Media contact:
Misti Preston
Phone: (573) 751-8596
Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov

For Immediate Release: June 9, 2008

Director of Agriculture Announces Alternative Rice Herbicides for Use during Shortage

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Today, the Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Katie Smith announced three herbicides have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for crisis exemption in the control of red rice and other weeds that may be present in Clearfield rice.

"The Department of Agriculture has been notified by rice growers in Southeast Missouri of a significant shortage of Newpath herbicide which is commonly used for the control of red rice and weeds in fields planted with the Clearfield variety rice," said Smith. "Our Bureau of Pesticide Control has obtained an exemption from EPA for non-labeled uses of pesticides due to the risk of a significant loss of rice where the approved herbicide is ultimately not available to farmers in the Bootheel region."

Under Section of 18 of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), an exemption can be obtained from EPA by the Department of Agriculture if significant losses of an agricultural commodity are likely or if further alternative labeled products are not available or effective. The products receiving crisis exemption are Pursuit herbicide manufactured by BASF and Thunder herbicide manufactured under Albaugh, both imazethapyr products and Raptor herbicide manufactured by BASF, an imazamox product.

For more information, contact the Department of Agriculture’s Plant Industries Division at (573) 751-5511.