Important Information regarding Thimet.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: A non-govern mental group/environmental activist group is currently petitioning the US EPA to revoke all food use tolerances for the organophosphate class of chemistry. In peanuts this means phorate (Thimet) and acephate (Orthene). This is not a good situation. The comment period is currently open, and you can visit this EPA site to add one of your own (copy & paste this exact address to go directly to the comment page): https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0490-0001 . Include your farm name or your name; number of acres of peanuts grown; how long you’ve farmed & state the importance of these products to your crop production.
To read comments made by Dr. Abney & others (including those who want to ban these), you can click on Regulations.gov. If you grow peanuts you will want to submit a comment (this is Abney’s opinion). You Losing Thimet would be a major blow to our efforts to reduce the impact of tomato spotted wilt disease.
Please let me know if you have questions.
Thanks,
Peyton Sapp
County Extension Coordinator