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May 15th Deadline

2015 Soybean Yield Contest

 

Federated Co-ops, Inc. invites area growers to enter by this Friday to participate in the 2015 Soybean Yield Contest. One winner with the highest yield from each Federated agronomy location will receive $300 in seed for 2016. (At least two entries per location are required.)  

Contact your Federated Agronomist to enter and review the rules. 

Five

Take Five and Read, Follow   

the Label

 

There are five times when you should read the label on any crop protection product.

  1. Before you buy the product, to make sure it is the best choice.
  2. Before you store the product.
  3. Before you mix and use the product, to be sure you apply it safely, effectively, and at the proper rate.
  4. Before you clean the pesticide application equipment.
  5. Before you dispose of the product and or its container.

The pesticide label contains basic information that clearly identifies the product: a restricted use statement, the product's trade name, the type of pesticide/herbicide, the formulation, and safety, environmental, and use information.

 

Ryan Peterson, custom application manager at Federated's Osceola location, said, "Labels can be easily accessed by following this link to the CDMS site." On the CDMS home page, go to the upper right hand corner and, next to Brand Name, enter the name of the product label you want, and hit Search.

 

If you are the end user of a pesticide -- whether you apply it yourself or have Federated custom apply it -- you must know the label. Take the time to read it. Peterson added this reminder: "It's the law."

 

If you are unsure of the label requirements, contact your Federated Agronomist to help you better understand it.

 

Peterson added, "Have a safe spring and be careful. And please avoid pesticide drift." (See articles at right.) 

May 12, 2015
In Season & In Step with Agronomics
SAFETY. RESPONSIBILITY. EFFECTIVE CHOICES. 

Manage Drift, Avoid Trespassing,  

and Understand Your Responsibility   

 

The ag industry needs its own version of Smokey the Bear to give growers and applicators this important reminder: "Only YOU can prevent spray drift."  

 

Spray drift is one of the leading causes of misapplication claims for both private and commercial pesticide applicators," said Craig sprayer in fieldGustafson, Federated's eastern area agronomy division manager. Spray drift is considered trespassing, but it is manageable -- if you take the necessary precautions and implement what should be standard measures.

  • Read and follow the pesticide label regarding spray drift management.
  • Know your surroundings. Look for areas of sensitivity such as playgrounds, swimming pools, gardens, vineyards, bee hives, and new neighbors.
  • Stay abreast of drift-related information. Drift Watch Minnesota  is a specialty crop site registry. This tool is designed to help both pesticide applicators and specialty crop growers communicate more effectively. Federated highly recommends checking this site before spraying.
  • Pay attention to wind speed and wind direction. Again, follow the label. As a rule, wind speeds of less than 3 mph or greater than 10 mph are off label. Make sure winds are predominately blowing away from areas of sensitivity.
  • Beware of temperature inversions. Avoid spraying too soon after sunrise or too late in the evening when the inversions are most intense (evening can be worse than early morning for inversions). A temperature inversion is a thin layer of the atmosphere where the normal decrease in temperature with height switches to the temperature increasing with height. An inversion acts like a lid, keeping normal convective overturning of the atmosphere from penetrating through the inversion. See illustration below. (The May 4 edition of AgWeek included a good article on this topic.)
  • Use the right spray tip and appropriate spray-tip pressure for the product. Again refer to the pesticide label for the proper spray particle size. TeeJet� Technologies designed a spray tip selection app for mobile devices. SpraySelect is a great tool to help pick the right tip for any spraying need. (See Spray Select PDF.)
  • Use drift retardants. Federated offers several products that control droplet size and enhance pesticide activity. Array� is a target performance adjuvant containing ammonium sulfate and guar (polymer) that can improve spray droplet retention by 30% when added to the spray tank mix. (See article below.) For herbicides that require an MSO adjuvant, Plexus� is a new "Advanced Adjuvant System" that increases spray droplet retention.

If you need more information on controlling drift, contact your Federated Agronomist. We will help you design a pesticide application program that reduces your exposure to a potential drift misapplication claim. Because, after all, only YOU can prevent spray drift.

Help Prevent Drift with Array�

 

Array is a water conditioner that helps control drift. It contains AMS and guar (which is a lentil bean grown in India), aids spray retention, and increases deposition on the plant.  

 

Array logo"AMS by itself isn't as effective," said Dale Hanson, Rosen's area marketing manager, serving Federated Co-ops, Inc.

 

With less spray droplet bounce, pesticides hit their target when used with Array, ultimately providing better coverage and improved performance. Array has been demonstrated to improve spray droplet retention by 30%.

 

Array should be used at a rate of 9 lbs./100 gal. of water. Contact your local Federated Agronomist for more information on using Array.

Download this Array Fact Sheet.
2015 Plant Nutrition Series

Boron on Alfalfa for Good Yield Response 

 

Alfalfa shows a high response to boron, which indicates that an  annual application of the nutrient should be in your plans, according to Kevin Carlson, Federated's alfalfasenior agronomist. In-crop application, preferable between first and second cuttings, can pay off in higher alfalfa yields.  

 

"The full rate is the plant-available nutrient," said Carlson, explaining that boron "is an ion, borate is a mobile nutrient." Boron can be top dressed because it is water soluble at a rate of 1-2 lbs./ac. of actual boron, which equates to 7-14 lbs. of product per acre.  

 

Carlson said that boron can be added to alfalfa fertilizer as well, usually with potash AMS.

 

For additional information on boron on alfalfa, talk to your Federated Agronomist.

Federated Co-ops | 763-389-2582 | [email protected] | http://federatedcoops.com
502 S 2nd St
Princeton, MN 55371-1941