Success StoryNew Insecticide for Wireworm Control in Sweetpotatoes



New Insecticide for Wireworm Control in Sweetpotatoes

Author: Ricardo Bessin

Planning Unit: Entomology

Major Program: Chemical Management

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Wireworm damage to sweetpoatoes is the leading insect pest of this crop and tunnels damage to the roots can rob a grower more than 30% of their yield.  There are few effective insecticides with Lorsban (chlorpyrifos) historically used to control this pest. However, the EPA is cancelling chlorpyrifos use on many food and feed crops due to worker exposure and other concerns.  This had left sweet potato producers with little effective alternatives.

Through the IR-4 program, I identified a brand new alternative soil insecticide to control wireworms on sweet potatoes to replace chlorpyrifos which was being cancelled by the EPA.  This involved developing and proposing the project to IR-4, garnering support from the registrant (chemical manufacturer) and among states to be included in the top 40 projects in the US (IR-4 only funds 40 residues projects a year), and conducting four on-farm efficacy trials demonstrating its effectiveness in Kentucky. IR-4 then conducted the necessary residue trials and submitted the proposed use to the EPA for consideration. After 4 years of work, this insecticide, Nurizma produced by BASF, received federal approval for  use on field corn, potatoes, and sweetpotatoes to replaces the void left by the cancellation of chlorpyrifos. This is a new tool available to our producers in Kentucky.






Stories by Ricardo Bessin


New Insecticide for Wireworm Control in Sweetpotatoes

about 4 months ago by Ricardo Bessin

Wireworm damage to sweetpoatoes is the leading insect pest of this crop and tunnels damage to the ro... Read More


Imported Fire Ant Abatement

about 5 months ago by Ricardo Bessin

The Imported fire ant has become established in parts of Eastern Kentucky in an area of about 500 sq... Read More


Stories by Entomology


Providing Science base Information to Banana Growers of the Dominican Republic on an New Invasive Pest in the Caribbean Region

Providing Science base Information to Banana Growers of the Dominican Republic on an New Invasive Pest in the Caribbean Region

about 10 months ago by Raul Villanueva

The Dominican Republic was the first producer of organic bananas during past years but in 2023 it wa... Read More


Building the Impact of the Kentucky Crop Health Conference 2nd year: 2024

about 4 months ago by Raul Villanueva

The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group continued to build on the su... Read More


Stories by Chemical Management


Over the Top

Over the Top

about 5 months ago by Matthew Futrell

Over the TopIn 2016 Dicamba was labeled for “Over the top application” (OTT) on dicamba-tolerant cot... Read More


2024 Private Applicator Trainings

2024 Private Applicator Trainings

about 6 months ago by John Tucker

Hickman County has over 82,000 acres of soybeans and corn generating approximately 66 million dollar... Read More