It was my understanding back in February of 2013 that the phase out was to be completed by 2017, with the newer label restrictions being the first phase. I haven't seen any new data that refutes or supports that lately though. The phase out was announce back in '06. Our network began in 2006 with the phaseout of all organophosphates due to the projected total phaseout and started coming up with alternatives as have many other extensions services around the country. Bonide is phasing out the Fruit Tree Spray that contains Captan, Carbaryl and Malathion (MPFS) and the new Fruit Tree & Plant Guard spray is replacing it. Unfortunately, Lambda-cyhalothrin, one of the major components of the new spray is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on blooming crops or broadleaf weeds, ie dandelions, clover, etc. We actually had to remove all of those peach trees in 2006 because they ended up freeaing when we hit a spell of -26 temps the previous winter. We replanted new trees in 2013 and the jury is still out on those trees. We planted them in the southern most portion of our East orchard and they got sun all day long. We have lost all the new wood, but it seems that some of the 1"+ wood may have survived this past winter. The jury is still our as to how many survived. We should know in another week or two....as soona s we see some 60 degree + temps here!! All the apple trees have been hanging around green tip to 1/4" green now for over a week and the peach trees have not shown any green tip at all, but some of the wood is still green inside. Only time will tell!! We lost Reliance, PF 24C, and Contender back in '06. We now hacve PF 24C Cold Hardy, PF24C-007 and PF 7A and PF 5D. I'll let you know how they turn out!

We use a combination of Nickel Plus and K-Phite. It's working great. We spray with both, using a sticker-spreader we got at Tractor Supply. We also add their blue dye now, because it helps us see where we have missed a spot. It isn't very easy to see through goggles, with sweat pouring down in your eyes. Just avoid spraying any blossoms, unless you are really desperate for a blue daylily. We were advised to spray once a week for 3 weeks, then wait 3 weeks before spraying again. I've only sprayed once this fall, since it has been raining off and on ever since. Occasionally, I will have a plant that shows sign of rust, but nothing like it was before I started using the nickel. I wouldn't use anything else. Well, let me take that back. I am going to try some Actinovate on just a few isolated and unimportant plants to see how it works. The only thing I don't like is having to don all that protective gear, but I wouldn't have it otherwise. I'm very cautious. We use goggles, a special pesticide mask we bought at Lowes, chemical gloves (also at Lowe's), rubber boots and a yellow rain slicker. My hubby and our yardman refuse to put on a garbage bag drawstring skirt, but if I'm doing the spraying, I wear that, too. I'll have to get my hubby to take a picture of me in that fancy outfit so everyone can get a good laugh. When the weather is warm, we get very sweaty in all that garb! We start very early in the morning while it is still cool. We have a big tank sprayer on wheels we pull behind our riding lawn mower. It runs on the lawn mower battery. We got an extra length of hose so we can cover more territory. One of us drives the lawn mower while the other sprays. I could do it by myself, but it takes longer to have to keep stopping to move the mower ahead. We wash the tank out thoroughly after spraying and run clear water through the wand when we have finished. Aren't you cold climate people lucky??? Nancy

If it happens to be galvinised metal, you can carefully dip it into meratic acid and that will instantly remove the galvinsed coating and it will rust quickly too. Be careful and follow the label directions. You can buy meratic acid at any good hardware store or paint store. Rinse off the acid with plenty of water. Oh and use it outside, as the fumes are nasty.

My take on this seems to be a little different than everyone else's here so I guess I will chime in. First, let me start by saying obviously you have a greatly different decision to make with family members to care for with compromised immune systems. I really believe that a lot of our children's current allergy and health issues are arising from our over-use of chemicals and over-cleaning and sanitizing of their environment. Yes, it is true, good hygiene and cleanliness have added many years to our average life span, but I believe at some point we hit the tipping point from all beneficial effects to over doing it. We have started making out children's bodies completely dependent on absolute cleanliness. They are not developing their own immune systems to fight off simple things like peanuts and we are creating new problems. With that being said, obviously we still clean our house! I just like to avoid using chemicals and I don't run around over sanitizing our home all winter making sure they never get the sniffles. I do use steam cleaning which I have not yet seen mentioned here yet. I have a steam mop and a hand held steam wand. From top to bottom in my entire house, the only chemicals I use to clean with would be toilet bowl cleaner with bleach (haven't found a good substitute for that that I am will to use) and a bit of windex on the windows. I have bleach in the house, but don't use it often. If there is issues with laundry, I usually use Borax (one of the great forgotten all round fabulous cleaners). I am curious as to why steam hasn't been mentioned. It is a great way to clean and sanitize. There is absolutely no impact to the environment either by chemicals or by waste as you just toss the cleaning pads if you are using any into the washer to be cleaned and re-used. I have been using my steam mop and wand system since I was pregnant with my first, she turned 3 in July. It is a wonderful way to clean.