Environmentally Friendly Insecticide

MANHATTAN - May 26/05 - SNS -- Millers and other grain industry participants are getting excited about an environmentally friendly product, which can significantly reduce insect damage in stored wheat grain and seed.

When used as a protectant for stored grains, the product -- called Spinosad -- could save wheat producers a lot of money, says Subramanyam "Subi" Bhadriraju, a Kansas State University Research and Extension stored product entomologist.

"Grains are naturally attractive to insects and subject to infestation," said Bhadriraju, who is a professor in K-State’s Department of Grain Science and Industry and the lead researcher for the new application of Spinosad.

While grain producers are typically schooled in best practices in crop production, pest management and environmental protection, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) follow up to the Food Quality Protection Act (1996) has meant that the pest management products traditionally registered for use on stored grains have been removed from the market over perceived safety concerns or are no longer effective because of development of insect resistance to these chemicals.

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