Commissioner Sid Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted their request for an extension of the quarantine exemption, authorizing the continued use of Endigo® ZCX. The extension is effective immediately and will expedite the treatment of up to 170,000 acres of rice across 19 Texas counties to combat the rapidly spreading rice delphacid.
“This approval is the tool we need to protect Texas agriculture from this pest. The rice delphacid poses a devastating threat to our Texas rice farmers,” Commissioner Miller said. “Despite the federal government shutdown, I want to thank EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for his leadership in ensuring this critical approval. By securing this exemption, we’re giving producers the tools they need to defend their livelihoods and safeguard the state’s $145 million rice industry.”
The rice delphacid, a tiny planthopper first detected in Texas rice fields in 2018, feeds on rice plants and injects toxins that can severely reduce yields. In previous outbreaks, rice farmers reported entire fields showing “hopper burn,” plant collapse, and significant grain loss. The pest has already caused substantial economic impacts and poses a continuing threat if not aggressively managed.
Source : texasagriculture.gov