We finally received word that Transform WG has been approved for emergency use to control sugarcane aphids in sorghum during  2015. Restrictions are identical to last year (see below).

• Applications of Transform may be made by ground or air.
• Two applications can be made at a maximum rate of 1.5 oz of Transform per acre, or 3 applications can be made at a maximum rate of 1 oz product per acre.
• The seasonal use limit is 3.0 oz of Transform per acre.
• There is a 14 day minimum retreatment interval and a restricted entry interval of 24 hours.
• There is a 7 day pre-harvest interval for forage and 14 day pre-harvest interval for grain or stover.

Tennessee is currently only approved to use Transform on 50,000 acres of sorghum. Hopefully, this will be enough, and there is some opportunity to expand this acreage limitation as needed given the increased number of sorghum acres planted in 2015. Sugarcane aphids have not been confirmed in Tennessee this year. It appears they are on a similar schedule as in 2014, which likely means they will pose the greatest threat to later planted sorghum.

There are not many insecticides for sugarcane aphids that I can recommend with confidence. Sivanto, a newly registered insecticide from Bayer CropScience is one alternative. It has shown encouraging results at the lower and more affordable rates found on the 2ee label (4-7 oz/acre). However, Sivanto has not been extensively tested at these rates. Please refer to my previous news article for more information about managing sugarcane aphids and other insect pests in sorghum …. https://news.utcrops.com/2015/05/steps-for-managing-insects-in-grain-sorghum/