Source: Megan Provost, State Government Affairs, DOW AGROSCIENCES,  10/15/14

Today, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered Enlist Duo™ herbicide for use with Enlist corn and soybeans!

As you know, EPA’s decision is the final step of the U.S. federal regulatory process for the Enlist system for corn and soybeans, since Enlist corn and soybean traits were deregulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on September 17, 2014.  (See additional information below regarding Enlist cotton.)

The Enlist Duo herbicide will provide farmers exceptional weed control with technology optimized for on-target application.  It is a truly unique, differentiated solution and will allow growers to farm with confidence in the future.

There are a few things in the label, including some new approaches from EPA, that I would like to bring to your attention.

Six State Federal Registration
Consistent with the proposed registration decision that EPA published in April, the label for Enlist Duo includes registration for six states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin).  In addition, EPA today opened a 30-day comment period for adding ten states to the federal Enlist Duo label (Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee).  Please note that EPA will be conducting separate comment periods for each group of additional states they add to the federal label.  Dow AgroSciences is continuing to work with the EPA to expeditiously expand the list of states on the federal label.

The next step for Enlist Duo is for state regulatory agencies to register Enlist Duo for use in their respective states.  That process will begin for the states on the federal label.  We will continue to work with state regulatory agencies, especially those in cotton growing states, on appropriate registrations of Enlist Duo in each state.

New, Time-Limited Registration
The EPA has chosen a new path forward for registering herbicide-tolerant crops, with “first-time ever restrictions to manage the problem of resistant weeds.”  Enlist Duo is the first herbicide-tolerant technology that EPA has reviewed under this new path, with a registration that will expire in six years.  Bt technologies share this same type of registration approach.  Like our Bt products, Dow AgroSciences will seek to re-register Enlist Duo near the conclusion of the six years.

About Cotton and Other Sensitive Crops
Also consistent with the proposed label that EPA published in April, the final label includes language that addresses endangered species.  Applicators must maintain a 30 foot downwind buffer (in the direction in which the wind is blowing) from any area except: (1) roads, paved or gravel surfaces; (2) planted agricultural fields (except those crops listed in the “Susceptible Plants” section of the label; see below); (3) agricultural fields that that have been prepared for planting; and (4) areas covered by the footprint of a building, shade house, green house, silo, feed crib, or other man made structure with walls and or roof.

The label addresses drift on to sensitive crops, as well, with language that was arrived at and agreed to through outreach with these sensitive crop growers.  Specifically, the label stipulates that the wind cannot be blowing towards adjacent commercially grown tomatoes, other fruiting vegetables (EPA crop group 8), cucurbits (EPA crop group 9), grapes and cotton.  We will work with states, especially cotton growing states, on other enforceable approaches to minimize potential susceptible plant effects.

Today’s decision from EPA, and the parallel decision on September 17th from USDA, relate to the use of Enlist Duo over the top of traited Enlist corn and soybeans, only.  Enlist cotton is continuing to progress through the regulatory approval process at USDA and registration for the use of Enlist Duo over the top of traited Enlist cotton is proceeding with EPA.

Commercial Launch Plans
With regulatory approvals now in place for the Enlist system for corn and soybeans, we will announce our 2015 commercial intentions for corn and soybeans in the coming weeks.

Additional Resources
I’ve attached a few additional resources here, including our press release and the final, approved label from EPA.  In addition to the attachments, here are a few helpful links.
•         EPA held a technical briefing webinar on their decision to register Enlist Duo this afternoon.  Representatives from EPA discussed (1) human health risk assessment, (2) environmental risk assessment, (3) weed resistance management, and (4) the registration decision.  The technical briefing was recorded and is available for viewing here.

•         EPA has compiled some “frequent questions” on the Enlist Duo final regulatory decision, available here.


Again, thank you for your continued support.  And thank you for all you that you do for agriculture.

Thanks again,
Megan

Megan J. Provost
State Government Affairs

Dow AgroSciences, LLC