The Kansas Department of Agriculture has received notification of approval for a Section 18 exemption for Transform®WG Insecticide, EPA Reg. No. 62719-625. This exemption will expire Nov. 30, 2015.

The exemption was sought by Kansas sorghum farmers in cooperation with KDA to combat the invasive sugarcane aphid which was discovered in Sumner and Sedgwick counties during the 2014 growing season. The discovery was made late in the season, reducing the potential economic impact of this devastating pest. It is estimated that infestation could have had a 78 percent yield loss, resulting in an economic impact of $237 million for 17 southern counties. Entomologists at Kansas State are predicting significant presence of this pest during the 2015 growing season.

“This exemption is good for Kansas growers,” said Gary Meyer, manager for the Pesticide and Fertilizer program. “It provides an affordable and effective control mechanism for this invasive and potentially economically devastating pest.”

While applying for exemption to the Environmental Protection Agency, many trade groups including the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, National Sorghum Producers and K-State Research and Extension offered letters of support for the exemption.

Tim Lust, National Sorghum Producer’s CEO, said in his letter of support, “Kansas is the largest producer of sorghum in the U.S. and regularly produces more than one half of the U.S. sorghum crop valued at approximately $800 million annually.”

The sugarcane aphid has been observed in 12 states across the U.S. including Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey noted that achieving the exemption was important for the health of the sorghum industry. “It is the priority of the Kansas Department of Agriculture to work to support and advocate on behalf of Kansas farm and ranch businesses. Working to obtain this EPA exemption is vital to supporting this mission and helps to grow and sustain the agriculture industry, the largest economic driver in Kansas.”

For more information about the use of Transform®WG Insecticide and restrictions included for using this product, please contact the KDA Pesticide and Fertilizer program at https://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/pesticide-fertilizer or (785) 564-6688.