The Environmental Protection Agency has approved Section 18 emergency use exemptions for several pesticide uses in Oregon.

Included are exemptions for the use of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl herbicides Puma and Tacoma for control of grass weeds in grasses grown for seed; Apivar and HopGuard, for controlling varroa mites in honeybees; and QuinStar, for controlling yellow loosestrife in cranberries.

A Section 18 exemption for the use of Movento in onions to control thrips is pending and expected to be approved before the May use season, according to David Priebe, pesticide registration specialist with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Section 18 is a vehicle for approving pesticide uses in absence of a full registration. Section 18s typically are used while a product is on track for gaining full registration, where no good alternatives are present.

Full registration for Movento to control thrips in onions is expected this year, Priebe said.

--Mitch Lies

Priebe said he expects Puma and Tacoma to gain full registration for use in grass seed by the end of 2013.