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Minnesota farmers who have chlorpyrifos insecticide products made by two manufacturers can now arrange to return the products. Corteva Agriscience and ADAMA US have been given permission by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take back the chemicals.

The MDA cancelled chlorpyrifos product registrations for use on food and feed on January 1, 2022, in conjunction with the EPA cancelling all food and feed tolerances for chlorpyrifos in the U.S. A “tolerance” represents the maximum level of pesticide residue legally allowed in or on raw agricultural commodities and processed food and feed. Without tolerance levels, food and feed are considered adulterated when the product is found on them. This has stopped the use of chlorpyrifos on all food and feed and made it illegal to use, sell, or distribute any of these products.

Individuals with existing products listed below should contact their distributor or retailer to arrange for returns to Corteva or ADAMA. Additional information can be found on the Regulations.gov website or by contacting ADAMA an 866-406-6262 or ordergroup@adama.com, or Corteva at 800-258-3033.

Those with existing stocks of other chlorpyrifos products with no available uses should continue to store the product according to label directions. If you have chlorpyrifos products that need to be disposed of, check with your dealer, co-op, or ag retailer to see if they will take back products. If they will not, please use the MDA's Waste Pesticide Collection Program. For volumes of more than 300 pounds, call MDA’s Jane Boerboom at 612-214-6843. If other disposal or product return options become available, the MDA will provide more information on the Waste Pesticide Collection Program website.

With revocation of tolerances, farmers will need to consider alternative insecticides or other management tactics for crop pests. In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, the MDA published an article on Alternatives for Management of Key Minnesota Crop Pests. The following extension crop and pest management guides provide extensive lists of products available for management of pests but are not Minnesota-specific. Always use the MDA's Registered Product Search to check if products are registered for use in Minnesota and read the label before use.

• Field crops- North Dakota Field Crop Insect Management Guide (PDF) (North Dakota State University)
• Vegetables- Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2022 (Purdue University)
• Fruit- Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide 2023-2024 (Purdue University)
• Other crops- Towards Safer and More Sustainable Alternatives to Chlorpyrifos: An action plan for California

Please contact University of Minnesota Extension for any questions about alternative pest management options for specific crop pests.

• Send documents via email rather than physical mail.
• Create a prepaid, self-addressed mailing insert from an express delivery service (e.g., FedEx, UPS) for the return of the completed CGMP. Please include the mailer insert with the application material mailed or emailed to MDA.Licensing@state.mn.us.