Insecticide Updates

David Owens, Extension Entomologist, owensd@udel.edu

The miticide Zeal SC is receiving a 1 use/year supplemental label for sweet corn.

Corteva has announced plans to cease chlorpyrifos manufacture at the end of 2020. As far as I am aware, generic manufacturers will still be making it, but don’t expect them to defend registrations as vigorously. Maryland’s state senate just approved legislation banning the active ingredient; that legislation goes to the MD house which had approved a similar measure last year.

EPA has announced proposed interim registration decisions regarding neonicotinoid insecticides; they can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/proposed-interim-registration-review-decision-neonicotinoids. Probably the most significant changes are to fruiting vegetables and cucurbit use for imidacloprid and thiamethoxam/clothianidin. Application would be prohibited on fruiting vegetables 5 days after transplant and on cucurbits either after the first true leaf emerges or after vining. Your comments and input are critical in this process. Without your input, they will go into effect. If these proposed decisions have any impact on your business operation, you can submit comments here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0844-1608. Comments are due April 3. You can also reach out to me and I can incorporate them into my own comments.