The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has issued a number of minor use permits of relevance to grain growers.
Minor use permits are issued by the APVMA to legalise the use of a crop protection product in situations where there is insufficient market size or economic return to attract product registrations.
This typically occurs with the ‘minor’ grain crops or for situations of limited area in a major crop, where no registered products exist for the proposed use.
The products relevant to Australian growers for which minor use permits have recently been issued are:
Procymidone (Sumisclex) used on faba beans (Vicia faba) and navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) for the control of chocolate spot and sclerotinia rot.
Following a recent APVMA review, this usage was removed from registered labels. Usage has been retained by growers under the minor use permit PER92791 until the identified data gaps are filled, allowing for the uses to be re-established on product labels.
Quinoxyfen: the fungicide is used on wheat for the control of powdery mildew. GRDC and South Australian Grain Industry Trust-supported research has identified several potential fungicides that are more specifically targeted at powdery mildew control. This minor use permit (PER93197) is the first to allow for the use of quinoxyfen in wheat.
Metribuzin: the herbicide is used for metribuzin-tolerant lentil varieties such as GIA Metro is allowed under the minor use permit PER92810. GRDC is investing in field studies to meet the regulatory requirements pertaining to crop safety, efficacy and grain residues in support of the use of metribuzin for this purpose.
Proquinazid (Talendo fungicide): Used on wheat for the control of powdery mildew. The minor use permit (PER93216) stipulates no more than two applications per crop. Talendo has no curative activity and does not control existing infections – it is for use as a protectant only.
Metrafenone (Vivando fungicide): Used on wheat for the control of powdery mildew. The minor use permit (PER93198) is in force until July 31, 2024. The fungicide should be applied at the first signs of infection as a protectant only.
Users are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the directions of use as stated on each of the permits.
GRDC’s manager of chemical regulation, Gordon Cumming, says it invests in bringing minor use permits to fruition for growers.
“GRDC’s work is in the background, generating the data required for the permits, as well as developing the regulatory submissions that go to the APVMA,” Mr Cumming said.
“We partner with the relevant industry body, who hold the permit(s), and make sure that the required work is done to bring these permits to growers.”
More information: APVMA website.
