Damaged corn prompts crisis exemption for herbicide
Apr 27, 2007 11:06 AM
Lester Spell, Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, has declared a crisis exemption for the use of Select Max herbicide to control freeze-injured corn prior to replanting. Freezing temperatures that Mississippi experienced during the first weekend of April have resulted in injury to corn in the northern counties to the point where some replanting is necessary.
It will be necessary to kill the surviving corn plants of the first stand since many are glyphosate-resistant and will become competitive weeds.
“These steps were taken to assist the corn farmer during this tough time and to prevent any additional costs,” said Spell.
The department has authority to obtain a crisis exemption under Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for a non-registered use of a pesticide under emergency conditions.
A Section 18 exemption may be obtained if significant losses of an agricultural commodity are likely and alternative registered products are not effective or available.
Select Max herbicide is manufactured by Valent U.S.A. Corporation. It may be applied at a rate of 4 ounces per acre as a burndown herbicide prior to replanting corn. For more information, contact the Bureau of Plant Industry at (888) 257-1285.
