2017 Using Pesticides Wisely (Culpepper)

Cotton and soybean varieties with tolerance to auxin herbicides (2,4-D or dicamba) are being commercialized. Prior to making applications of dicamba to dicamba-tolerant cotton/soybean or 2,4-D to 2,4-D-tolerant cotton/soybeans in Georgia, growers will be required to attend the training “Using Pesticides Wisely”.  The training will focus on helping applicators/growers make wise decisions when applying not only 2,4-D and dicamba but all pesticides.  Growers are strongly encouraged to bring their applicators with them.  Attendance is suggested for all on farm applicators to confirm that they have been provided the best management practices when applying all pesticides. 

Growers who attended 2015 or 2016 trainings, as long as they registered, are not required to attend the meeting again. However, they are welcome to attend as many times as they like.  The trainings have resulted in 1499 Georgia growers completing the required training.  A survey conducted of these trainings noted 99% of growers felt the training was worth their time and 98% of them believed the training would help them increase on-target pesticide applications.  If you have questions concerning your registration, please contact your local county extension office.

For growers who have not previously attended this training, options for 2017 are provided below.  Select a time/location and RSVP, at least 2 days in advance, to the specific location for attendance. The required trainings will cover a 2 to 2.5 hr time period and will provide pesticide re-certification credits.  Snacks and drinks will be provided (no meal).

Area	Date	Time	Location	RSVP	County Agent
East-GA	February 2	3 pm	Screven County Ext. Office 321 Rocky Ford Road Sylvania, GA 30467	912-564-2064	Ray Hicks
Southeast-GA	February 13	9 am	Pierce County Ext. Office 705 College Ave. Blackshear, GA 31516	912-449-2034	James Jacobs
Southwest- GA	February 15	1 pm	Moby Dicks Restaurant 200 Martha Berry Hwy. Colquitt, GA 39837	229-758-4106	Brock Ward
South Central-GA	February 17	9 am	Houston County Ext. Office 801 Main Street Perry, GA 31069	478-987-2028	Charlotte Meeks
North-GA	March 7	1 pm	Olin Tatum Ag. Bldg. 320 W. Cherokee Ave. Cartersville, GA 30120	770-387-5142	Paul Pugliese

Enlist™ Duo Label Update (Prostko)

I just received word that the expanded federal label for Enlist™ Duo (glyphosate + 2,4-D choline) use in cotton and soybean has been granted.  Appropriate state labels will follow shortly.   Some label highlights include the following:

1) Enlist™ Duo can only be tank-mixed with products that have been tested and found not to adversely affect its spray drift properties.  The current list of approved tank-mix partners can be obtained at www.EnlistTankmix.com and must be checked no more than 7 days before application. 

2) REI = 48 hours

3) 23 approved spray nozzle types on the label

4) 30' downwind field buffer from sensitive areas

5) At the time of application, the wind cannot be blowing toward adjacent commercially grown tomatoes and other fruiting vegetables (EPA crop group 8), cucurbits (EPA crop group 9), grapes, and non-Enlist cotton.  For more specific information about these crop groups refer to the following:

http://ir4.rutgers.edu/other/CropGroup.htm

A complete copy of the recently (01/12/2017) approved federal Enlist™ Duo label can be obtained from the following location:  https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0594-0659

A couple of key points regarding Enlist™ soybeans:

1) I have absolutely ZERO Enlist™ soybean variety performance data for the SE at the current time.

2) The registrant (DowAgroSciences) is still waiting for China import approval so I would not expect anything major to happen at the grower level in 2017, especially in the SE. 

3) It is also very important to remember that Enlist™ Duo can only be used POST (in-crop) on Enlist™ (2,4-D resistant) varieties.  Enlist™ Duo cannot be used on Xtend™ (dicamba-resistant) varieties.

Xtend™ Soybean Variety Performance in Georgia - 2016 (Prostko)

     One of the biggest concerns that I have had regarding the new auxin-resistant (2,4-D or dicamba) soybean technologies has been variety performance.  Since Georgia is a relatively small soybean production state (~255,000 acres harvested in 2016), not much emphasis has been put into early screening of adaptable varieties.  Up until the end of 2016, I had no university yield trial results in my files. Using preliminary data from tests conducting in 2016 by the UGA-OVT group, the tables in this blog depict the ranking of Xtend™ (dicamba-resistant) soybean varieties at each location.  I have highlighted the varieties within each maturity group that look the most promising based upon this data set and my own opinion.  I was specifically looking for varieties that were consistently in the Top 10 and/or had lower average rankings.  
     I would strongly encourage all soybean growers to use multiple varieties and multiple sources of yield information, regardless of technology.  Variety selection is one of the most important choices a grower will make.  For the record, I have no Southeastern yield data for any Enlist™ (2,4-D resistant) soybean variety.  Please remember that Enlist™ Duo (2,4-D choline + glyphosate) is not yet registered in Georgia.  For more complete information about 2016 soybean variety performance in the Southeast, check out the following web-sites:

University of Georgia
http://www.swvt.uga.edu/2016/SY16-pr/sy16-pr-contents.html

Auburn University http://www.aces.edu/anr/crops/varietytesting/documents/2016PerformanceofSoybeanCultivarsinAlabama.pdf

Figure 1.  Xtend™ irrigated soybean variety rankings, Group V + VI maturity groups, UGA-OVT, 2016.

Figure 2.  Xtend™ irrigated soybean variety rankings, Group VII maturity group, UGA-OVT, 2016.

Engenia™ Label Approved (Prostko)

I just received word that BASF's low volatility formulation of dicamba (Engenia™) was approved for use on dicamba-tolerant (DT) cotton and soybean.  You may recall that Monsanto's Xtendimax™ with Vapor Grip™  was registered back in November 2016.  It is important to remember that Engenia™ and Xtendimax™ are not the same formulation and that their labels are slightly different.  I have tried to succinctly summarize their differences in Table 1.  A copy of the supplemental Engenia™ labels can be accessed from the following locations:  soybean  cotton  

Table 1.  Engenia™ vs Xtendimax™.

	Engenia™	Xtendimax™ with Vapor Grip™
dicamba formulation	BAPMA	DGA
dicamba lbs ae/gal	5.0	2.9
Single POST In-Crop Application Rate/A	12.8 oz	22.0 oz
Total POST  In-Crop Rates/A (2 apps)	25.6 oz	44.0 oz
Total Season Rates/A	51.2 oz	88.0 ozs
Time of Application	PPLNT/PRE/POST (R1)	PPLNT/PRE/POST (R1)
Tractor Speed	< 15 MPH	< 15 MPH
Boom Height	24” or less	24” or less
Nozzles	Turbo TeeJet® TTI11004	Turbo TeeJet® TTI11004
Wind Speed	0-3 MPH = confirm temperature inversion 3-10 MPH = optimum 10-15 MPH = do not apply if wind blowing towards sensitive crops > 15 MPH = do not apply	0-3 MPH = do not apply 3-10 MPH = optimum 10-15 MPH = do not apply if wind blowing towards sensitive crops > 15 MPH = do not apply
GPA	10+	10+
Buffers	110 ft	110 ft = 22 oz/A; 220 ft = 44 oz/A
Tank-Mixes	NO herbicides; NO AMS or UAN www.engeniatankmix.com	NO herbicides; NO AMS or UAN www.xtendimaxapplicationrequirements.com

There is also likely to be another low volatility formulation of dicamba from Dupont® sold as FeXapan™ plus Vapor Grip™. I will let you know when that one gets labeled.  Georgia will issue 24-C labels for these new dicamba formulations which may have additional requirements.  

Liquid "Valors" (Flumioxazin) - Prostko

     In 2017, there will be 2 liquid formulations of flumioxazin available for use.  These include Valor EZ (Valent) and Panther SC (NuFarm).  As far as I know, they are the same stuff in a different bottle (4 lbs ai/gal)!  I am still a bit confused on how these will be marketed since it is likely that that Valor SX 51WG (dry) could be cheaper.  Also, it is very unlikely that Culpepper and I will officially recommend these liquid formulations in Georgia since we have almost no efficacy and/or crop tolerance data.  Earlier today, I did some bottle tests with the local Valent folks (John Altom and Hunt Sanders) to see if there might be any potential tank-mixing problems with the new liquid formulation. A few key observations:

1) When compared to the dry formulation, the liquid formulation disperses more quickly and evenly when mixed with water (Figure 1).

2) However, mixing order is extremely important.  The liquid formulations must be added to the tank first before mixing other chemicals.  If other tank-mix partners, such as glyphosate or paraquat, are put into the tank before the liquid flumioxazin, it is very likely that a nozzle/screen clogging precipitate could occur (Figure 2).

3) Agressive tank-agitation will continue to be very important when using liquid formulations of flumioxazin.  

Figure 1.  The equivalent of 3 oz/A in 15 GPA (Panther 4SC - left; Valor SX 51WDG - right) approximately 10 seconds after adding to the bottle (no agitation or shaking).

Figure 2.  NIS (0.25% v/v) followed by Gramoxone 2SL (48 oz/A) followed by Panther 4SC (3 oz/A) after agitation/shaking (rates equivalent for 15 GPA). Notice white precipitates floating around. 

Zest™ Approved for Use in Inzen™ Grain Sorghum (Prostko)

I just received word that Zest™ 75WDG (nicosulfuron) has received Georgia approval for use on Inzen™ herbicide-tolerant grain sorghum varieties.  Grain sorghum growers who use this technology will now be able to get better POST control of Texas panicum and other grasses.  I have discussed Zest/Inzen in a previous UGA Weed Science Blog (February 15, 2016) and in our December agent training meetings. Nicosulfuron is the same active ingredient in Accent, which is registered for use on field corn.

A couple of reminders:

1) Zest can only be used on Inzen herbicide-tolerant grain sorghum varieties. The use of Zest on conventional sorghum varieties will result in crop death! Inzen grain sorghum varieties are not GMO's.

2) The current formulation of Zest is a WDG.  I have been testing a liquid formulation so rates would be different in any slides you have previously seen from me.

3) UGA has limited variety performance data (i.e. none).  As far as I know, the only company with Inzen varieties is Advanta/Alta (http://altaseeds.advantaus.com).  Pioneer will likely have some varieties in 2018 or 2019?  Thus, I would suggest Georgia sorghum growers proceed with caution until an adapted variety is identified.  I have not been overly impressed with the varieties that I have been testing up until now.

4) I would still recommend the use of Concep treated seed + a PRE application of Dual or Warrant in this system.  Atrazine should be tank-mixed with Zest to improve the control of broadleaf weeds.

5) A copy of the complete Zest label can be accessed from the following location:
http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ldDEH000.pdf

Dicamba Labels Approved (Prostko)

Yesterday, the EPA approved the first labels of dicamba for use on on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans. A few interesting highlights from the labels include the following:

1) Xtendimax™ with VaporGrip™ Technology can ONLY be tank-mixed with products that have been tested and found not to adversely affect off-site movement potential.  A list of those products can be found at www.xtendimaxapplicationrequirements.com (This site was not yet available for viewing as of 9:24 am today).

2) Only 1 nozzle type is permitted (TTI11004 with 63 PSI max)

3) Must be applied in a minimum of 10 GPA

4) Maximum ground speed is 15 MPH

5) Maximum boom height of 24" above target pest or crop canopy

6) Can only be applied when winds are between 3 MPH and 15 MPH (3 MPH to 10 MPH is optimum).

7) Must maintain a 110 to 220 foot downwind buffer, depending upon rate, between the last treated row and the closest downwind field edge.

8) A copy of the cotton label can be viewed at the following location:

https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0187-0958

If you are not familiar with VaporGrip™ technology, refer to the following YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWW4scEgpuU

More specific and up-to-date information will be presented at the UGA Weed Science Agent Update on December 7.