Category Archives: Weed Science

July 18, 2023 · 6:49 PM

Georgia Clean Day Event 8/16, 9AM-3PM

Georgia Dept. of Agriculture Clean Day is a program that gives everyone an opportunity to discard old, unusable, or cancelled pesticides to a hazardous waste contractor for disposal. Pesticides in leaking containers or disposed of improperly may cause environmental damage by contaminating water supplies or harming people and wildlife. Some pesticides that have been used in the past are now in need of proper disposal. Participation in the Clean Day Program remains free of charge to all private and commercial applicators with the understanding that the event is designed / intended for farmers, lawn care, golf courses, and pest control companies. The Georgia Department of Agriculture we will be requiring pre-registration for the events. For more information about the event please contact your local extension agent, visit our website: https://agr.georgia.gov/georgia-clean-day or contact Rick Hayes coordinator for the event at ricky.hayes@agr.georgia.gov (Office: 404-656-4958) (Cell: 404-535-1614) or Ashley Smith, Coffee County CEA at (912)850-4059

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Filed under Disease, Entomology, Weed Science

March 21, 2022 · 8:16 PM

Paraquat Usage Requirements

Have you completed the EPA Paraquat Training? As required by EPA’s Paraquat Dichloride Human Health Mitigation Decision and amended paraquat dichloride (a.k.a. paraquat) product labels, certified applicators must successfully complete an EPA-approved training program before mixing, loading, and/or applying paraquat. The training provides important information about paraquat’s toxicity, new label requirements and restrictions, and the consequences of misuse.

A record of those who have taken the training and when it expires can be found here: https://www.agr.georgia.gov/Data/Sites/1/media/ag_plantindustry/pesticides/files/training/Paraquat-Training-GA-3-21-21.pdf

More information and a link to the training can be found on this page: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/paraquat-dichloride-training-certified-applicators

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March 15, 2022 · 8:23 AM

Using Pesticides Wisely Trainings

All applicators who are planning to apply Engenia, Tavium, and Xtendimax must attend UPW Trainings this year prior to April 15, 2022. However, those that attended a UGA Extension Weed Management Update in 2022, signed in, and received credit do not have to attend UPW Training. Weed Management Updates were held in the following counties between January 10th and February 17th: Pierce, Wayne, Emanuel, Jefferson, Burke, Cotton Commission Annual Meeting – Weed Training section, Lee, Macon/Taylor/Peach/Houston, Calhoun, Mitchell/Baker, Grady, Tift, Colquitt, Irwin/Ben Hill, Worth, Berrien, Screven, Bulloch, Terrell, Webster, Sumter, Dooly, Pulaski/Wilcox, Appling, and Tattnall/Evans/Chandler. All applicators of Engenia, Tavium, & XtendiMax herbicides must also have a private pesticide license. There will not be an extension or issuance of the special applicators license training that has been offered in the past, so all applicators must obtain their private pesticide license.

UPW trainings will be held at the Thomas County Extension Office at 9:30AM on the following dates:

Wednesday, March 16

Wednesday, March 23

Wednesday, March 30

Wednesday, April 6

Wednesday, April 13

Multiple dates are available for our grower’s convenience and due to the size limitations of our meeting space. To register or if you have any questions please call UGA Extension Thomas County.

For information on how to apply for a Private Pesticide Applicators License please visit: https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension/programs-and-services/pesticide-safety-education/documents/Step-by-Step_PAT_Course_Ordering_Instructions_Aug%2020.pdf

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Filed under Cotton, Soybeans, Weed Science

June 2, 2017 · 6:07 PM

Peanuts And Valor Injury

We plant a lot of peanuts on plantations here in Thomas County. As we were finishing up peanut planting, manager at Wild Ridge Plantation Jason Sanders made a great video of them planting near the Florida line. They filmed it with a drone camera. Jason did a great job making this video. I think I need to get my ‘video band’ down to Wild Ridge and get a band shot from this drone camera.

Our peanut crop is looking good since we’ve had a few weekly rains. Fungicide programs are starting up now, and we’re still needing some rain. We had a few showers this week, but not much to count. UGA Extension Weed Scientist Dr. Erick Prostko has this update on valor that I want to share:

Peanuts that were planted approximately the last two weeks in May were in a great place to get hammered from Valor because of the Sporadic heavy rainfall events (below). If you received one of these heavy rainfall events on Valor treated peanuts when they are cracking and small (~2 weeks after cracking), injury will occur.

Georgia Rainfall Totals from May 20 – May 24, 2017

Peanuts typically recover from this injury without a yield penalty. In a 2009 research trial, more than 5″ of rainfall occurred in the 30 day period after peanut planting. Peanut injury was significant but yields were not reduced even at a 2X rate.

Valor injury to peanut. Photo by Dr. Erick Prostko

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Filed under Peanuts, Weed Science

May 18, 2017 · 1:43 PM

Look For Cogongrass Following Spring Burns

We looked at a new spot of cogongrass Monday which came just after burn. This is probably why the leaves appear lighter in color.UGA Extension Forester Dr. David Moorhead says this is typical cogongrass response to a spring burn. Two to three weeks following a burn is always a good time to look for cogongrass.

Off-center midrib is key ID feature of cogongrass

Identification

If you look at other blog posts I have on cogongrass, you will see a difference in this color. We thought this was actually Johnsongrass. Once we walked into the patch, we found some off-center midribs and sharp rhizomes. Those are the two, key ID features you want to look for. Cogongrass spreads by rhizomes, which is why you see it in this circular pattern.

When you rub down the blade, you’ll feel a ‘rough’ texture, like shark skin. Quail definitely do not like to move through this grass. It’s extremely invasive and will wipe out an ecosystem in your forest. This is huge for us in Thomas County where so much timber is managed for wildlife as well.

Sharp rhizomes are another key ID feature of cogongrass. A lot of times you can place your hand on the ground (softly) and feel the rhizomes poking up.

Burning

We actually want to be cautious about burning cogongrass since it can burns around 850 degrees F. Georgia Forestry Commision Forest Health Specilist Mark McClure says most timber on our plantations are widely spaced and damage from burning cogongrass is not a high risk. Mark says this is actually a good time to burn cogongrass and is a good idea to burn it if we see it. This is because fresh growth of cogongrass helps when treated.

Control

We are very, very fortunate in Georgia to have help from the Georgia Forestry Commission on treating these spots at no charge. Mark McClure coordinates the Task Force of the Georgia Forestry Commission which treats reported cogongrass. If you see what looks like cogongrass, call the Georgia Forestry Commission or the Thomas County Extension Office (225-4130) to get a positive ID so it can be treated.

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Filed under Forestry, Weed Science

May 4, 2017 · 6:34 PM

Field Corn Weed & Disease Update

Some of our earlier planted corn is moving through the v8 growth stage. In this field corn, we are nearly past the time for over-the-top herbicide applications without yield loss. We’ve been applying mostly one shot Atrazine+RU+Prowl H2O when corn has about 3 leaves. It’s working great. We have a one or two fields were pigweed got past it and hurting us.

Weed Control Update

Here is an update from UGA Extension Weed Scientist Dr. Eric Prostko:

Field corn weed control does not have to be difficult. Just about any of the herbicide programs that growers are using in Georgia do a good job of controlling most weeds, especially Palmer amaranth, when applied to small plants (<3″ tall). Check out the following pictures from my field corn plots that I rated earlier today. These herbicide treatments were applied 17 days after planting with a CO2-powered backpack sprayer calibrated to deliver 15 GPA at 3.5 MPH using AIXR 11002 nozzles.

The most troublesome weed in Georgia field corn, in my opinion, is annual morningglory. Field corn growers who struggle with morningglory should seriously consider a post-directed/lay-by application of Evik (ametryn) sometime after their initial POST treatment was applied. (Check out page 70 of the 2017 UGA Pest Control Handbook for more information about Evik.) The minimum corn height for post-directed applications of Evik is 12″. If Evik is tank-mixed with glyphosate, post-directed applications can be applied up until 48″ tall corn (RR2 hybrids).

Halex+Atrazine+Adept, Dr. Eric Prostko

Atrazine+RU+Prowl H2O, Dr. Eric Prostko

Laudis+Atrazine+MES, Dr. Eric Prostko

Revulin+Atrazine+Adept, Dr. Eric Prostko

Disease Update

This is from UGA Extension Pathologist Dr. Bob Kemerait on 5/1/17:

Our earliest planted corn crop is beginning to approach times where we need to consider use of a fungicide (or not). Here are some notes…

There is no need at this point to protect against rust.
Some growers might put out a fungicide application as early as the V6-V8 stage to protect against leaf blights. Before doing so (unless the grower simply feels better doing the application anyway) scout for detection of the easily diagnosed lesions of northern corn leaf blight. Simply finding one or two scattered in the field is NO BIG DEAL. Finding the disease more widely scattered, on a susceptible variety, could be. DO NOT MIX AN ADJUVANT OR CROP OIL with fungicide applications made prior to tassel. This can result in significant ear deformation.

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Filed under Corn, Weed Science

May 3, 2017 · 6:36 PM

Peanuts Cracking

Dryland peanuts are coming up in the northwest part of the county. This is where we have had more rain. We’re talking about thrips, herbicides and some disease issues now. Below is a graph from UGA Extension Peanut Entomologist Dr. Mark Abney on latest thrips counts:

Thrips numbers on our traps have remained relatively steady for the last 3 weeks, though we did see a spike last week in Colquitt County. My first thrips trials are just now emerging from the ground, and I have not heard any reports of thrips control problems on early planted peanut as of today.

I have had questions this week about rates of imidacloprid for in-furrow applications. I recommend the upper end of the rate range for whichever formulation a grower is using….We should NOT be doubling the rate or cutting the rate in half. Be sure to check the label of the product you are using as rates vary by formulation.

Weed Control

We may not have as much Valor as preemerge out there since we are dry and concern of no activation. Where we have Valor on the ground with good activation (0.5 – 0.75″ within 7 days), it usually gets us through our “at cracking ” treatments until we use Cadre. If we don’t have Valor, we will need to be gearing up for our cracking spray 15 – 25 days after planting. But we only need to apply ‘cracking’ sprays if weeds have come up.

Disease Control

The only note to make is this week’s rainfall this week could help to cool soils, at least in the short term, and reduce risk to Aspergillus crown rot of peanut.

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Filed under Disease, Peanuts, Weed Science

April 25, 2017 · 6:51 PM

2017 Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth Control

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Filed under Cotton, Weed Science

March 17, 2017 · 3:31 PM

Sprayer Clean Out

Thanks to UGA Extension Weed Scientist Dr. Eric Prostko for this update on sprayer cleanout. There is obvious concern about sprayer cleanout after application of Enlist Duo, Engenia, Fexapan, and Xtendimax. Dr. Prostko encourages all applicators to read and follow the specific sprayer clean-out instructions listed on the herbicide labels. Here are some useful links:

2017 Enlist Duo Product Use Guide (automatic download of document – sprayer clean-out procedures listed on pages 20-21)
http://www.enlist.com/~/media/enlist/enlist-ahead/resource-pdfs/2017_enlistallcrops_pug_final.ashx

Engenia Clean-Out Recomendations:
http://agproducts.basf.us/campaigns/engenia/assets/pdf/Engenia-Spray-System-Cleanout-TIB.pdf

Fexapan Sprayer Cleanout
http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/crop-protection/soybean-protection/articles/sprayer-cleanout.html

Xtendimax Cleanout (video presentation)
https://youtu.be/LzywJ-YSta4?list=PLWKeHPsbiIP7URV05Y03YTMfYxGLmQ3sF

I called a few local chemical dealers and the following are some commercial tank-cleaners that are currently being sold in Georgia (listed in no particular order):

1) WipeOut XS
https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/www.agrian.com/pdfs/WipeOut_XS_Label.pdf

2) Valent Tank Cleaner
https://www.valent.com/Data/Labels/1714-B-ValentTankCleaner.pdf

3) Nutra-Sol Tank-Cleaner
http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ldDC2000.pdf

4) All Clear
https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/www.agrian.com/pdfs/All_Clear_Label4.pdf

5) ProTank Cleaner
http://www.winfield.com/cs/groups/lolweb/@winfield/documents/web_content/ndjf/mzax/~edisp/36142_301402.pdf

6) Neutralize
http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ldDC1000.pdf