Federal Label for Kerb Regained

Jan 22, 2016

The following information is from the Salinas Valley Agriculture blog.

On January 12, 2016 the Federal EPA label for Kerb SC was reinstated for leaf lettuce. The registration on leaf lettuce was pulled in 2009 and Dow AgroSciences has been working to reregister Kerb since that time. As part of this reregistration effort, Kerb was reclassified as “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans” which freed up space in the risk cup. Of particular interest are the preharvest intervals allowed in the label:

Rate/A Preharvest Interval
Up to 1.25 pints (0.5 lbs a.i./A) 25 days
Up to 1.8 pints (0.75 lbs a.i./A) 35 days
Up to 3.75 pints (1.5 lbs a.i./A) 45 days
Up to 5.0 pints (2.0 lbs a.i./A) 55 days

The ability to use Kerb at 25 days per harvest opens the use of this material to baby leaf lettuce growers. Arizona has already granted a state label to Kerb and it is in process in California to reestablish the statewide label. It is hoped that the label will be approved soon which will allow its use on the front end of the lettuce season here in Salinas.


By Richard Smith
Author - Farm Advisor, Vegetable Crop Production & Weed Science
By Gale Perez
Posted by - Public Education Specialist