The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted Section 18 emergency use exemptions for four states, including Texas, for application of Transform WG to help manage sugarcane aphid infestations, according to Southwest Farm Press.
Dow AgroSciences’ Transform is a fast-acting insecticide from a proprietary class of chemistry introduced commercially in 2013 in cotton, potatoes, canola, soybeans and other crops.
Sugarcane aphids first appeared in sorghum in 2013, mostly in Texas and Louisiana, and by last year spread to 300 counties and parishes in 12 states.
Aphids feed on plant sap, causing foliage to turn purple and yellow and reducing yield. The aphid also produces a sticky honeydew that collects on leaves and stalks, creating reduced harvest efficiency and clogged combines.