Croplink

In August 2021, spurred on by a federal court order, the EPA announced a new rule that will revoke all residue tolerances for chlorpyrifos, essentially making it illegal to use on food and feed crops. This new EPA rule goes into effect on Feb. 28, 2022, meaning that next year, chlorpyrifos won't be a legal option for farmers.

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide better known to farmers and pesticide applicators by various brand names, such as Lorsban and Vulcan. Their disappearance from the market will most affect soybean growers, who primarily use it to control spider mites and soybean aphids, but insect control in corn, cotton, wheat, alfalfa and other fruit and vegetable crops will be impacted, as well.

One of the most common chlorpyrifos insecticides in use was Lorsban, owned by Corteva Agriscience. The product was already discontinued last year after Corteva announced it was voluntarily ending production in February 2020 citing low demand. But, generic chlorpyrifos insecticides were still on the market and will be affected by this new rule.

Here's a list of products that will no longer be available:

-- Stand-alone products: Chlorpyrifos, Govern, Hatchet, Vulcan, Warhawk, Whirlwind and Yuma

-- Premixes that contain chlorpyrifos: Bolton, Cobalt Advanced, Match-Up, and Stallion.

This new EPA rule does not affect nonfood-crop uses of chlorpyrifos, such as mosquito- and roach-control products. EPA has said it will review those uses in the coming year.

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