The EPA has approved a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for the use of Vertento insecticide for sunflowers in South Dakota. The exemption is due to the level of pyrethroid-resistant red sunflower seed weevils. Vertento can only be applied between July 15 and the end of August. At this point, the Syngenta product can only be used in South Dakota, but the North Dakota Agriculture Department is working with EPA to see if it can be added to the emergency exemption. “We want to make sure we stay ahead of the seed weevils so they don’t become resistant to other products,” said John Sandbakken, executive director, National Sunflower Association.
