The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) encourages pesticide applicators, farmers, and agricultural professionals to register for an upcoming webinar, “Chlorpyrifos Use in Minnesota” on April 8, 2020, at 12:00 (noon) CST. This webinar will provide information on proper use of chlorpyrifos, label requirements, soybean aphid control, and pyrethroid-resistant soybean aphids to help you better manage soybean aphids. Registration is now available.

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide (active ingredient in Lorsban, Cobalt, Warhawk, Govern and others) commonly used on a variety of crops, including soybeans, in the state of Minnesota. With development of pyrethroid resistance in some soybean aphid populations, the use of chlorpyrifos has increased in recent years.

“Our insecticide toolbox has a limited number of options, and we don’t want to lose one due to improper application,” says Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council Director of Research David Kee. “Come listen to the experts at MDA describe how to properly utilize chlorpyrophos.”

Between 2010 and 2018, chlorpyrifos has been detected seasonally in several rivers and streams located in agricultural areas of Minnesota (2018 monitoring results). Some MDA samples had concentrations greater than water quality standards established by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to protect aquatic life. Based upon detections in 2018, and in previous years, the MPCA has proposed or listed 13 water bodies as impaired by chlorpyrifos.