSciences (cecullman@dow.com). The documentation submitted in the public docket forms a comprehensive and excellent foundation for this coalition to justify an alternative resolution to the EPA proposed actions for ProFume. Thanks To our stakeholders We thank all of our stakeholders who have worked tirelessly during the past year to collect information to substantiate to EPA why food tolerances are needed for ProFume. Many stakeholders, including 17 Trade Associations, 32 Food Processors, 19 Fumigators 4 Key University Researchers numerous Cocoa warehouses and grain industry representatives throughout the world, as well as regulators, distributors, and registrants have written or contributed towards a submission to the public docket. To date, we have confirmed more than 165 letters submitted to the

3 docket during the two public comment periods in support of continued authorization to use ProFume with appropriate food tolerances such as those which are presently in force. The submissions document the unique attributes of ProFume as a viable alterative to products such as methyl bromide which have been phased out entirely due to deleterious impacts upon the environment as an ozone depleting substance. Without continued authorization to use fumigants comprised of sulfuryl fluoride severe economic impacts such as increased consumer food prices, food supply interruptions, reduced food exports and more importation of processed foods from outside of the United States are inevitable. During the public comment periods, submissions from organizations or individuals not involved in the post-harvest market focused on fluoride in water as the issue of concern. You can view submissions by going to the website www. regulations.gov and typing in the docket number EPA-HQ- OPP in the keyword space. Dow agrosciences commitment To ProFumE gas FumiganT Dow AgroSciences remains committed to the continued long-term viability of ProFume gas fumigant and its role as an essential and effective tool for the U.S. food industries. Accordingly, we will continue to challenge the legal and technical foundation of the EPA proposed action and will keep you informed of any new developments with the EPA proposal. Again, we thank all of those who had a role in providing this important foundational input to the EPA. Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ( Dow ) of an affiliated company of Dow 2012 The Dow Chemical Company ( Dow ) of an affiliated company of Dow ProFume is a federally Restricted Use Pesticide. Always read and follow label directions. U (12/12) DAS

4 Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana has introduced an amendment to the Senate Farm Bill retaining the food uses for the fumigant sulfuryl fluoride. Our Association/Company strongly supports Senator Donnelly s amendment and requests all members and colleagues to use this to contact their Senators as soon as possible to support the Donnelly amendment. Please take a moment to your Senators asking them to support the Donnelly amendment to the Farm Bill, S You can copy the following letter and it directly to your Senator. Dear Senator I write today to urge you to vote in favor of a bipartisan amendment Senator Joe Donnelly has introduced to the Farm Bill, S. 954, retaining the food uses of the fumigant sulfuryl fluoride (SF). Senator Donnelly s amendment has been developed in concert with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Natural Resources Defense Council. In short, SF is an invaluable food protection tool used to treat various different commodities and other foodstuffs including peanuts, pecans, walnuts, cocoa, dried fruits, rice, corn, and wheat as well as mills and food processing and handling facilities for a wide array of insects and rodents. EPA has long touted SF as a replacement for methyl bromide, another widely used fumigant that was identified as an ozone-depleting chemical in the 1990s and is being phased out globally. In 2002, EPA presented the maker of SF with a Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award. In January of 2011, EPA issued a proposed order revoking SF s food uses. EPA proposed the action under the threat of activist group litigation because certain drinking water systems contain high levels of naturally occurring fluoride, and those levels, along with fluoride added to other drinking water systems and toothpaste to prevent tooth decay, may pose an increased risk of dental fluorosis in children. SF is actually the smallest contributor to total fluoride exposure, contributing just 2 to 3 percent. Moreover, EPA acknowledges that elimination of SF does not solve, or even significantly decrease, the fluoride aggregate exposure problems. Dr. Lynn Goldman, the Assistant Administrator overseeing pesticide issues during the Clinton Administration, wrote in a July 2012 letter that withdrawal of.the food uses of sulfuryl fluoride does not support EPA s broader public health goals, particularly its goal to protect children. Dr. Goldman, who is now the Dean of George Washington University s School of Public Health and Health Services, further writes that I urge EPA not to adopt the proposed order. In this case, EPA has the discretion to rely on its aggregate risk policy in support of making the right decision for the public s health, especially the health of children. EPA further acknowledges that there is no broad-spectrum substitute for SF, only very limited alternatives. Depending on the food sector, the loss of SF s food uses will either result in increased food costs or lost jobs. I appreciate your time and attention toward this matter and, again, urge you to vote for Senator Donnelly s amendment when it is offered to the Farm Bill. Sincerely, A Message From the National Pest Management Association The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), has developed the following convenient Voter Voice alert that you and your Organization s Members/Colleagues can use to communicate support for Senator Donnelly s SF amendment. The message of support would come from you, not NPMA, which is serving as a portal: You can send this from your business address (if it is a different state) and your home address. Please use this and send to your members/colleagues to supplement what you already have provided to them The Senate will return from the Memorial Day Recess on Monday, June 3, and expects to revisit the Farm Bill late that day. There have been 223 amendments filed, with only 12 voted upon thus far. It is highly unlikely all will be acted upon and that is why it is crucial to reach your Senators, so Donnelly s amendment is considered in any final package of amendments, which is being negotiated and discussed now. We can help ensure its inclusion by demonstrating unequivocal support for the measure. Please continue to act quickly and strongly.

5 Stored Product Insects in Action Mike Holcomb-Technical Directions, Inc Part 1. Cigarette Beetle [ Lasioderma serricorne (F.) ] Back in the good-old-days of 1992 my son came home from school with an amazing story about a mysterious turn of events that occurred in his school that day. His teacher had gathered together a supply of empty baby food jars and white packing peanuts so that the children could make Christmas gifts for their parents. The project involved grinding up the foam peanuts and adding them to the water-filled baby food jars, thus creating a snow globe for the Holidays! What a great craft for the children. Instead of dancing merrily in the capped jars, however, the foam nuts (snowflakes) immediately disappeared when they contacted the water! At the time few people were aware that biodegradable, starch-based packing peanuts were beginning to compete with the use of polystyrene peanuts as a loose-fill packaging material. Polystyrene, of course, is an environmentally persistent compound that has been implicated in several human maladies, including cancer. The introduction of a safe, biodegradable alternative like the starch-based packing nut appeals to a lot of people. But as an entomologist, even in the 1990s I wondered if these starchy materials would provide a food source for insects, especially when large quantities were stored for long periods of time. Fast forwarding from the early 90s to today, I recently received an infestation sample for identification from one of my colleague. Lo and behold my long-term suspicions had been realized! A supply of starch-based packing nuts was found to be infested with the cigarette beetle. Please see the accompanying photographs. Lab studies have shown that flour beetles, known for their ability to survive on starchy materials, show reduced development on a pure starch diet containing few other nutrients such as proteins. At the same time it has been shown that different types of starch can affect flour beetle growth and development (corn or wheat starch versus potato starch), but similar dietary investigations have not been conducted on other stored product insects. Further research is needed to determine just how well cigarette beetles can do on a restricted starch peanut diet! Finally, the brand and chemical makeup of these particular starch peanuts are unknown to me, so (Short of chemical analysis, which is way beyond my means!), I am unable to speculate as to how extensive this infestation problem is. At the same time, the environmental circumstances (age, storage practices, etc.) that might contribute to an infestation of this magnitude were not disclosed to me. But after nearly 20 years I am happy to have my answer: Yes, starch-based packing nuts are susceptible to insect attack (cigarette beetle)! Because they disintegrate in the environment, starch-based packing peanuts are gaining widespread use. This cigarette beetle larva had to be teased from inside a starch-based packing peanut. The box of peanuts shown in the previous photo was heavily infested with cigarette beetles!

6 Part 2. Flour Beetles and Aggregation Pheromones. It is well understood that both red and confused flour beetles respond positively to an aggregation pheromone. This class of insect-produced hormones is designed to attract males and females to a food source. Food aromas play an important role in the effectiveness of this pheromone for two very important reasons: 1. Unlike most stored product insects, flour beetles can live for several months in the adult stage. The availability of food is vital to these long-lived beetles. Since evolution favors energy conservation, those individuals able to rapidly locate mates and an abundant food source at the same time (to sustain a longer mating season) have a much better chance of passing their genes on to the next generation! Experiments have shown that males fed a nutritious diet are able to produce more aggregation pheromone the poorly-fed males. Some studies have shown that females respond to higher concentrations of the aggregation pheromone. Aggregation pheromones increase the likelihood of finding food! 2. When mating and egg-laying take place inside a food mass, larvae do not waste energy searching for their food, and at the same time do not expose themselves to a hostile environment filled with predators and environmental hazards! Larval survival is improved if eggs are laid on or very near the larval food source. Thus survival and population growth are greatly increased when larvae do not have to waste energy searching for food! It has also been demonstrated in the laboratory that the natural flour beetle aggregation pheromone (4, 8- dimethyldecanal) is not a single chemical. Rather it is a recipe of 4 closely related compounds that are very proportional to one another. Unfortunately, the synthetic aggregation lure used in most commercially available flour beetle pheromone traps is a mixture of only 2 of these compounds! This may be the reason that many commercially available flour beetle traps yield poor results! This bag of flour is heavily infested with flour beetles. Rarely is one flour beetle found since the aggregation pheromone attracts both males and females to a protected food source where reproduction can take place and populations can explode. These flour beetles were collected in a food plant and placed inside a Whirl Pak for laboratory analysis. When I returned to the laboratory, all the beetles were attracted to a very small space in the bag. Aggregation pheromones at work!

7 Milestones Recognition Lenny Tolley, Dallas Vanlear, Chuck Wright and Herb Yeaman were all honored recently for 30 years of service to Degesch America, Inc. We congratulate all of these individuals for their contribution to the success of Degesch America, Inc. over the last three decades and wish them well going forward. Donald George Shaheen Condolences On August 11, 2012; Donald Don George Shaheen; beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Don received his Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University and his Master of Science degree from New York University. On August 27, 1955, he married the love of his life, Yvonne Shaheen, with whom he was joyously married for 55 years, until Yvonne was called home to be with her Lord in While living in Dover, NJ, Don began his career in the jet propulsion industry working for Reaction Motors, Inc and Morton-Thiokol, Inc. He later moved to the Washington, DC area, where he worked in the life sciences at Biospherics Laboratories and Hazelton Laboratories. Don and his family then moved to Harrisonburg, VA where he spent nearly 30 years as Technical Vice President for Degesch America until his retirement. Don s passions were his family, fly fishing, and golf. Don is survived by three sons, Mike of McKinney, TX, Steve of Harrisonburg, VA, and Matt of Plano, TX; his two beautiful daughters-in-law, Becky Shaheen of McKinney, TX and Robyn Shaheen of Plano, TX; eight precious grandchildren, Brian Enzler and his fiancée Thip Phongsavang, Matt Enzler and his wife Dara Enzler, Josh Shaheen, Laura Shaheen, Celia Shaheen, Alex Shaheen, Abby Shaheen, and Sam Shaheen. Don is also survived by his loving brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Louise Shaheen of Valley Forge, PA. In addition to his wife, Yvonne, Don was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Celia Shaheen of Altoona, PA - Source: The Washington Post Luby Arnold Hamm Sr. Luby Arnold Hamm Sr., 91, of Wilson, NC, passed away Jan. 30, Arnold was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. He was very active in other organizations that included the Masonic Lodge, the Shriners, a charter member and past president of the Evening Optimist Club and past president of the N.C. Pest Control Association. Arnold was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served our country honorably during World War II. Arnold is survived by his wife, Melba Peele Hamm of the home; his sons, Luby Arnold Hamm Jr. and wife, Jenny, of Raleigh, and Keith McCullin Hamm and wife, Amanda, of Wilson; his grandsons, Cullin Hamm and wife, Leigh, of Thomasville, Ga., Richard Hamm and wife, Alicin Hendricks, of Athens, Ga., Kelley Precythe of Faison, Grant Hamm and wife, Erin Adair, of Raleigh, and Wilder Hamm of Charlotte; many beloved nieces and nephews; and his special friends, Dr. David Webb of Wilson and Jenny Yu of Cary. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luby Thomas and Amy Grant Hamm; and his brothers, Jimmy, Randolph and Hubert Hamm. - Source: The Wilson Daily Times Emergency Contact Numbers For Chemical Spills or Emergencies: Chemtrec - (800) For Human or Animal Medical Emergencies: Prosar - (800)