ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 24, 2008

FUNIGICIDE OKAYED TO CONTROL SUNFLOWER RUST

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson has declared a crisis Section 18 exemption for Folicur^® 3.6F, allowing application of the fungicide to control rust (Puccinia helianthi) in North Dakota sunflower fields.

“For unknown reasons, sunflower rust outbreaks occurred much earlier than normal this growing season in North Dakota,” Johnson said. “As a result, many growers had not made applications of preventative fungicides, such as Headline^® and Quadris^®, both of which appear to have been in short supply.”

Johnson said Headline^® and Quadris^®, the only fungicides registered for sunflowers in North Dakota, effectively prevent disease, but are ineffective in curing diseased plants.

“Because of this, a curative fungicide like Folicur is needed to control sunflower rust,” Johnson said. “This crisis exemption is being issued to allow use statewide wherever sunflower rust is present at levels that warrant control. Right now, sunflower rust is spreading rapidly in areas of north central North Dakota.”

Sunflower rust is a significant disease to sunflower growers, causing yield losses of up to 30 percent if left uncontrolled. No sunflower hybrids are resistant to all current rust races. Severity of rust is largely weather-dependent, and generally benefits from high temperatures and humid conditions.

The crisis exemption allows up to two ground or aerial applications at a rate of four fluid ounces of product per acre. The product may not be applied within 50 days of harvest. To protect surface water, no applications are allowed within 100 feet of lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, or other water bodies. Chemigation is prohibited.

Applicators must have a copy of the exemption use directions in their possession at the time of application. Users must comply with all restrictions, precautions, and directions found in both the exemption use directions and the EPA-registered product label. The exemption use directions can be found on NDDA’s website, www.agdepartment.com.

Folicur is manufactured by Bayer CropScience, which supports the exemption. The crisis exemption is effective immediately and expires Aug. 8, 2008.

North Dakota is the nation’s leading sunflower producing state, growing 52 percent of the nation’s total (2007).

-30-

MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.