Success StoryNew Insecticide Labeled for Sugarcane Aphid Control on Sweet Sorghum



New Insecticide Labeled for Sugarcane Aphid Control on Sweet Sorghum

Author: Ricardo Bessin

Planning Unit: Entomology

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Sugarcane aphid first appeared in 2015 in Kentucky and caused devastating losses to sweet sorghum the following year. Many fields were a complete loss as growers had no labeled insecticide to combat this new invasive pest. From 2017 until 2020, I petitioned the KDA to request the EPA to grant criss and emergency expemptions (FIFRA Section 18 exemptions) to use Sivanto Prime to manage sugarcane aphid on sweet sorghum in Kentucky.  Several other states followed Kentucy's lead to be granted these exemptions, and during this period we relied on these exemoptiuons to produce this niche crop. . In 2016, I submitted a pesticide clearance request to the IR-4 project to conduct the necessary residue trials in order to facilitate the approval of sweet sorghum to the Sivanto Prime label. The IR-4 program aids growers by facilitating registration of pesticides and biopesticide on specialty food crops (fruit, vegetables, nuts, herbs, spices) and environmental food crops (trees, shrubs, flowers).   At the 2017 IR-4 National Food Use Workshop I argued and was successful in getting this request into the top 40 nationally. The result is that IR-4 conducted the neccessary residue trials and in cooperation with Bayer Crop Science was granted approval to add sweet sorghum to the approved crops on the Sivanto label.  Growers now have an effective insecticide to manage this pest on sweet sorghum, without an effective insecticide, growers would not be able to produce this crop in Kentucky.






Stories by Ricardo Bessin


Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Post-Pandemic Shutrdown

about 2 years ago by Ricardo Bessin

With the Covid-19 shutdown, pesticide certfications that expired in 2019 were extended through the e... Read More


New Insecticide Labeled for Sugarcane Aphid Control on Sweet Sorghum

about 2 years ago by Ricardo Bessin

Sugarcane aphid first appeared in 2015 in Kentucky and caused devastating losses to sweet sorghum th... Read More


Stories by Entomology


Delivering of information on sampling and studies on the South American Palm Weevil for Dominican Republic

about 2 years ago by Raul Villanueva

I was solicited to present in-person however to avoid risk this task was conducted online using zoom... Read More


Ambrosia beetles in nursery and fruit Detection, Identification and management

about 2 years ago by Raul Villanueva

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are boring insects that inoculate species s... Read More


Stories by Local Food Systems


Gorilla Social Media Marketing

Gorilla Social Media Marketing

about 2 years ago by Lindie Huffman

As Kentucky was faced with quarantine and lock-downs, residents became even more reliant on social m... Read More


Farm To Fridge Event

Farm To Fridge Event

about 2 years ago by Benjamin Conner

Based on population estimates for July 1, 2019, Scott County has a population of 57,004. This is an ... Read More