Transform, a new insecticide containing the active ingredient sulfoxaflor, has received an emergency use exemption for SOME counties in West Tennessee for the control of tarnished plant bug in cotton.  This product represents a new mode of action and has excellent activity on tarnished plant bug.  It also provides excellent control of cotton aphids, but this pest is NOT included on the Section 18 label.  Typical application rates will range from 1.5 – 2.0 oz of Transform WG per acre. There is a substantial limitation on the Section 18 label … a 360 day plant back restriction for all crops except cotton.  It is likely that this restriction would be lifted if a full label is granted later this year, as expected.  However, there is no guarantee that a full label will be granted prior to 2013.  Strongly consider using this product only in fields where cotton will be grown next year!  The details quoted below are directly from the Section 18 label. 

This Section 18 only applies to the following counties in Tennessee:  Crockett, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton.  A maximum of 300,000 acres of cotton may be treated in these counties.

Rotational Crop Restrictions:  The following rotational crops may be planted at intervals defined below following the final application of Transform WG at specified rates for a registered use.  Crop Re-Planting Interval:

• Cotton – no restrictions
• All other food and feed crops – 360 days

Application Restrictions and Rates:  This product cannot be used without a valid state-specific Section 18 label.  The label must be in the possession of the user at the time of application.  The Section 18 label can be obtained from state and/or county authorities where it is valid.

• Do not apply within 14 days of harvest
• Do not make applications less than 5 days apart
• Do not make more than two applications per acre per crop
• Do not make more than one application in pre-bloom cotton
• Do not apply more than a total of 5.5 oz of Transform WG (0.172 lb ai of sulfoxaflor) per acre per year
• Return any unopened, unused container of this unregistered product to the manufacturer or distributor, or dispose of it in accordance with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations following the expiration of the emergency exemption

Environmental Hazards:  In order to minimize impact to honey bees when treating cotton, consider making applications in the early morning or early evening when bees are less likely to be visiting the treatment area.  To protect bees and other pollinators outside of the treatment area, this product should not be applied under conditions that could result in excessive drift to neighboring areas where bees are expected to be actively foraging.

I will discuss how Transform WG might best be used in Tennessee, including its strengths and weaknesses, in future news articles.  Some of this will depend on the cost, which has not been announced.