Interfarm UK Ltd has announced that, as part of its planned label expansion, its esfenvalerate insecticide products, Sumi-Alpha and Sven, have been granted a significantly increased crop usage range to include many important horticultural crops.

Dr David Stormonth, technical manager for Interfarm UK, said: “Up until now, Sumi-Alpha and Sven had label recommendations for use on winter wheat, spring wheat, winter barley and spring barley for the control of aphids and virus prevention. Now, many more growers of many different crops will be able to benefit from its excellent persistence and strong repellency on aphids and other pests.

“Sumi-Alpha and Sven are now recommended for the control of aphids in potatoes, for the control of pea and bean and thrips in vining peas, edible podded peas, combining peas and field beans, for the control of caterpillars and midges in cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli/calabrese, Kohlrabi and for aphid, virus, caterpillars, leaf rollers, whitefly, leaf miners and thrip control in ornamental plant production, including outdoor and protected bulbs.

“The pyrethroid market is well serviced in the UK, but we are pleased to have the product that gives the longest protection against aphids and other insect pests and gives growers top class control of many damaging pests. Esfenvalerate is a product we market on behalf of our majority holding company Sumitomo Chemicals.”

Sumi-Alpha contains 25 gms ai/litre esfenvalerate, formulated as an emusifiable concentrate, and is packed in a 1 litre pack. It is recommended on potatoes, vining peas, edible podded peas, combining peas, field beans, cabbages, Chinese cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. It is recommended for the control of aphids, caterpillars, weevils, thrips, midges, leaf rollers, leaf miners, whitefly and bibionid larvae and preventing viruses.

It can be used at a recommended doses rate of 165 ml/ha to 300 ml/ha, with between one and four applications per crop, depending on the crop. Esfenvalerate is available as Sumi-Alpha and Sven.