The Environmental Protection Agency has granted an exemption under FIFRA or Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act for use of sulfoxaflor on sorghum. National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust says having this product available is an important tool for farmers to deal with the invasive sugarcane aphid.
He’s pleased the agency used science-based criteria in evaluating sulfoxaflor before allowing the exemption.
Lust says sulfoxaflor has been very effective in helping producers deal with this new and invasive pest.
The EPA first acknowledged the emergency exemption in 2014 and has approved use of sulfoxaflor in grain sorghum each subsequent year. Texas A&M calculated sugarcane aphid infestation reduced farmer profit by $20.3 million or $64.29 per acre in 2014.
