Sivanto Prime Exemption Status - Sugarcane

By Dr. Blaine Viator

LSU AgCenter

The original Section 18 crisis exemption for Sivanto Prime in sugarcane for aphids/West Indian Cane Fly was set to expire July 18th. However shortly after, LDAF office of Pesticide Programs filed for a specific exemption to extend the use beyond July 18th.

I was informed that after July 18th, it is still legal to keep using Sivanto Prime in sugarcane.  LDAF is only waiting on the EPA to review and determine how long this extension will be allowed.  It is hopeful this will be extended at least through the month of August.  When the EPA gives a final ruling on the ending date, we will send this to Denise to update our membership.

Some have asked why we were not able to use imidacloprid as the EPA allowed us to use it during earlier outbreaks.  As a result of a lot of public pressure and outcry from bee keepers surrounding neonicotinoids, the EPA is refusing to issue any new registrations for imidacloprid.  Due to recurrence of these outbreaks (most notably in 2012 and 2016), the sugarcane industry realized a full Section 3 label for controlling West Indian cane fly/aphid outbreaks was needed.  In working through the IR4 program, it was determined that the only viable option to avoid the pollinator issue was to pursue full registration of Sivanto Prime similar to what was done in grain sorghum due to its lower perceived toxicity to honeybees.

Louisiana is currently far along in the full IR4 registration process with Sivanto Prime, which made for getting this Section 18 crisis exemption more likely through the EPA.