Mississippi: emergency exemption for Clearfield rice herbicides
Jun 6, 2008 3:48 PM
Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell has announced that three herbicides have been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for emergency exemption in the control of red rice and other weeds that may be present in Clearfield rice.
The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s Bureau of Plant Industry has authority under Section 18 of FIFRA to obtain an exemption from EPA for a non-labeled use of a pesticide if significant losses of an agricultural commodity are likely or further alternative, labeled products are not available or effective.
The products receiving emergency exemption under Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) are Pursuit herbicide manufactured by BASF and Thunder herbicide manufactured by Albaugh, both imazethapyr products, and Raptor herbicide manufactured by BASF, an imazamox product.
The herbicides will be made available due to the significant shortage of Newpath and Beyond herbicides, which are commonly used for the control of red rice and weeds in fields planted with the Clearfield variety of rice.
The Mississippi Bureau of Plant Industry is responsible for administration of these exemptions.
Clearfield rice producers can contact the Bureau at (662) 325-3390 or toll-free at (888) 257-1285.
