A comment period is open through the end of this week on a proposed special pesticide registration that would allow the use of Stinger to control weeds in cranberry marshes.
Donna Gilson from the Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection(DATCP) says Stinger has been used on other commercial crops but cranberries are a unique request...
"....Stinger is an herbicide that controls broad leaf weeds and we have it registered for use on other crops in Wisconsin, but this is a special registration for use on cranberries...."
It is one of the few herbicides that can be used to control broadleaf weeds in cranberry production after they have emerged from the soil. Its use on cranberries was previously allowed under a special registration that expired last year as well as two previous special registrations. The department has not received any reports of adverse effects from the previous special registration. Gilson says the manufacturer does not have cranberries on the label, so a special approval process is needed to allow the herbicide's use in this particular application....
"...it's difficult for the manufacturers to go back in and change the label. It's quite a process. So we use the special registration process for the areas of the country that need this...."
Comments received on or before 4:30 p.m., Thursday, March 29, will become part of the preliminary environmental assessment record. More information is at datcp. wi. gov or Google DATCP Stinger
