Agricultural News
Transform Insecticide Registrations Canceled for Use in the United States
Mon, 16 Nov 2015 15:51:35 CST
Contributed by Tom A. Royer, Extension Entomologist, Oklahoma State University.
Dow AgroSciences announced Friday, November 13 that the Environmental Protection Agency issued an order to cancel registrations for all products containing sulfoxaflor, effective on
November 12. Dow AgroSciences is not abandoning this product but "will work diligently to support renewed U.S. EPA Sulfoxaflor registrations."
The EPA issued this cancellation response to a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that vacated these registrations over concerns that there was not enough research required to
insure protection of pollinators. The cancellation indicates that "all sales and distribution" of sulfoxaflor products must cease. The order did not cancel current tolerances on registered
crops, or use of existing stocks "in the hands of users" if label directions are followed and the producer has the accompanying label, but distributors cannot sell or distribute their inventory
of existing product.
In light of this ruling, I would like to outline how it affects our Oklahoma growers. Sufloxaflor is an insecticide that controls aphids, fleahoppers, plant bugs and other insects that feed on plant
sap through their straw-like mouthparts. The products of interest to Oklahoma growers are marketed as Transform® or Closer®. Closer was registered for use in a number of vegetables
and fruit crops. Transform was registered for use in cotton, canola, soybean and wheat.
Firstly, if a producer already has a supply of Transform or Closer on hand, they can legally use it according to the label. In fact, they can have a commercial applicator apply it IF they own the
product. However, distributors or commercial applicators cannot sell or move products other than for the "proper disposal, lawful export or to facilitate return to the manufacturer."
Cotton: Transform was registered to control cotton aphid, cotton fleahopper, Lygus plant bugs and whiteflies, all potentially important pests. There are a number of alternative products for
control of these pests.
Canola: Transform was registered for control of aphids, which are an important pest complex of winter canola. Sulfloxaflor is a critical active ingredient for control of aphids in spring. The
only other products that are registered are a number of pyrethroids, or the active ingredient flonicamid, which is sold under the trade name Carbine.
Soybean: This product was registered for control of soybean aphid. Fortunately, soybean aphid is not a pest of concern for Oklahoma soybeans.
Wheat: Transform was registered for control of greenbug. Fortunately, there are other effective registered products to control greenbugs and other aphids.
Sorghum: Transform did not have a permanent registration for use in sorghum. It received a Section 18 emergency use registration for control of sugarcane aphid. That registration has now expired. There is one other active ingredient flupyradifurone (sold under the trade name Sivanto) that is registered for control of sugarcane aphid.
In cotton, soybean and wheat, the loss of this registration should not put the crops at a serious risk. However, I am concerned for the risk to canola and sorghum growers in particular because there really is only one other alternative active ingredient available for control of critical aphid pests in these crops. Anytime we rely on one "tool" over the long-term, it can increase the selection pressure for resistant populations, much like we see with glyphosate-resistant weeds.
In canola a number of pyrethroids are registered. They used to control a number canola pests, but have not always provided effective control of aphids in canola. They are also very detrimental to natural enemies of aphids. Our limited research shows that flonicamid is effective on aphids and soft on beneficials, but growers must have patience because it is slow acting.
In sorghum flupyradifurone is only one other active ingredient that is effective for control of surgarcane aphid.
For now, registration of these products is canceled. I will look into the application for a Section 18 Emergency registration for use in canola and sorghum. In the meantime, "Dow AgroSciences
will work diligently to support renewed U.S. EPA Sulfoxaflor registrations." Stay tuned!
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