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[<dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]



Alan,

 

I have used Assail for about 5 years as one of the 3 products i use in rotation.  I do not use any organophosphates such as Imidan any longer.  I phased out Imidan over a 3 year period and am now using Assail, Rimon, Avaunt and Calypso.  Assail has very little effect on PC, but Calypso seems to work quite well and much less toxic than Imidan.  If Assail REI and PHI are followed, you are at less risk using Assail than you are breathing the air in your own home or barn where hay is stored where molds are more toxic.  

 

Dennis Norton
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
Office (815) 648-4467
Mobile (815) 228-2174
Fax (609) 228-2174
http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com
http://www.revivalhymn.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Alan Haigh

To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6:10 AM

Subject: [NAFEX] systemic pesticides, Assail vs Imidan

The issue of synthetic residues is always a potent topic of contraversy so I'll definitely bite.  I like a systemic pesticide because it stays put.  If you spray a tree with Imidan and walk around under it while the chemical is still active and there is dew on the ground your feet will pick it up.  You will likely track it into your vehicle or home where biological processes are greatly reduced and the poison stays active for a very long time.  I'm guessing the Assail will mostly stay on the grass (and more importantly the fruit).  If you thin fruit by hand you are less likely to pick it up there as well.

 

By the time you eat the fruit, 2 to 5 months will have passed.  The tiny little marble sprayed will be anywhere from the size of a plum to a large peach or apple.  Even 14 days after spray, the poison will have inadequate strength to kill the targeted organism whose entire diet is that fruit.  I will experience much more exposure in the mixing and spraying process so a tiny fraction of residue doesn't concern me much.  I'm much more concerned about oncoming traffic on my way home from the orchard.

 

I'm nervous about using Assail only because I haven't used it before, and Imidan is a tested and trusted ally against PC.  I guess none of you have used it yet.