Date: August 22, 2006 – Updated Version as of 12 PM noontime

State to Spray for Mosquitoes: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR GROWERS AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, PESTICIDE BUREAU

Due to the presence of high levels of Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus in mosquito populations, the Commonwealth will be treating approximately 425,000 acres in Southeastern Massachusetts with the insecticide Anvil. Applications are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, August 22, 2006. These dates are subject to change depending on weather and other factors. Spraying will begin approximately at sunset, which now is setting at 7:35 pm and after midnight - 1 AM, or longer depending on weather conditions. Please check MA Department of Agricultural Resources website (www.mass.gov/agr) or call the Aerial Spraying Hotline at (617) 626-1732 for schedules and updates on which areas are to be sprayed and when.

Anvil contains the active ingredient sumithrin. Sumithrin is not approved for use on food crops, fodder crops, pasture or grazing areas. While the application is not expected to leave a detectable residue on food crops, pastures or forage crops, livestock cannot be grazed in treated areas for 48 hours after the application. Further, food crops, hay and other fodder crops cannot be harvested for 48 hours after the applications. These prohibitions are MANDATORY. Growers who need an uninterrupted supply of produce may want to harvest prior to Tuesday evening. Certified organic farms will be excluded from the application areas. Please note that it is NOT necessary to bring animals indoors during the spray, although reasonable precautions are recommended.

Again, the Department would like to stress that while it is a legal requirement, these requirements are being implemented as an extra level of safety. Detectable residues are not expected with this application. Applications of the same chemical made in California at maximum label application rates resulted in residues below the level of detection.

Applications to be made to the following towns either complete town spraying or partially town spraying:

Abington - complete	Lakeville - complete
Acushnet - partial/almost complete	Mansfield - partial
Attleboro - partial	Mattapoisett - partial
Avon - complete	Middleborough - complete
Berkley  - partial/almost complete	New Bedford - partial/almost complete
Braintree - partial	Norwell - partial
Bridgewater - complete	Norton - partial/almost complete
Brockton - complete	Pembroke - partial/almost complete
Carver - partial/almost complete	Plymouth - partial
Dartmouth - partial	Plympton - complete
Dighton - partial	Randolph - partial
Duxbury - partial	Raynham - complete
East Bridgewater - complete	Rehoboth - partial/tiny corner
Easton - partial/almost complete	Rochester - partial
Fairhaven - partial	Rockland - partial/ almost complete
Fall River - partial	Sharon - partial
Freetown - partial/almost complete	Stoughton - partial
Halifax - complete	Taunton - partial/almost complete
Hanover - partial	Wareham - partial
Hanson - complete	West Bridgewater - complete
Hingham - partial/tiny corner	Weymouth - partial
Holbrook - complete	Whitman - complete
Kingston - partial/almost complete

Check www.mass.gov/agr for information on this spray operation including timing of applications and areas to be treated. Producers who have questions from buyers or consumers may refer them to 617.626.1771.