Cousins, maybe, but still a serious problem

CROWLEY, LA - Blackbirds can have a major negative impact on rice farms - following behind tractors seeding fields and eating the seeds.  In some cases the losses are so great, entire fields must be completely replanted.     

Against this backdrop, southern state rice researchers, staff from Arkion Life Sciences, and the USA Rice Federation met in Louisiana at the LSU Ag Center last week to discuss the blackbird issue.  Arkion, which produces the non-lethal rice seed treatment/protectant AV-1011 (Anthraquinone) attended and gave a presentation on where in the process they were in obtaining a full registration label for the product and what work still was needed to satisfy U.S. EPA data requirements.

"It's apparent from the meeting that the states have a serious need for this seed treatment to be moved from a limited, annually applied-for Section 18 use to full Section 3 label registration as quickly as possible," said Steve Hensley, USA Rice's senior director for regulatory affairs who attended the meetings.

USA Rice staff also met with LSU Ag Center staff on fungicides, toured the facility, met with rice growers and Extension staff on irrigation systems and crawfish production, and attended a grower dinner hosted by Louisiana Rice Mill.

Contact: Steve Hensley (703) 236-1445 

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