EPA Approves Bollgard Phase Out Program
September 1, 2009 The U.S. EPA has approved an amendment to the registration of Bollgard cotton that will allow the planting of Bollgard varieties in the 2010 growing season, and provides detail on the steps necessary to facilitate the final discontinuation Bollgard varieties in the U.S.
This transition is necessary to maintain the long-term effectiveness of biotech traits in cotton that control key insect pests by moving away from a single mode of action to a dual modes of action on Bt cotton products.
Under the EPA approved plan, all sales of Bollgard cotton varieties intended for planting in the spring of 2010 must be completed by September 30, 2009.
The EPA has determined that Bollgard varieties may only be approved for planting in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida (north of Tampa), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (excluding the 10 prohibited panhandle counties of Dallam, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hartley, Moore, Hutchison, Roberts and Carson) and Virginia.
Bollgard seed will not be sold for planting in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico in 2010 because pink bollworm eradication programs are under way, or EPA determined that there was very little to no Bollgard planted in these states in previous years.
We have a number of people who will be working closely with farmers, retailers and others to provide local information on Deltapine variety performance and to help growers understand the varieties that may be best suited for their farms in these restricted areas.
Information regarding the allocation process, ordering, invoicing, GPOS reporting, delivery and licensing/replanting will be posted at www.deltapine.com or www.monsanto.com/cotton .
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