After listening to Florida citrus growers, the EPA registered the insecticide aldicarb for use in Florida citrus groves to combat citrus greening.
Florida citrus growers asked the EPA to register the insecticide aldicarb to add it to their citrus greening-fighting toolbox during a grower meeting in October 2020, according to a Citrus Industry article. The EPA announced in January 2021 they were registering the insecticide for use on Florida oranges and grapefruit. Explore the details below.
Aldicarb and Florida Citrus
While aldicarb is available the Florida citrus growers again, there are restrictions for its use. According to the article, “registration limits the product’s sale and distribution to an amount allowing up to 100,000 acres in Florida to be treated each application season (Nov. 15–April 30) for three growing seasons, expiring on April 30, 2023.”
Additionally, the product label includes application restrictions to reduce runoff and keeping the chemical from making its way into sources of drinking water.
The advantages of the insecticide include a longer control period, controlling nymphs for 10 weeks and adult Asian citrus psyllids for 15 weeks, according to the article; this is more than double the control period of other foliar-applied chemicals. Similarly, the insecticide has a “low impact” on insects that work as biological controls against pests that feed on plants. Furthermore, the article maintained “registration terms for orange and grapefruit uses require submission of additional pollinator data.”
In early March, three organizations sued the EPA over the registration of the insecticide.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.