New Castle, Delaware
March 11, 2009
Arkion® Life Sciences has received their first ever Section
18 approvals to market AV-1011 Liquid Rice Seed Treatment in
Louisiana and Missouri effective March 6, 2009, through March 6,
2010. The EPA approval means that rice growers in these states
can protect their seed from marauding blackbirds and grackles.
The new bird repellent effectively stops birds from eating the
newly planted seeds and reducing rice yields.
While the product is non-lethal to birds, it has been shown to
be highly effective in protecting rice seed during
several years of testing. According to Michael Hensgens,
Business Manager, G&H Seed Company (Crowley,
LA), this allows Louisiana rice producers to plant before
over-wintering blackbirds have migrated north. Early
planting has several advantages. In the past, many rice
producers have delayed planting to avoid the risk of newly
planted seeds being eaten by birds. Resulting damage to rice
fields causes lower yields and sometimes requires replanting —
both of which are very costly. It also allows producers to plant
at a more optimal date which usually results in higher yields.
Another real advantage to earlier planting and harvest is
reduced hurricane risk.
Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Gustave and Ike in 2008 caused
massive crop losses to rice not harvested by Labor
Day. An early planting date allows producers to complete harvest
by August.
Information about approved uses and labels may be found at the
Arkion® Life Sciences web site:
www.ArkionLS.com.
Arkion® Life Sciences has been a pioneer in the development and
commercialization of several formulations of bird repellent and
bird management technologies. In addition to Avipel® for crop
protection, Arkion’s patented formulations of anthraquinone
effectively repel geese from turf grass with FlightControl® Plus
and birds from structures through Airepel® Humane Bird
Management.
Arkion® Life Sciences LLC, based in New Castle, Delaware, is a
technology-based company leading in the discovery, development
and marketing of environmentally friendly, natural or nature
identical bioactive compounds. Arkion® has three major
businesses: Airepel®, supplying bird repellents which feature a
non-lethal method to control where birds feed and roost;
Hyperimmune eggs with markets in human and animal nutrition; and
Bio-Technical Resources (Manitowoc, WI) which develops processes
and products based upon fermentation technology such as
glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and natamycin. |
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