"Rob" > wrote in message
m...
> "Jeff Chorniak" > wrote in message
>...
> > Yes, I've read about Kaptan (sp?), and looked for it around here.
Apparently
> > it's banned where I am.
>
> I am curious where you are that Captan is banned. It's generally
> regarded as quite safe except for fish.

Jeff,
Captan is under a voluntary ban from juice and fresh market grape producers
NY and has been for some time. Here is an excerpt of some concerns:

..."The five pesticides cited by the UFW are dinoseb, methyl bromide,
phosdrin (mevinphos), parathion, and captan. Collectively, the chemicals
have been termed "the most lethal substances used in the growing of table
grapes" by UFW President Cesar Chavez."

.."public concern over food and environmental safety, whether justified or
not, is intensifying and changing the way Labrusca grape growers manage
their vineyard pests. Grape processors in the Lake Erie region process
grapes from across New York State and have taken a proactive approach to
consumer concerns over pesticides. Because Labrusca grapes are used
primarily in products (grape juices and jams) which have children as a major
part of their consumer base, consumer concern over pesticides have lead to a
voluntary ban of Captan use by growers who deliver to these processors. The
use of EBDC fungicides (Dithane, Penncozeb, Maneb, and Mancozeb) has been
restricted, by processors, on the period prior to the first sign of bloom to
eliminate the chance of residues being present at harvest."

IMHO it depends on your viewpoint. I find growers are completely blind to
the dangers of pesticides since they know their financial livelihood depends
on their spray program. The fact that their father, uncle whoever died of
cancer at a young age doesn't sink in. Conscientious consumers are appalled
by the liberal use of chemicals with few controls and very few independent
scientific studies on the effects.

Regardless you initially asked about dormant sprays - I don't see
conventional growers using dormant sprays on grapes the feeling is that it
is not economically feasible. However, organic producers seem to use
dormant sprays to try and get on top of pest issues. The most common
dormant sprays I have seen used on grapes are lime-sulfur or copper. These
are said to reduce overwintering inoculants of mildew, black rot, mites ...
Sarge