Avipel bird repellent approved for emergency use in 7 States

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued Section 18 permits to market Avipel® for the 2012 planting season in the following states: Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. The state of Pennsylvania has been granted a Section 24c allowance.  Permits are pending for several other states. This action frees farmers, allowing them to protect their crops from damage by hungry birds. All seven states have received approval to use Avipel® on corn seed. In South Dakota, sunflower seed may also be treated with the product. Over the years, Avipel® has established a record of success, protecting over three million acres of corn seed from birds.

Many farmers face moderate to severe crop damage from a variety of birds. Cranes, pheasants, blackbirds and grackles are among the most common species that find newly planted corn, rice, or sunflower seed to be an attractive food source. Coating seeds with Avipel® before planting effectively removes that attraction by causing a negative impact on digestion. After sampling the treated seed, birds avoid it and look for other food sources.

There are several benefits to using Avipel® products. Besides offering an effective and humane solution to crop damage caused by foraging birds, farmers save the time and money involved in having to replant damaged fields.

Arkion Life Sciences is a pioneer in the development and commercialization of several formulations of bird repellent and bird management technologies. In addition to Avipel® for crop protection, Arkion's patented formulations of anthraquinone effectively repel geese from turf grass with FlightControl® Plus.

Based in New Castle, Delaware, Arkion Life Sciences LLC is a technology-based company leading in the discovery, development and marketing of environmentally friendly, natural or nature identical compounds. Arkion has three major businesses: Airepel®, supplying bird repellents which feature non-lethal methods to control where birds feed and roost; Hyperimmune eggs with markets in human and animal nutrition; and Bio-Technical Resources (Manitowoc, WI) which provides contract services for development of microbial fermentation processes such as glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and natamycin.