News & Information for Your Farming Operation
In This Issue
Quick Links
Adjuvants Positively Affect Product Effectiveness

Adjuvants improve the effectiveness of herbicide and insecticide applications, and can also help control drift, and improve retention. Federated recommends two adjuvants, Plexus® and Array®, as part of a strong weed and insect management plan.
 
glyphosate with Plexus
Glyphosate with Plexus,  for a faster kill. (Photo courtesy of Rosen's.)

According to information provided by Dale Hanson of Rosen's, Plexus is "an advanced adjuvant system" that improves the performance of the physical properties of the application; Plexus is great for wetting, spreading, reducing fines, retention, and pesticide coupling. Plexus also improves the performance by increasing penetration at the cuticle & cellular levels. It is easy to use, low rate, and more efficient than other adjuvants.
 
Array is an AMS-based adjuvant that conditions hard water and improves herbicide absorption by the plant. Array is great for increasing spray deposition, retention, and canopy penetration.
 
Contact your Federated Agronomist to determine which adjuvants are best for your crop plans.
May 10, 2016
Drift: Avoid it. Always.

With the increase in organic farms, local vineyards, and the long-standing need to preserve lakes, streams, and rivers, it's even more important to protect nearby plants, crops, waterways, and property
vineyard
Local vineyards, often adjacent to corn or soybean fields, are one of many reasons to manage drift.
from chemical drift during application. It can also be costly -- through fines and potential lawsuits -- to ignore the risk.
 
Craig Peterson, Federated agronomist at the Ogilvie location, pointed out that whether it's the wind or temperature inversion (when the ground is colder than the air and fine [chemical] droplets easily travel long distances, even in calm conditions), it's imperative to pay attention to the wind and weather. Spraying downwind near sensitive features can mean death to unintended crops and plant materials -- not just the weeds for which the chemicals were intended.
 
Incorporating the label-required (and enforced) buffer zones and/or waiting until ground temperatures rise and winds calm down are two key ways to control drift. Peterson outlined the additional ways to help control drift:
  • selecting the right nozzle for the product being applied (air induction nozzles, for example);
  • using lower spray pressure;
  • keeping the spray boom lower;
  • using the proper spray height, based on nozzle selection and spacing; and
  • controlling application speed.
Peterson added that "there are many products on the market to help control drift" (see article at left). Talk to your Federated Agronomist for help with the right product for the chemistry being applied.
 
Remember to read and follow label directions -- and always record what you plant and where it's planted.
 
Peterson offered this reminder, too: "Always wear proper safety equipment so you have a safe and successful spring." Give your Federated Agronomist a call with any questions.
emerging corn Just Keep Scouting . . . 

Every spring Federated Agronomists start their seemingly neverending season-long refrain: Keep scouting your fields. As any one of them will be quick to say, you can never scout too much.
 
Scout for corn emergence. Federated Senior Agronomist Kevin Carlson said that monitoring fields for corn emergence is critical because "we had some corn planting that was done before the rough stretch of weather." Check to see if the corn survived the cool, wet weather.
 
Scout for weeds. It's very important to start clean. "It's time to apply pre-emerge herbicides before the weeds come up," said Carlson, adding, "We only have a few days," so communicate with your Federated Agronomist if you want the herbicides custom applied. Early weed control is critical for optimal yields."
 
Scout for insects. 
"The monitoring stations in Minnesota have already been picking up black cutworm flights," said Carlson. "As the corn gets to 2-3 leaf, you need to watch," adding that there are some corn traits that do not cover black cutworm control, including conventional corn, Roundup Ready® corn, and VT2 Double Pro® and VP3 Triple Pro®. (See this link for more BT corn trait info relating to insects.)
 
It's close to time for black cutworm to start to emerge. "If you start to see some cutting of the corn, then contact your Federated Agronomist to go through the control options," said Carlson, and then the fields can be sprayed with a post-emerge insecticide.
 
It's the agronomists' mantra, all season long: Just keep scouting. And call with questions. "There's no such thing as an irrelevant question," said Carlson.

People who care. Products you trust. Value for life.
Federated Co-ops | 763-389-2582 | 502 S 2nd St. | Princeton, MN 55371-1941 

Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.