Integrated Pest Management for Raspberries

A Guide for Sampling and Decision-Making for Key Raspberry Pests in Northwest Washington

Raspberry growers have expressed a need for easily accessible information which will assist them in selecting specific pesticides based on worker safety, toxicity to beneficial organisms (natural enemies), and threats to groundwater.

The following tables are a compilation of this information extracted from several different sources. Most active ingredients registered on raspberries at the time of this publication are included in the tables. Use patterns and availability of specific pesticides is subject to change. For this reason, do not assume that materials listed in this table are registered for use on raspberries.

These tables are intended for use as a quick reference to assist growers in pesticide selection, not as substitutes for the label or other sources of more detailed information.

Worker Safety

The source used for acute toxicity values (oral and dermal LD50s) was "The Pesticide Book" by George Ware. These are measurements of pesticide toxicity to rats under experimental conditions; testing which is required by the EPA as a component of the registration process. The LD50 is the dose (expressed as milligrams of toxicant per kilogram of body weight) that kills 50 percent of the animal test population through either oral or dermal exposure. The lower the number, the greater the toxicity.

Pesticides are grouped into categories of toxicity (I through IV) based on these LD50 values. This information is presented under the column heading "EPA Toxicity Rating." Category I pesticides are the most toxic and category IV pesticides are the least toxic. These categories are based on specific ranges of acute LD50 values.

The final column that deals with worker safety, "Relative Acute Hazard to Users/Applicators" is based on a table from WSU Extension Bulletin 1491 titled: "Pest Management Guide for Commercial Small Fruits." This relative hazard rating is based on dermal toxicity to experimental animals and, when available, on actual use experience.

Toxicity to Beneficials

The toxicity of pesticides to natural enemies is based on a publication from the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station titled: "A Method to Measure the Environmental Impact of Pesticides." The authors of this publication used a database called SELECTV developed at Oregon State University, which rated the effect of about 400 pesticides on over 600 species of natural enemies. Each pesticide was rated from 1 (0% effect) to 5 (90-100% mortality). The New York authors multiplied this toxicity rating times the pesticide half-life on plant surfaces times five to arrive at the value as reported in this table. The larger the number, the greater the likelihood for direct kill of beneficials and therefore disruption of natural pest controls. Where practical, growers should select pesticides with values toward the lower end of the spectrum.

Potential for Groundwater Contamination

There are two columns in the attached table which rank pesticides regarding their potential to contaminate groundwater.

The column with the heading "Leaching Potential" indicates the tendency of a pesticide to move in solution with water and leach below the root zone into deep percolation. The ratings of large, medium, and small describe the potential for leaching. These ratings are derived from the "Washington State Water Quality Guide." Where practical, growers should select pesticides with small leaching potential. Pesticides with medium or large leaching potential should be used cautiously, with particular attention to label guidelines and the particular use and farm situation.

The column with the heading "Groundwater" is based again on the New York State Publication titled: "A Method to Measure the Environmental Impact of Pesticides." The authors relied on the National Pesticide/Soils Database developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Soil Conservation Service. This in turn is based on statistical methods to evaluate the interactions between numerous pesticide and soil properties which are used to classify pesticides into groundwater contamination risk groups (1-small risk to 5-large risk).

The last column includes comments that relate to pesticide properties which influence potential for groundwater contamination. These comments were extracted from text in "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.

Pre-Plant Soil Fumigants

Click on table for larger image

This table is a compilation of information from many sources.
(1) LD50 values taken from "The Pesticide Book" by George Ware and "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.
(2) Toxicity Rating is based on acute oral LD50 values ("I" is most toxic; "IV" is least toxic).
(3) Relative hazard to applicators is based on dermal exposure (source EB 1491).
(4) Beneficial toxicity based on Cornell EIQ (higher numbers equate to greater likelihood for killing arthropod natural enemies).
(5) Leaching Potential rating from Washington State Water Quality Guide and "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.
(6) Groundwater leaching potential estimated by "soil-pesticide interaction procedure" which is confimed by GLEAMS model. There are four categories (extra small, small, medium and larger). Source: USGS, 1998
(7) Comments regarding groundwater based on "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.

Fungicides

Click on table for larger image

This table is a compilation of information from many sources.
(1) LD50 values taken from "The Pesticide Book" by George Ware and "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.
(2) Toxicity Rating is based on acute oral LD50 values ("I" is most toxic; "IV" is least toxic).
(3) Relative hazard to applicators is based on dermal exposure (source EB 1491).
(4) Beneficial toxicity based on Cornell EIQ (higher numbers equate to greater likelihood for killing arthropod natural enemies).
(5) Leaching Potential rating from Washington State Water Quality Guide and "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.
(6) Groundwater leaching potential based on Cornell EIQ (1:small; 5:large).
(7) Comments regarding groundwater based on "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.

* copper hydroxide listed as toxicity I due to potential eye irritation.

Herbicides

Click on table for larger image

This table is a compilation of information from many sources.
(1) LD50 values taken from "The Pesticide Book" by George Ware and "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.
(2) Toxicity Rating is based on acute oral LD50 values ("I" is most toxic; "IV" is least toxic).
(3) Relative hazard to applicators is based on dermal exposure (source EB 1491).
(4) Beneficial toxicity based on Cornell EIQ (higher numbers equate to greater likelihood for killing arthropod natural enemies).
(5) Leaching Potential rating from Washington State Water Quality Guide and "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.
(6) Groundwater leaching potential based on Cornell EIQ (1:small; 5:large).
(7) Comments regarding groundwater based on "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.

Insecticides, Miticides, Nematicides

Click on table for larger image

This table is a compilation of information from many sources.
(1) LD50 values taken from "The Pesticide Book" by George Ware and "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.
(2) Toxicity Rating is based on acute oral LD50 values ("I" is most toxic; "IV" is least toxic).
(3) Relative hazard to applicators is based on dermal exposure (source EB 1491).
(4) Beneficial toxicity based on Cornell EIQ (higher numbers equate to greater likelihood for killing arthropod natural enemies).
(5) Leaching Potential rating from Washington State Water Quality Guide and "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.
(6) Groundwater leaching potential based on Cornell EIQ (1:small; 5:large).
(7) Comments regarding groundwater based on "Pesticide Information Profiles", EXTOXNET.

G.W. Menzies & C.B. MacConnell, WSU Cooperative Extension Whatcom County
June 1998

Funded in part by: Washington State Department of Ecology through U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Section 319 Funds