Aug. 22, 2008

California OKs new insecticide formulation

The Sacramento-based California Department of Pesticide Regulation has registered Platinum 75SG insecticide from Syngenta Crop Protection for use on a wide variety of crops, including Brassicas, bushberries, cucurbits, fruiting vegetables, grapes, leafy vegetables, potatoes, root vegetables, strawberries, and tuberous and corm vegetables in the state.

The Environmental Protection Agency granted the insecticide a full Section 3 federal registration in January.

The soil-applied insecticide from Greensboro, N.C.-based Syngenta targets more than 30 sucking and chewing pests with minimal affect on beneficial insects, according to a news release. Platinum contains the active ingredient thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid and member of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee's Group 4A.

The 75 soluble granular formulation provides the same residual control and low use-rates as the 2SC formulation, which it replaces, but in a more convenient concentration, according to the release. This means growers will have fewer containers to handle and dispose.