Downy mildew pressure is extreme in many regions this season. The high demand for some chemicals has resulted in supply shortfalls. Chemical applicators are reminded of their responsibilty to ONLY apply agrochemical products that are currently registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for use on grapes or that have a current off-label permit. An expired permit does not constitute permission to use a product. Please contact the APVMA, AWRI or your grape purchaser if in any doubt.
The APVMA has issued an off-label permit enabling the use of certain metalaxyl formulations in viticulture. It is essential that you read the conditions attached to the permit prior to use (View the full PDF).
PERMIT TO ALLOW EMERGENCY USE OF A REGISTERED AGVET CHEMICAL PRODUCT
FOR THE CONTROL OF DOWNY MILDEW IN GRAPEVINES
PERMIT NUMBER -PER12588
CONDITIONS OF USE
Products to be used:
COUNTRY METALAXYL 250 EC SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDE
PLUS OTHER REGISTERED PRODUCTS
Containing: 250 g/L METALAXYL as their only active constituent.
RIDOMIL GOLD 480 EC SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDE
PLUS OTHER REGISTERED PRODUCTS
Containing: 480 g/L METALAXYL-M as their only active constituent.
Directions for Use:
| Crop | Disease | Rate |
| Grapevines | Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) |
250g/L Metalaxyl products: 90mL/100L 480 g/L Metalaxyl-M products: 23mL/100L |
Critical Use Comments:
- Use in a protectant program. Limit the use of Group 4 (Group D) fungicides to periods when conditions favour disease development.
- Spray at 7 to 21 day intervals using a protectant or non-phenylamide fungicide, not Group 4 (Group D). Use the shorter interval under prolonged humid and wet conditions.
- When conditions favour downy mildew development (prolonged humid and wet conditions) apply 2 consecutive sprays of Group 4 (Group D) fungicides at the shorter interval.
- Apply before the first sign of oil spots or as soon as possible after the infection period.
- DO NOT apply more than 2 consecutive sprays of a Group 4 (Group D) product. Resume the program of protectant sprays.
- Apply a maximum of 4 Group 4 (Group D) sprays per season.
- DO NOT apply to grapevines in flower in QLD. Minor phytotoxic reactions of some varieties of grapes may occur under certain conditions.
- Metalaxyl and metalaxyl-M are curative fungicides and should be tank mixed with a registered downy mildew protectant fungicide.
- Use in acordance with CropLife anti-resistance strategy.
- DO NOT apply more than a combined total of 4 metalaxyl or metalaxyl-M sprays per season.
Withholding Period:
Harvest: DO NOT harvest for 7 days after last application.
Note: For grapes destined for export wine users should refer to recommendations as included in the AWRI publication Agrochemicals registered for use in Australian viticulture 2010/2011. For products containing metalaxyl and metalaxyl-M the publication recommends to Use no later than 30 days before harvest.