MSU Extension Bulletins Live! Two

MSU is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer. Michigan State University extension programs and materials are open to all. Pesticide applicators should be aware of some changes coming to pesticide labels across the United States. In an effort to address concerns related to the impact of pesticides on endangered species and ongoing litigation, EPA has developed a dynamic online system called Bulletins Live two, with the goal of evaluating if additional pesticide use limitations are needed based on the active ingredient, site location, and application timing. The Environmental Protection Agency plays an important role in implementing the Endangered Species Act, including ensuring that the use of pesticides does not jeopardize threatened or endangered species, nor adversely impact their designated critical habitat. If EPA determines in a biological evaluation that use of a pesticide product may affect listed species or critical habitats, EPA must initiate consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, or sometimes both agencies. In response, these agencies determine whether the pesticide is likely to jeopardize listed species or adversely modify their critical habitats, and in response, propose measures to avoid jeopardy and adverse modification. The proposed mitigation measures are then aggregated in the new online bulletin system known as bulletins Live two. Bulletin set forth geographic time and pesticide specific use limitations for the protection of threatened and endangered species and their designated critical habitat. Currently, most of the impacted labels are herbicides and insecticides, but the system is dynamic and additional products are added regularly with the inclusion of fungicides and other pesticides anticipated in the future. Because the Bulletins Live two system will continue to add new products continuously, applicators need to check all product labels carefully. Impacted labels will have a new section that directs users to the bulletins Live two system and provides the URL. Some active ingredients currently in the bulletins live two system include but are not limited to malathion, abamectin, dicamba, and atrazine. There are areas in Michigan that are impacted by these new pesticide use limitations. If a pesticide label directs you to the BLT system, you are required to follow the pesticide use limitations found on both the label and in the system. Compliance is the applicators responsibility. There may not be any additional specific use limitations for your site or application timing, either because EPA has not yet identified whether geographically specific use limitations are needed, or there are no additional geographically specific use limitations required for the product month and location. Though not required, applicators are encouraged to print or save the bulletin PDF along with their pesticide records, even if no additional pesticide use limitations apply. So let's explore a couple of examples in the BLT system. Here's an example utilizing the research center in Northwest Michigan with a proposed Drexel Malathion application in June. You can see where I entered that information in the box on the left. Users can also manually navigate to a given location or use coordinates. I have changed the map view setting from the transit map to a satellite image using the widget in the lower right hand corner. This may be helpful and accurately identifying site or field boundaries. Once I have entered all the variable information, I am able to click the printable bulletin button in the upper corner to view, download or print the bulletin. Again, once you click the printable bulletin, it will generate a file you can print or download and save. The bulletin will include a map of the user defined intended application area, the user selected, active ingredient, and the month of application. In addition to this, you'll see the pesticide use limitations. In this case, there are no additional pesticide use limitations for the site and parameters. So applicators should simply follow the label instructions that came with the product. In this example, we have entered the address for the West Michigan Research Station for a March 2024 intrepid edge application. The pink overlaid color indicates that there are pesticide use limitations for these parameters. To view the use limitations, I need to click the printable bulletin button. Again, the bulletin includes the site, date, and product, as well as some additional pesticide specific use limitations. In this case, the limitation includes not applying the product within 1 mile of sandy habitats that support wild loop in plants. Directives are not always easy to understand or implement, including this one. These types of limitations are just one reason that growers are encouraged to check labels well before any anticipated pesticide applications. In cases where you are unsure of the correct action, reach out to the Michigan Department of Ag and Rural Development or Michigan State University Extension for additional assistance. I have included contact information for Kevin Kern, who is spearheading the MDRD rollout of the bulletins Live system. And of course, we're always happy to help you track down the correct answer too. In summary, the list of impacted products and locations will continue to expand. So keep checking labels in the BLT system for changes that impact your application locations and timing. Applicators can check the labels of products they plan to use ideally before purchase to fully understand any potential use limitations on their property. Applicators can check the BLT system up to six months before an application. It is recommended that applicators applying any pesticide that has a BLT requirement should print and keep the bulletin with their pesticide records. For support resources and to learn more, applicators can visit the EPA website, reach out to the Michigan Department of Ag and Rural Development, or visit the Michigan State University Extension Bulletins Live two webpage where we've linked all of these resources for your convenience. This website will also provide the most up to date information related to Bulletins Live two.