Tag Archives: DPR

Chlorpyrifos Food Tolerance Cancellation Rapidly Approaching

Posted on by
Reply

On February 28, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) food tolerances for chlorpyrifos are set to expire. This means growers will not be allowed to apply chlorpyrifos to any food crop after this date. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate used to manage insects in a number of fruit and vegetable crops. It has been on the market since the 1960s under trade names such as Lorsban, Dursban, Eraser, Govern, Hatchet, Whirlwind, and numerous others.

Chlorpyrifos products have been helpful in managing tough-to-kill insects in fruit and vegetable crops since the 1960s. Due to health concerns, its food crop uses are coming to an end.

Corteva ceased production of chlorpyrifos products in 2020, though it is still available from numerous other manufacturers. Since the EPA is revoking the food tolerances but not actually canceling chlorpyrifos, it will still be available for a limited number of uses, such as Christmas tree and sod production.

A summary of the EPA’s ruling can be found here.

Answers to frequently asked questions about the ruling can be found here.

SC DPR Releases Statement on Recent Dicamba Cancellations

Posted on by
Reply

This week, the SC Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released a statement regarding the EPA’s cancellation of three dicamba products following a Federal Court of Appeals decision to vacate their registrations. The three products (Xtendimax, Engenia, and FeXapan), labeled for use with tolerant soybean and cotton varieties, have been a hot button issue since their initial registration in 2016. Concerns of off-target damage due to drift and volatilization have been at the center of this contention.

According to DPR, “Pesticide dealers in South Carolina who have existing stock of these products should stop all sales immediately and contact their dealer representative to facilitate a return to the registrant or other legal disposal. The EPA final cancellation order allows for Commercial and Private applicators who have possession of existing stock of these products to lawfully use them until Friday, July 31, 2020. After this date no legal uses of these products will be permitted and existing stock must be disposed of in a legal manner.”

Read the full DPR news release here.

Read the full EPA cancellation order here.

The Court of Appeals ruling and subsequent cancellations do not affect other formulations of dicamba.

Private Pesticide License Block Ends 12/31/19

Posted on by
Reply

As of today (11/1/19), there are only two months remaining in the current private pesticide license block.  The block ends on 12/31/19.  This means private applicators have until the end of December to earn the 5 pesticide credits (CEUs) needed to renew their licenses.

To check the number of credits you have, visit the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) website, type in your last name and hit “Run Applicator Report”.  Again, if you still need credits, the deadline to get them is 12/31.

To find opportunities to earn credits, click on the “Upcoming Events” tab on this website or contact your local Clemson Extension office.

Once you have earned the 5 required credits, don’t forget to fill out and return your renewal paperwork to DPR.  If you have 5 credits and do not receive renewal paperwork from DPR in the mail by the end of the year, please reach out to them.  Their contact info can be found here.

Some Pesticides Now Approved for Hemp Production in SC

Posted on by
Reply

Yesterday (6/27/19) Clemson’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released a list of pesticides they are now allowing for use in hemp production.  A PDF including a letter from DPR and the list of approved products can be accessed here: Approved Hemp Pesticides.  Please read the letter from DPR before using any chemicals on the list.  Additionally, it is recommended that growers speak with their processors to ensure using these chemicals will not result in any unacceptable residues.

20180814_145742.jpg

Growers will now have some chemical options for treating insect and disease pests in hemp crops.

Previously, growers were only allowed 25(b) products, which the EPA deems “minimum risk products”. These are products that do not have EPA registration numbers (mostly plant extract oils).