Section 18 Emergency Exemption of Transform® WG for the Control of Sugarcane Aphid in Sorghum

******For IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION******

Attention SORGHUM producers and PCAs! Through the Arizona Department of Agriculture, the state of Arizona has sought and received a Section 18 Emergency Exemption that permits the use of Transform WG insecticide within Arizona for the control of sugarcane aphid in sorghum. This new pest to Arizona is known to be highly invasive and difficult to control in sorghum with many older chemistries. Because of the imminent economic harm that this pest represents to our sorghum producers and the dairies that they serve, you may now apply for a permit from ADA and use Transform WG immediately to control sugarcane aphid. It is important that you follow and comply with all instructions provided by ADA and on the Section 18 label for Transform WG.

Steps

1. Obtain the ADA permit form online at: https://agriculture.az.gov/sites/default/files/Transform%20Use%20Application.pdf
2. Fill out and return the form to ADA licensing by email to: licensing@azda.gov
3. ADA will provide you a Section 18 label that you must maintain in your possession when using Transform WG under this exemption
4. Bring your approved permit to your local retailer and purchase Transform WG
5. Report all applications of Transform WG to sorghum on ADA’s Form 1080 and submit to ADA
6. Call ADA if you have any questions about the permitting, reporting or Section 18 label for Transform WG: 602-542-3578, anyone there can help you, including Carlos who is lead on this.

Our Thanks & Gratitude

We are grateful for the ADA’s work to facilitate the approval of this important Section 18 Emergency Exemption! On behalf of all stakeholders, we also thank:

• Director Mark W. Killian for requesting this Section 18 through his letter of request to US-EPA
• Mike Buben, Independent PCA, for supplying a letter of support and other economic risk information for the submission
• Ken Narramore, Independent PCA, and the Arizona Crop Protection Association for supplying a letter of support, economic data and other insights for the submission
• Greg Green, Sorghum Grower and PCA, for his letter of support
• KC Gingg, Sorghum Grower and Dairyman, for his letter of support
• Ana M. Kennedy Otto, Government Relations Manager, and the staff of Arizona Farm Bureau for supporting the submission package with a letter of support
• Brian L. Bret, State Regulatory Manager & Dow AgroSciences for supporting this request and moving materials into distribution swiftly for use by sorghum producers right away
• Drs. Ayman Mostafa and Peter Ellsworth, as “qualified experts”, and to the staff of University of Arizona’s Arizona Pest Management Center for the Section 18 submission by ADA and for helping to document the need required by this process.

Here are some links with local information about sugarcane aphid in sorghum.

• Sugarcane Aphid: A New Threat to Sorghum in Arizona.
• Pest alert: Heavy infestation of sugarcane aphid in Arizona, California sorghum.
• California & Arizona strategize on sugarcane aphid control.

Any products, services or organizations that are mentioned, shown, or indirectly implied do not imply endorsement by the University of Arizona.