DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today issued a crisis exemption for the use of Gramoxone Inteon herbicide for use as a harvest aid on hail damaged field corn in Northeast Iowa. The herbicide will help dry down high moisture immature corn plants so the remainder of the crop can be salvaged to be used as silage for livestock feed.
“I toured this area last week and saw first hand the widespread damage,” Northey said. “I know dairy farmers in this area were already struggling to overcome extremely low milk prices, and this step is designed to give them a little more access to feed.”
Northey made the crisis exemption under the provisions of section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, as amended. The exemption applies use of Gramoxone Inteon herbicide, EPA Reg. No. 100-1217, active ingredient paraquat dichloride and is a restricted use pesticide.
The exemption is for only 15 days and will expire at midnight on August 17, 2009.
Gramoxone Inteon herbicide is currently labeled as a harvest aid for field corn, popcorn and seed corn when applied to mature plants. Mature plants are defined on the label as meaning after the black layer has formed at the base of the kernels. Since the impacted plants are not yet mature, the exemption is needed. All other label use restrictions must still be followed.
Damage reports complied by the USDA Farm Service Agency show more than 400,000 acres were damaged by hail that fell in six counties in Northeast Iowa on July 24th. The preliminary estimates show more than $200 million in damages to crops as result of the storm.
A full copy of Northey’s letter to EPA declaring the crisis exemption can be found by clicking here.
