by Cassandra Olds, extension entomologist
Per a final rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and published in the Federal Register August 30, 2021, all food tolerances for the insecticide chlorpyrifos will expire after February 28, 2022. Therefore, as of March 1, 2022, the application of chlorpyrifos ear tags may only be used on heifers in a cow-calf operation as long as cows and calves are not offered for processing within one year of tag removal. Cow-calf operators should maintain records capturing dates of ear tag removal and when animals are sent for processing. More information on the ruling can be found by going to https://tinyurl.com/y55sau5y.
For those who currently use ear tags containing chlorpyrifos, there are alternative organophosphate insecticide-containing tags that can be used as a replacement. Product information for these tags can be found using the “Find a pesticide function” on the VetPestX website located at www.veterinaryentomology.org/vetpestx.
