Apron Registered in North Dakota

BISMARCK - Feb 7/03 - SNS -- Special local needs (SLN) registrations were issued to Syngenta Crop Protection for the use Apron® MAXX RTA as a seed treatment on peas and lentils in North Dakota, according to state Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. The products are to control seed-borne and seedling diseases caused by rhizoctonia, fusarium, pythium, and phytophthora.

"Dry pea and lentil production has been on the increase in North Dakota in recent years and a further increase is anticipated in 2003," Johnson said. "It is unlikely that commercial seed treatment concerns will be able to meet grower demand, and growers may have to treat their own seed."

Johnson said that Apron® MAXX RTA is a dilute, ready-to-use product that lends itself to on-farm use.

"I am confident this situation meets the criteria of being a special local need," Johnson said. "The EPA has ruled that offering users a less hazardous formulation can be used to justify a special local need. Users of Apron® MAXX RTA do not have to mix, dilute, or add colorant to the product, thereby reducing user exposure and mixing errors."

Johnson said the SLNs are also justified because commercial seed treatment facilities will probably be unable to produce a sufficient amount of treated dry pea and lentil seed to meet grower demand, leaving lentil and dry pea growers without a seed treatment for these diseases.

Users must follow all label instructions, precautions and warnings and have a copy of the SLN label in their possession during application. Both SLN registrations expire on Jan. 28, 2008

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