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by Ev Tomas
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced changes in the atrazine label that became effective September 1 st. These changes, submitted voluntarily by the manufacturers, are intended to reduce the risks of applicator exposure and damage to the environment. Here are the changes which are most likely to affect farmers:
1. Effective September 1, 1990, all herbicides containing atrazine will be classified as restricted use herbicides.
2. While spraying atrazine, you must wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, chemical resistant gloves, and waterproof boots. While mixing, you must use chemical resistant gloves and a face shield or goggles.
3. No fall applications are allowed. This eliminates the fall split application of atrazine for quack grass control in corn.
4. The maximum application rate is 1.5 kg active ingredient per calendar year. This effectively eliminates the spring split application for quack grass control, unless the old 1 kg + 1 kg rate is reduced. It also means that if you use close to 1 kg of atrazine in the spring, either alone or in a premix such as Bicep (Primextra), you won't be able to use a "rescue" treatment of atrazine plus oil because you won't be able to use enough atrazine without exceeding the 1.5 kg calendar maximum.
5. Postemergence applications must be made before the corn is 30 cm inches high.
Source: Miner Institute, Chazy, New York
Copyright © 1990 REAP Canada
Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
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