Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) have granted Section 18 emergency exemption for KASUMIN® 2L bactericide in California almonds.
- The exemption covers up to 107,143 acres in specific counties affected by bacterial blast, a disease that has no treatment once infection occurs.
- KASUMIN® 2L provides a preventative solution, forming a protective layer on trees while being absorbed for broader pathogen control.
- The emergency approval is valid from February 1, 2025, to April 15, 2025.
- The product has been previously approved for use in walnuts to control walnut blight since 2019.
Section 18 Exemption Granted for KASUMIN® 2L in Almonds
UPL Corp has received emergency approval from the U.S. EPA and CDPR for the use of KASUMIN® 2L bactericide in California almond orchards to combat bacterial blast, a disease that can cause significant crop loss with no available treatment once infection sets in.
A Section 18 exemption allows the use of specific agricultural products under emergency conditions when no adequate alternatives are available. This approval enables the use of KASUMIN® 2L on a maximum of 107,143 acres of almond trees across 16 counties, including Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, and Yolo.
The exemption is valid from February 1, 2025, through April 15, 2025, allowing growers to apply the bactericide during critical bloom periods when the risk of bacterial blast is highest.
Application and Mode of Action
KASUMIN® 2L works by forming a protective layer on plants, preventing bacterial infections from developing. Its active ingredient is absorbed by the plant, offering broader preventative control of targeted pathogens.
“Going into bloom, and especially if the forecast calls for cold and wet weather, KASUMIN® 2L bactericide should be applied to almonds as a highly effective tool against the threat of bacterial blast,” said Pankaj Pathak, Ph.D., Portfolio Marketing Manager, NPP for UPL Corp. “It uses a unique and targeted mode of action to protect tree health, help ensure crop quality and yields, and ultimately support growers’ livelihoods.”
The bactericide has already been used in California walnut production for walnut blight control since receiving federal and state registration in 2019.
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