Strawberry growers race to find fumigant

Bay strawberry growers who depend on methyl bromide fear no replacement will be found in time for a UN deadline to phase out the soil fumigant.
Four out of five runner-plant growers in the country are based in Katikati, contributing 12 million of the 14 million plants grown each year to an industry worth $30 million.
Researchers have until January 1 to find a replacement for the ozone-depleting chemical, which is used to kill diseases, pests and weeds found in soil. Without it, farmers stand to lose up to half their crop.
Katikati grower Michael Shanley, who has been growing in the area for more than 20 years, said he and the other local growers were nervous about the looming deadline.
"There is no alternative that is equal to methyl bromide," he said.
Last month, the Bay of Plenty Times revealed that the Port of Tauranga was being scrutinised by Occupational Safety and Health amid complaints from workers about exposure to the chemical being used to treat logs and wood.
The issue was thrust into the limelight after five Nelson widows claimed links between the chemical and their husbands' motor neurone disease.
In 1987 New Zealand signed the Montreal Protocol, agreeing to phase out use of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant by December 2004 but sought and was granted a year extension.
A new chemical - telone C35 - has been developed at the Hawke's Bay Research Centre.
But Mr Shanley, who was trialling the steriliser, said it didn't measure up.
"For it to work and get out of the soil takes three times as long as methyl bromide."
He said it was difficult to find a replacement that did the same job and was cost-effective.
Fellow growers Warren McDonald and Keith Taylor, who have been in the business for a combined 50 years, echoed his concerns.
"We have been trialling other bits and bobs but nothing seems to measure up," Mr McDonald said.
He was worried the fumigant issue would drive growers out of the industry and crush the New Zealand strawberry market.
"A couple of guys are probably going to think 'to hell with it' and get out." Both he and Mr Taylor were annoyed with what they saw as inconsistencies in regulation of the chemical.
Mr McDonald questioned it still being used for timber treatment at ports and Mr Taylor said car emissions were responsible for a lot of methyl bromide released into the atmosphere.
"The actual amount of ozone-depleting that methyl bromide does is nothing compared to what vehicles do."
Hawke's Bay Research Centre researcher Ian Horner said telone C35 was good but had limitations. It would struggle in wet weather.
"So the race is really on. We need to find a system that will really work," he said.
Strawberry Growers New Zealand is voluntary group representing about 90 per cent of strawberry production in the country.
Production group manager Antonia Crawford said that if growers couldn't produce healthy plants, the whole harvest system fell down. The fourth Katikati grower, Bruce Rapley, could not be reached for comment.