Veggie chlorpyrifos update for 2025

Zsofia Szendrei<szendrei@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Department of Entomology, and Ben Werling<werlingb@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - December 06, 2024

Chlorpyrifos can still be used on all labeled vegetable crops until June 30, 2025, and likely into the future for asparagus.

Cabbage maggot tunneling in a turnip. — Cabbage maggot tunneling in turnips. Growers can use registered chlorpyrifos products for brassica root crops and other cancelled crops until June 30, 2025. Photo by Ben Werling, MSU Extension.

The insecticide chlorpyrifos, commonly known by its tradename Lorsban, was an important tool for a variety of vegetables including brassica root crops, leafy brassicas, onions and asparagus. After an initial ban in 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reinstated tolerances for all food uses in 2024 in response to a ruling by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. As a result, growers were allowed to apply chlorpyrifos during the 2024 season for any labeled use.

So where are we for 2025? All vegetable uses have been canceled except asparagus.

June 30, 2025, is the last date when the use of existing stocks is permitted. This means that growers of crops that have been on the label in previous years can apply this insecticide to those crops consistent with label directions without any violation until June 30, 2025. Growers with existing stocks of chlorpyrifos may use them according to the label until this date. Retailers, distributors and suppliers may sell currently registered chlorpyrifos until April 30, 2025, for use on these crops. Note that because many manufacturers voluntarily canceled their registration of chlorpyrifos, the supply of this insecticide is expected to be low.

The following insecticides have existing stocks that are allowed to be used until June 30, 2025, on canceled crops, as long as it is consistent with product labeling. Distribution of existing stocks are permitted until April 30, 2025.

Table 1. Growers can use existing stocks of the below chlorpyrifos products through June 30, 2025, for canceled crops.
Commercial name	Manufacturer
Pilot 4E, Pilot 15G	Gharda
Chlorpyrifos 4EC	Tide International
Chlorpyrifos 4E AG, Quali-Pro Chlorpyrifos 4E	Adama
Vulcan	Adama
Liberty Chlorpyrifos 4E	Liberty
Drexel Chlorpyrifos 15G,	Drexel
Drexel Chlorpyrifos 4E-AG	Drexel
Drexel Chlorpyrifos 15GR	Drexel
Drexel Chlorpyrifos 4E-AG2	Drexel
Warhawk, Warhawk Clearform	Loveland

Most asparagus uses have not been canceled, and remain legal to use according to the label. Asparagus is one of 11 uses that the EPA’s new rule proposes to retain. These proposed uses also include alfalfa, apple, cherry (tart), peach and sugarbeet. Other proposed uses, such as soybeans, wheat, strawberry, citrus and cotton, are proposed to be allowed in other states, but not Michigan (allowances are state specific). Further decisions at the state level could affect what uses are allowable.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).