Reduced Buffer Zone for Dow Product Approved in Five States

Dow AgroSciences has received approval from the Departments of Agriculture in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina to reduce the buffer zone for CURFEW soil fumigant to 30 feet from occupied structures. This is in addition to approval of the reduced buffer zone in Florida earlier this year.

The reduction of the buffer zone for CURFEW was requested by golf course superintendents and authorized custom applicators, says Dennis Lane, marketing specialist for CURFEW.

“The approved 30-foot buffer zone means golf course superintendents now have greater flexibility to protect their turf - especially in critical areas, such as tees and greens,” Lane says. “We’ve seen situations where CURFEW could only be applied to a portion of a green, for example, which resulted in a visible difference in turf between the treated and untreated portions.”

Lane says the states’ Departments of Agriculture approved the label change after the agency reviewed refinements in estimates of exposure by Dow AgroSciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dow AgroSciences has reductions in buffer zone distance in six states where CURFEW soil fumigant has a Section 24(c) label - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. Louisiana and Texas are currently awaiting approval on reduced buffer zones.

By controlling nematodes, CURFEW soil fumigant promotes healthier turf root systems to increase uptake of nutrients and reduce water requirements by as much as 50 percent. CURFEW also provides contact control of mole crickets and Japanese beetle grubs.

The CURFEW Section 24(c) label allows application on golf course fairways, roughs, tees and greens, as well as on athletic fields. CURFEW is a Restricted Use Pesticide, and can only be applied using approved equipment by custom applicators authorized by Dow AgroSciences.