On Wednesday, July 28th, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had granted the state a Crisis Exemption Granted for Use of Insecticide Against Fall Armyworms in Rice. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture made a Request for a Section 18 Crisis Exemption for the use of Intrepid 2F insecticide against fall armyworms in rice was granted today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The request was made following warnings by University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture entomologists regarding infestations and lack of available insectides effective in addressing the situation.
More below:
Full Press Statement from Arkansas Department of Agriculture -
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/28/21
CONTACT: Amy Lyman (501) 219-6323
amy.lyman@agriculture.arkansas.gov
Crisis Exemption Granted for Use of Insecticide Against Fall Armyworms in Rice
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Request for a Section 18 Crisis Exemption for the use of Intrepid 2F insecticide against fall armyworms in rice was granted today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizes EPA to exempt state and federal agencies from provisions of FIFRA and allow unregistered uses of pesticides to address emergency situations through emergency and crisis exemptions. A Section 18 Crisis Exemption provides temporary relief for growers or producers that encounter a pest that cannot be controlled by pesticides currently registered for a crop or use site until a determination is made on a Section 18 Emergency Exemption.
A Section 18 Crisis Exemption request and a Section 18 Emergency Exemption request for Intrepid 2F for use in rice against fall armyworms were submitted to the EPA on July 22 when Dr. Gus Lorenz, extension entomologist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, provided documentation about the high populations of armyworms in rice and the limited options for control of the pest. The Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service estimates that 250,000 acres of the 1.24 million acres of rice planted in Arkansas in 2021 have been impacted.
Fall armyworms have also infected 1.8 million acres of forage in Arkansas, with an additional 3 million acres at risk. Intrepid 2F insecticide is currently registered for use in forage and pasture.
All product applications made under a Section 18 Crisis Exemption must be reported to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture within 10 days of application. A copy of the Section 18 label for Intrepid 2F, reporting forms, and other related information can be found at: https://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/plant-industries/pesticide-section/registration/.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. Visit https://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.