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Arkion Life Sciences LLC has been notified by the Mississippi and Tennessee Departments of Agriculture of approval of an Emergency Crisis Exemption to a Section 18 label for Avitec. Avitec protects corn seed from damage by blackbirds, grackles, crows and other birds.

Bird damage to a cornfield happens after planting. Birds pull the young plants from the soil to eat the remains of the seed according to Ken Ballinger, Vice President for Arkion Life Sciences. Arkion was granted the unusual Crisis Exemption this spring to give farmers an effective way to protect their corn with a non-toxic seed treatment.

The effort to get this label approved in Tennessee was led by the West Tennessee Research and Education Center. M. Angela Thompson, Assistant Professor for Plant Sciences and Scott Stewart, IPM Specialist, worked hard to deliver the Crisis Exemption in time for the Tennessee planting season. Any questions about the Crisis Exemption can be directed to John Ewell from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Mississippi issued their Crisis Exemption through a coordinated effort between Erick Larson, Ph.D. from Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture. Tommy McDaniel from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture is the official to contact for label questions.

A new liquid formulation of the product is available to pre-treat the seed prior to planting. The added convenience for the farmer will make the use of Avitec more widespread and effective in protecting the corn crop without any harm to birds.

The loss of corn to birds will increase in the future unless broader use of non-toxic Avitec continues to grow in acceptance across the country.

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