Fumigators Note Research, 50th Anniversary of VIKANE® Gas Fumigant
LONG BEACH, CA—Jan. 12, 2011 – Research was the focus at a special meeting of the Fumigator Group of Southern California (FGSC) Jan. 12 in Long Beach. More than 100 industry representatives heard Dr. Vernard Lewis of the University of California-Berkeley review past and present research in support of structural fumigation. The meeting also took special note of 2011 as marking the 50th anniversary of the commercialization of VIKANE gas fumigant.
Dr. Lewis reviewed the importance of research on the evolution of the structural fumigation industry. Research with sulfuryl fluoride in the 1950s led to the commercialization of VIKANE in 1961 by Dow Chemical, Lewis said. His own research began in the early 1990s and it helped confirm that structural fumigation with VIKANE eliminated drywood termites in entire structures. The elusive nature of drywood termites makes them difficult to research, he noted. It also limits methods for effective control, which makes ongoing support of structural fumigation important.
Bed bugs are the focus of the University of California's most current research with VIKANE®. Lewis said UC-Berkeley research done by him and research assistant Gail Getty looked at factors that include relationship of cooler temperatures on the hatching of bed bug eggs, and modified dosage rates of VIKANE for control of bed bugs during fumigation of infested residences. He thanked Beneficial Exterminating and Dow AgroSciences for their assistance with the research.
Master of Ceremonies John Sansone, FGSC chair and a president of Cardinal Professional Products, welcomed attendees that included six past presidents of Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC), Getty of the University of California–Berkeley, and representatives of Cardinal, Univar and Dow AgroSciences.
Dr. Lewis' presentation and the dinner were sponsored by Dow AgroSciences. The evening event raised more than $3,000 to support research and public outreach of the Urban Pest Management Center at the University of California–Berkeley.
At the close of the evening, Janet Rowley, West Coast district sales manager for Dow AgroSciences, asked everyone to stand and then take their seats if they did not participate in VIKANE milestones – beginning with the recently introduced California Aeration Program and moving back in time to the introduction of bagging food. At the conclusion, 11 people standing each received a $50 gift certificate, corresponding to the 50 years of product use. They were Bobby Gordon, Gordon Termite Control; Rick Rousselle, Rouselle Inc.; Jim Finley, Antimite; Art Guzman, Univar; John Sansone, Cardinal; Earl Jones, Jeff Jones and Brian Jones, Admiral Pest Control; Curtis Good, Newport Exterminating; Willie Payne, Payne Pest Management; and Darrell Ennes, Terminix (Sacramento).
Rowley said the evening evidenced successful structural fumigation industry change and adaptation over five decades. "Often change has been driven by our regulatory climate," Rowley said. "I see significant work ahead, but we at Dow AgroSciences are ready to work through significant regulatory events. Time has shown that a successful resolution can and will occur with the support of everyone in this room."
To conclude the evening guests each were presented with an embossed 50th anniversary VIKANE champagne flute as a keepsake, and a toast was made by Rowley: "To the survivors of change, to the successors of change and to another 50 years together!"
About Dow AgroSciences
The Dow AgroSciences Urban Pest Management business is a leader in providing innovation solutions for the structural pest management, post-harvest commodity and turf and ornamental market segments. Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Ind., USA, is a top-tier agricultural company providing innovative agrochemical and biotechnology solutions globally. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has sales of $4.5 billion. Learn more at http://www.dowagro.com/.
®™ VIKANE is a trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
VIKANE is a federally Restricted Use Pesticide.
Always read and follow label directions.
For additional information, please contact Justin Stewart, 615-824-3225, jmstewart@dow.com or Cheri Mantz, 262-938-5418, cmantz@bader-rutter.com.