Cummins announces approval of B20 biodiesel blends
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Cummins Inc. recently announced the approval of biodiesel B20 blends for use in its 2002 and later emissions-compliant engines. This includes the ISX (525 horsepower engine), ISM (340-500 hp), ISL (330-400), ISC (260-330 hp) and ISB engines (275-300 hp) and all newly released 2007 products.

Cummins is able to upgrade its previous position on the use of biodiesel fuel, which limited the use to B5 blends only, up to B20 for three reasons. First, the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) specification ASTM D6751 now includes an important stability specification for B100 biodiesel. Second, the availability of quality fuels from BQ-9000 Certified Marketers and Accredited
Producers is growing rapidly; and third, Cummins has completed the necessary testing and evaluations to ensure that customers can reliably operate their equipment with confidence using B20 fuel.

BQ-9000 helps companies improve their fuel testing and greatly reduce any chance of producing or distributing inadequate fuel. To receive accreditation, companies must pass a review and inspection of their quality control processes by an independent auditor. This ensures that quality control is fully implemented. The Certified Marketer category includes distribution companies who sell biodiesel and biodiesel blend.

An accredited producer is a company that produces biodiesel fuel to a specific standard indicated by ASTM. This title ensures that a production company is using a system for monitoring the quality of their biodiesel.

“We have completed exhaustive analysis and test evaluations, which enable Cummins to provide the necessary guidance and information to our customers for the proper and successful use of this fuel in our engine,” said Edward Lyford-Pike, chief engineer - Advanced Alternative Fuel Programs. “This will enable our customers to have a choice that includes renewable fuel.”

For more information about the use of biodiesel for both on-highway and off-highway Cummins products, visit their website at www.everytime.cummins.com

MANA acquires insecticide
from Bayer CropScience
RALEIGH, N.C. — Makhteshim Agan Industries, Inc. (MAI), Israel, purchased the global rights to the Guthion brand containing the active ingredient azinphos-methyl from Bayer CropScience AG. Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc. (MANA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAI.

MANA received the product line, manufacturing, formulation know-how, registration rights, intellectual property rights and existing inventory of the Guthion Solupak brand in the US and Canadian markets.

First introduced in 1962, Guthion provides broad-spectrum control of major insects on pome fruit and other crops throughout the season. Its primary use is on apples and pears as an important tool to control codling moth, apple maggot and oriental fruit moth.
Guthion is also labeled for use on cherries, blueberries, almonds, pistachios, walnuts and parsley.

“Guthion is complimentary to the MANA portfolio,” said Brian Ahrens, senior product manager for insecticides. “Guthion is the industry standard for controlling codling moth in apples. We will continue to support active ingredients that are vital to growers’ needs such as diazinon, endosulfan, dicofol, novaluron and captan,” he added.

For details, visit www.manainc.com

Brigade product available
for more crop types
Philadelphia, Pa. — FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) announced that a Brigade product received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for uses on additional crops to control a wide range of insect pests.

Brigade 2EC insecticide/miticide initially received a label in 2006 for use in cotton; the product now has an approved federal label to include all former Capture 2EC uses. Additionally, new crops have been added, including dry beans & peas, leafy brassicas, tobacco and tuberous & corm vegetables including potatoes and sweet potatoes.

“Brigade 2EC provided outstanding control of a broad spectrum of economically significant cotton pests in 2006, including stink bugs, spider mites, heliothene pests and plant bugs,” says Adam Prestegord, Brigade 2EC product manager for FMC Agricultural
Products Group in the United States. “Now, with these new crops, more growers can rely on a proven insecticide for effective control of a wide range of damaging pests.”

Brigade 2EC controls a broad spectrum of insects. Newly-labeled crop uses include: succulent peas and beans; brassicas; canola, corn, crambe and rapeseed; cucurbits; eggplant; head lettuce; caneberries; artichoke; peppers; hops; pears; citrus; tomatoes; spinach; grapes; okra; cilantro and coriander; dried beans and peas; leafy brassicas; tobacco, tuberous and corm vegetables including potatoes and sweet potatoes.

“Brigade 2EC gives crop growers a reliable pyrethroid they can use with confidence,” says Bob Hooten, Midwest technical support manager for FMC Agricultural Products Group in the United States.

“The product controls a broad spectrum of economically-damaging insect pests, including mites, at an economical price.”

This farm news was published in the March 28, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.