Wisconsin Proposes Herbicide Registration for Special Onion

The special registration proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture will allow growers to use Starane Ultra on dry bulb onions for control of volunteer potatoes and weeds such as chickweed, common purslane, common ragweed, and morning glory. Starane Ultra contains the active ingredient fluroxypyr and is registered by Dow AgroSciences.

The special registration process allows states to register additional uses of pesticide products without prior federal approval. This provides states flexibility to meet local needs such as controlling a plant disease or insect outbreak or in this case, to control weeds that compete with a growing crop. Starane Ultra is already currently registered in Wisconsin and is labeled for use in agricultural crops such as wheat, barley, oats, field corn, sweet corn, and grain sorghum. It is not currently labeled for use in onions.

The proposed special registration will allow two applications of 0.35 pints of Starane Ultra per acre per season on emerged weeds or volunteer potatoes using ground or aerial application equipment. The type of equipment and application used will depend on the growth stage of the onions. Broadcast applications may be made in the earlier growth stages of onions, whereas applications beyond the 6-leaf stage must be made as a directed spray using drop nozzles to prevent crop injury.

The preliminary environmental assessment indicates that the proposed amendment will not require a full environmental impact statement. This special pesticide registration will expire December 31, 2012.