EPA Cancels Belt Insecticide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $36.5 million to 19 research and extension grants for fruit, vegetable, tree nut, horticultural and nursery crops. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the grants Aug. 2. They're funded through the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture Oregon State University received three million and along with, $3,112,410 The American Olive Oil Producers Association, Clovis CA were the only recipients in the West. In what's being called a "first-of-its-kind" move, Western Farm Press Report the Environmental Protection Agency cancelled the registration of an insecticide that was previously approved for use and ultimately labeled in 49 states.The active ingredient Flubendiamide, marketed in the United States by Bayer as Belt, is a Group 28 insecticide labeled for use in about 200 different crops, including almonds, pistachios, walnuts, stone fruit, and cotton, numerous vegetable crops, alfalfa, melons, and sorghum, to name just a few. Growers, retailers, and distributors with questions about this issue should contact their local Bayer field sales representative,