MBr in Floriculture: Where are we today

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MBr in Floriculture Where are we today?

• Ian Greene
• Golden State Bulb Growers/CallaCo
• California Cut Flower Commision

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Outline of Presentation

• Overview Defining the Floriculture industry.
• Crop Diversity Why Floriculture is extra
  challenged.
• Research Past Present
• Summary

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What is Floriculture?
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What crops are included in the Floriculture
grouping?

• Floricultural crops are a subset of ornamentals
  crop that include
• Bedding plants
• Flowering potted plants
• Herbaceous perennials
• Foliage plants
• Bulbs, tubers, corms rhizomes
• Cut flowers cut greens

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U.S. CA Floriculture Market Value, 2004

• Floriculture 4.9 billion U.S. 1
  billion CA.
• Cut Flowers Cut Greens 500 million
  U.S. 366 million CA.

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A Market that demands Crop Diversity

• A typical ornamental flower grower might
  produce 10 - 50 different crops.
• Alstroemeria, Calla, Carnation, Chrysanthemum,
  Delphinium, Gladiolus, Gerbera, Godetia, Iris,
  Liatris, Lilium, Leptospermum, Orchid, Protea,
  Ranunculus, Rose, Snapdragon, Stock, Sunflower,
  Waxflower, ect, ect., ect.
• A single crop can contain 20 varieties.
• New trends changes more varieties.
• Each crop often with specific DP complex
• Difficult to target our fumigation research
  objectives.

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Our Particular Challenges

• Research dollars are limited.
• Time is limited
• Truly robust fumigation research data is not
  necessarily easy to obtain.
• Heavy sowing densities preclude plasticulture.
• Weed dilemma few herbicides available
• Drafting a CUE application that comprehensively
  describes our industry is a NIGHTMARE!

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MBr Alternatives in Floriculture Historical
Perspective

• Active MBr Alts research for the past 20 years
• Steam sterilization
• Raised bench and soil-less crop culture
• Ohmic heating, lazar technology
• Beneficial composts
• Biological antagonists
• Solarization
• Crop rotation
• Resistant cultivars
• Chemical alts Registered and unregistered
  materials

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Application Techniques

• Broadcast fumigation. TriCal 1970-2006
• Hot-Gas fumigation. Gene Brown, Ameribrom 1994
• Drip-applied fumigation technology.
• Dr. Jim Gerik, USDA/ARS and Dr. Husein Ajwa, UC
  Cooperative Extension, 2001
• Raised bed shank injection.
• Dr. Frank Sances, Pacific Ag. Group, 2003

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Current Future Research Efforts

• Registered Chemical alternatives investigated
• Pic, 1,3-D, Metam, Dazomet
• Unregistered Chemical alternatives investigated
• Iodomethane, Furfural, 2-Bromoethanol, DMDS,
  Propylene Oxide, others
• Mio/Pic, and 1,3-D/Pic Metam sequential looking
  promising. Nut grass control still inconsistent.
• Drip-applied technique showing promise as well
  still some inconsistencies.
• VIF versus SIF mulches aimed at reducing rates

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Summary

• Pre-plant soil fume is the single-most important
  crop input.
• CCFC, SAF, AFE remain committed to help fund
  Alts. research
• Will continue to seek CUE status until confident
  with a replacement strategy.