Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell has announced Environmental Protection Agency approval of exemptions on two pesticides that will help rice and corn producers throughout the state protect crops from damaging pests.

The products receiving exemptions under Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) are:

• Dermacor X-100 seed treatment manufactured by DuPont. Rice seed may be treated with Dermacor at a commercial seed treatment facility to control rice water weevil larvae, a destructive early season insect pest in Mississippi rice.

• Avipel liquid seed treatment and Avipel dry powder corn seed treatment manufactured by Arkion Life Sciences, LLC. Corn seed may be treated with Avipel prior to planting to repel blackbirds and crows.

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 used of a pesticide if significant losses of an agricultural commodity are likely and further alternative, labeled products are not available or effective.

The Bureau of Plant Industry is responsible for administration of these exemptions. Rice and corn producers can contact the Bureau at (662) 325-3390 or toll-free at (888) 257-1285.