complex could be controlled effectively by increasing the percent of chloropicrin injected with

methyl bromide. Tomato producers began using plastic mulch in combination with soil

fumigates in 1973. Other vegetable crops rapidly adopted this practice soon thereafter. As a

result, it was now possible to farm intensively without having to rotate into less intensive, lower

profit cropping systems for several seasons. In a subtropical environment which is conducive to

the rapid build-up of a wide array of economically important soilborne pests, methyl bromide

has proven to be a consistent, effective means of control for these pests.

 The importance of methyl bromide as a fumigant and the environmental problems

 associated with its use have led to a current critical situation in the Florida agricultural industry.

 Because of the success farmers realized in using methyl bromide since the 1960's, little research

 has been conducted with regard to the identification and evaluation of alternatives which could

 now be used as effective substitutes to methyl bromide. The alternative identified as having the

 most potential for succeeding methyl bromide, Vorlex, (USDA, NAPIAP, 1993) has been

 voluntarily removed from the market by its manufacturer (NOR-AM Chemical Company)

 because of the expense required to register the compound with the U.S. Environmental

 Protection Agency (EPA)., This action makes Vorlex unavailable to farmers and others. Other

 chemical and non-chemical alternatives have been identified, but those alternatives are not as

 economically effective as methyl bromide in controlling the broad spectrum of pests that can

 affect Florida growers.

 Recently a USDA NAPIAP (1993) report estimated the impact of removing of methyl

bromide from agricultural use. That study suggested that removal of methyl bromide would

result in an economic loss of approximately $850 million to $1 billion to U.S. agriculture,