Originally set to expire August 4, the Section 18 Crisis Exemption that allowed for the use of Transform (Sulfoxaflor) has been extended to October 31. Growers in California are pleased to have a longer timeline to combat lygus populations in their cotton fields.
President and CEO of the California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association Roger Isom recently noted how important the pesticide is for growers battling lygus. “It’s a very effective product, it’s the first time we’ve been able to get it for very limited use. We can only use it two times, only on very limited acreage here in California,” he said.
Before the crisis exemption was issued growers had been using harsher products more frequently, which was having a negative impact on beneficial insects. That can cause other issues “because then you’re going to have your aphid problems and other pests down the road,” Isom noted. The exemption for Transform will allow growers to effectively combat lygus and help preserve some of those beneficial insect populations.
Getting the original exemption extended was a concentrated effort between multiple agencies and individuals. The CCGGA, Dow AgroSciences, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, the US Environmental Protection Agency, along with Dr. Peter Goodell and Dr. Bob Hutmacher, all played an important role in getting the product available for cotton growers. The use of Transform is now permitted in Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Riverside, Sutter and Tehama counties.