Commissioner Sid Miller Announces Renewal of Pesticide Exemption to Protect Texas Rice from Invasive Pest

October 17, 2025 – Austin, Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced Friday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved an extension of the state’s quarantine exemption authorizing continued use of the pesticide Endigo® ZCX to combat the invasive rice delphacid, a pest that has damaged rice crops across 19 Texas counties.

The exemption, effective immediately, allows for treatment of up to 170,000 acres of rice statewide. The renewal ensures farmers can continue using the pesticide through the growing season to limit crop losses and stabilize the state’s $145 million rice industry.

“This approval is the tool we need to protect Texas agriculture from this pest,” Miller said. “The rice delphacid poses a devastating threat to our Texas rice farmers. Despite the federal government shutdown, I want to thank EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for his leadership in ensuring this critical approval.”

The rice delphacid, a small planthopper first detected in Texas in 2018, feeds on rice plants and injects toxins that reduce yields and cause “hopper burn,” plant collapse, and grain loss. Farmers have reported widespread damage in affected counties, particularly along the Gulf Coast.

Under the renewed exemption, rice producers in Austin, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Red River, Victoria, Waller, and Wharton counties are permitted to apply Endigo® ZCX, following strict EPA-approved use guidelines. The pesticide, which contains thiamethoxam and lambda-cyhalothrin, will be monitored for compliance by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).

“Texas rice producers have faced unprecedented challenges from this invasive species,” Miller added. “We’re moving forward with our federal partners, researchers, and the rice industry to stay ahead of this pest and protect Texas agriculture.”

The extension is expected to prevent further yield losses as Texas enters the final stages of the 2025 rice season, offering relief to growers who have struggled to manage the pest’s resurgence after heavy rains earlier this year.

For more details, TDA has published the official EPA exemption letter on its website.