Granular PRECISE® Acephate Greenhouse and Nursery Systemic Insecticide Receives Federal and State Approvals on New Label
Agrium Advanced Technologies’ Polymer Coating Affords Long-Lasting Pest Control

Release Date: 8/19/2009

LOVELAND, Colo. (August 19, 2009) –Agrium Advanced Technologies, a leading manufacturer of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers and micronutrient products, announces that PRECISE® Acephate Greenhouse and Nursery Systemic Insecticide, a granular, controlled-release acephate plant-protection treatment, has received federal and state approvals of its new label.

PRECISE Acephate Greenhouse and Nursery Systemic Insecticide (Reg. #84886-2) is now registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 27 states including California, New York, Florida, Oregon and Texas.

PRECISE Acephate is a dry-flowing, encapsulated version of one of the horticulture industry’s most trusted plant-protection treatments. By encapsulating the active ingredient in granular form, PRECISE Acephate minimizes the offensive smell of other acephate products, is safer and easier to handle, and delivers consistent performance.

“Growers and managers in every green industry are always looking for better ways to protect their plants from damaging insects and to safeguard themselves from exposure risks,” said Bryan Gooch, product marketing manager with Agrium Advanced Technologies. “PRECISE gives nursery and greenhouse growers all the benefits of systemic acephate protection without the problems of spray and powder forms.”

PRECISE Acephate uses the same durable, polymer coating that makes POLYON® controlled-release fertilizers so effective. The coating process turns the pest control product into a slow-release product that keeps working for months, both as a preventative treatment and to control existing insects.

“Topdress applications are the most effective labeled use for PRECISE Acephate,” added Gooch. “Growers can just topdress their nursery container crops early in the growing season and get consistent, long-lasting control of target insects for months.”

Granular PRECISE Acephate can be used in container stock in greenhouses, lath houses, shade houses and outdoor production culture. Research conducted on container-grown nursery crops shows that PRECISE Acephate remained active in those plants for more than four months.

PRECISE Acephate Greenhouse and Nursery Systemic Insecticide is labeled to control aphids, whiteflies, leaf beetles, leaf miners, root weevils, mealybugs, thrips, scale and many other insects.

Agrium Advanced Technologies’ earth-friendly turf and horticulture product line includes slow- and controlled-release products—POLYON®, XCU™, NITROFORM®, NUTRALENE®, DURATION CR®, PRECISE® and AMP™ micronutrients. All of these products rely on unique technology that increases nutrient uptake by plants and reduces losses to the environment.

For more information about Agrium Advanced Technologies, please visit http://www.agriumat.com or call 888.757.0072.

About Agrium Advanced Technologies
Agrium Advanced Technologies is a strategic business unit of Agrium Inc., a major retail supplier of agricultural products and services in both North and South America and a leading global producer and marketer of agricultural nutrients and industrial products. Agrium Advanced Technologies is the leading manufacturer and marketer of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers and micronutrients in the Agriculture, professional Turf and Ornamental, consumer lawn and garden, and specialty agriculture markets.   Agrium Advanced Technologies' brands include: ESN®, POLYON®, XCU™, NITROFORM®, NUTRALENE®, and DURATION CR® slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, UltraYield Micronutrients, AMP™ and PRECISE® controlled-release plant protection. These products utilize proprietary advanced generation technologies to control nutrient release for improved plant growth and environmental performance.