Other

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of

Anthony J Caesar

William J Connick, Jr

Paul C Quimby, Jr

Clyde D Boyette

Jennifer L Birdsall

David C Sands

Nina K Zidack

William E Grey

T Can Caesar

A stabilized, granular, biocontrol agent formulation for agricultural pests relies upon a combination of a water absorbent material, a membrane stabilization agent, and a granulating agent to achieve the desired stability and free-flowing properties. The granular product is easily prepared by simple mixing and can be readily rehydrated into a sprayable composition.

Granulated formulation and method for stabilizing biocontrol agents

Granules of encapsulated living organisms for controlling agricultural pests are provided having a coating of an invert oil that forms a water-in-oil emulsion and an adsorbent for the oil to make the coated granules free-flowing. The oil slows drying of the organisms to maintain vitality of the organisms. The coated granules are produced by encapsulating bacteria, fungi or nematodes that control agricultural pests in alginate, starch or wheat gluten to form granules, coating the granules with a water-in-oil emulsion of the invert oil, coating the granules with the adsorbent for the oil and drying the coated granules to about 1-10% moisture. The adsorbent can be hydrated silica, fumed silica, clay, bran, diatomaceous earth, zeolite, absorbent starch or mixtures thereof.

Oil and absorbent coated granules containing encapsulated living

Growing community of inventors

Bozeman, MT, United States of America

Anthony J Caesar