Prepared by Martha M. Sylvia
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is charged with maintaining clean groundwater. To this end, they have issued Groundwater Protection Regulations. These Regulations are intended to prevent contamination of public drinking water supply wells through regulating the application of pesticide products on the Groundwater Protection List within primary recharge areas. A primary recharge area is either an “Interim Wellhead Protection Area (IWPA)” or a “Zone II”. In this publication, we refer to all primary recharge areas including IWPAs as Zone IIs. The Zone IIs are updated yearly. The pesticide groundwater protection regulations ONLY apply to public drinking water wells that pump greater than 100,000 gallons of water per day (gpd).
Some products registered for use on cranberry (listed below) have the potential to leach through the soil and as a result have been placed on the Groundwater Protection List. If your bog is in a Zone II, you should review the particulars for each compound to determine if you can use it in your situation. If you are able to use a compound, you must follow these rules:
MDAR notification within 10 days of the end of the month for each application. You may use one form to report multiple applications that occurred in the same month. Forms are available at the Cranberry Station, CCCGA, points of purchase, or online: www.mass.gov/forms/groundwater-protection-program-notification-form
Note: This reporting form must be filed in addition to the Pesticide Applicator Form that reports annual use to the state.
- Confirmation of 50% foliar cover. Assume an established working bog has at least 50% foliar cover but a new planting likely does not.
- An approved IPM program (use of Cranberry Chart Book) and an acreage-specific IPM plan.
- A support letter from UMass Extension and/or a copy of this Chart Book showing you have confirmed that your conditions allow the application.
- Proper documentation showing failure of alternatives. Generally, IPM records will suffice.
| Compound | Trade name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| chlorothalonil | Bravo, Chlorothalonil, Echo, etc. | These compounds are listed on the groundwater protection list, but you may still use them within a Zone II area if you meet the conditions (outlined at end of chapter) and there are no viable alternatives. Contact Cranberry Station. |
| dinotefuran | Scorpion | There are alternatives available (Altacor, Avaunt, Delegate, Diazinon) and this product cannot be used in Zone II areas. |
| methoxyfenozide | Intrepid, Invertid, Turnstyle | Alternatives are available (Altacor, Delegate) and methoxyfenozide should not be used in Zone II areas. In special cases permission may be given for management of black-headed fireworm or Sparganothis fruitworm infestations during bloom. Contact Cranberry Station. |
| simazine | Simazine 4L | There are alternatives available and this product cannot be used in Zone II areas. |
| sulfentrazone | Zeus/Spartan | There are no viable alternatives available for moss so this product may be used in Zone II (complete paperwork). |
| thiamethoxam | Actara | If your weevil are resistant to Avaunt or you
|
Guidelines provided by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)
Greater detail is provided on the MDAR website or from the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association website under “Grower Advisories”.
Are you applying a product that is listed on the Groundwater Protection List within a regulated primary recharge area?
The pesticide groundwater protection regulations ONLY apply to public drinking water wells that pump greater than 100,000 gallons of water per day (gpd). The primary recharge area is designated as a Zone II or an Interim Wellhead Protection Area (IWPA) by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Listed below are several ways to establish if you are in a regulated primary recharge area.
Determining the location of a Regulated Primary Recharge Area - Zone II or IWPA
To determine if the application site falls within a Zone II or IWPA, you can use the following options:
- Internet Option: Visit the Mass GIS system MassMapper at https://maps.massgis.digital.mass.gov/MassMapper/MassMapper.html. After advancing into your bog area, on the right side of the page click on the plus sign next to “Regulated Areas”, then within that group “Wellhead Protection Area” and then click on “Zone IIs”. The Zone II areas will be highlighted in pink hatch.
- Other Options: Check with the DEP Southeast Regional Office: 508-946-2700.
Are you applying pesticides in an area that has less than a 50% foliar cover?
If your area of application is located within the primary recharge area, you must determine if you are applying to an area with less than or greater than 50% foliar ground cover.
Assume an established, harvestable bog has at least 50% foliar cover.
If your bog is a new planting or it has not vined in to at least 50% foliar cover, and you wish to apply a pesticide listed on the groundwater protection list within a Zone II or IWPA, then the applicator must submit a Pesticide Management Plan (PMP) to MDAR for that use pattern and have it approved prior to the application. If this is the case, contact CCCGA or MDAR to develop this plan.
What is an Integrated Pest Management Program?
Pesticides on the groundwater list must be applied as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program from an MDAR approved source. These include:
- Use of the current "Cranberry Chart Book" published by the UMass Cranberry Station.
- UMass Extension generated fact sheets that outline IPM practices specific to the pest problem.
- IPM Programs specifically developed to meet the requirements of the Groundwater Protection Regulations.
The Department does not require the submission of IPM plans for approval. Instead, the applicator should maintain a copy of their IPM program in their records. The plan should be specific to the pest problem requiring management with the Zone II chemical and include:
- The name of the applicator.
- The location (Zone II and property) and dates of the application.
- A problem statement that outlines the reason for using the pesticide product on the Groundwater Protection List.
- An account of the method used by the applicator to identify the problem. Any laboratory diagnosis of the pest problem must also be maintained.
- An account of the IPM measures that have been taken to manage the problem.
- A letter or statement from the appropriate UMass Cranberry Station personnel stating that there is no viable alternative to the use of the product on the Groundwater Protection List to control the particular pest problem.
CONDITIONS TO ALLOW APPLICATION OF COMPOUND
Chlorothalonil - Bravo, Chlorothalonil, Echo, Equus, Initiate
If your cranberry bog is located in Zone II and you wish to apply a chlorothalonil product, you must consider the following conditions and select the most appropriate scenario that applies to your situation:
- If you have traditionally had good fruit quality (less than 3% rot at delivery): You should use any of the fungicides that do not have chlorothalonil as the active ingredient. It is advisable to keep records of fungicide performance to provide evidence if you need to use chlorothalonil in the future.
- If you have previously used non-chlorothalonil fungicides and can show they performed poorly or failed: You can use the chlorothalonil fungicides because you have no other viable option. Documentation (scouting reports, IPM notes, delivery records with >3% rot) is required.
- If you have previously used non-chlorothalonil fungicides and can NOT show failure: You must continue to use non-chlorothalonil fungicides. You cannot use chlorothalonil products until you can document that alternatives do not work.
- Significant upright dieback: If significant dieback occurred during the previous growing season and a pre-bloom application is warranted, Champ can be used instead of chlorothalonil. If Champ does not provide adequate control, a chlorothalonil fungicide can be used in the subsequent season.
General Information
Chlorothalonil fungicides are considered a necessary component of an integrated approach to control fruit rot. Field testing in MA has proven they are the best registered fungicides for fruit rot and upright dieback control. Their sticking agents help the fungicide adhere to tissue, resisting degradation by sunlight and washoff by rainfall. They are especially critical for fresh fruit production where high quality is required for storage.