US EPA granted emergency use of a Cheminova fungicide

For a second year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted Texas cotton growers emergency approval to use TOPGUARD Fungicide to control cotton root rot. This emergency exemption approval will be in effect from February 1, 2013 until June 30, 2013.

EPA granted the first Section 18 for this use of TOPGUARD on cotton in early 2012. The fungicide, made by Cheminova, was used widely throughout Texas under the 2012 Section 18 in fields where cotton production has been limited by cotton root rot. Left uncontrolled, cotton root rot is estimated to cause direct yield losses of as much as $30 million per year, according to Texas A&M University AgriLIFE Extension Service estimates.

"In South Texas, cotton root rot is a tremendous problem," says Mark Sugarek, a Beeville, Texas, cotton grower. "I put TOPGUARD on an irrigated farm that dies 90% or better from cotton root rot when planted to cotton. The product worked. I would try it elsewhere in a heartbeat."

Uvalde, Texas, cotton grower Austin Clary also used TOPGUARD. "When you realize you don't have cotton root rot, it is very impressive," he says.

"There are some fields you can't put into cotton because of the root rot," says Clary. "TOPGUARD has changed that. It has given us the opportunity to take advantage of marketing opportunities. We can plant more cotton. Control of cotton root rot is right up there with eradication of the boll weevil."