Farmers need to make sure they understand the impact of a recent announcement by the federal Environmental Protection Agency that will revoke the tolerance for any level of the insecticide carbofuran in corn or any other crop, which essentially bars it from being used.

Carbofuran is not widely used anymore in Iowa, but when it is used in Iowa it is primarily on corn under the brand name Furadan. It is used by some farmers to treat for corn rootworm on refuge acres.

Understand potential impact of banning carbofuran

"It is vital that farmers understand what these actions by EPA mean and the potential impact on their ability to market crops treated with these products," says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. The Iowa Department of Ag regulates pesticide use in Iowa and has to follow EPA regulations.

Specifically, the EPA's actions prohibit crops that contain even trace residues of carbofuran from being used after Dec. 31, 2009 unless it can be proven that the crop was treated with the insecticide before that date. EPA is also in the process of canceling the remaining carbofuran registrations that permit its use. It is unique that EPA revoked tolerances for a pesticide before revoking its registration.

Carbofuran is a restricted use, broad spectrum insecticide and nematicide used to control soil and leaf pests on a small percentage of field, fruit and vegetable crops. The pesticide was first registered in the United States in 1969.