North Dakota approves FMC’s Spartan Elite herbicide to manage kochia in dry beans

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has issued a Special Local Needs (SLN) registration to FMC Corporation enabling North Dakota dry bean producers to manage kochia and ALS-resistant kochia with Spartan Elite herbicide.

The corporation has requested cancellation of the existing SLN registration for use of Broadaxe herbicide on dry beans and has requested a new SLN registration for Spartan Elite.

“Kochia is among the most troublesome weeds for dry bean producers,” Goehring said. “Left uncontrolled, it causes significant yield losses.”

Goehring noted that much of the kochia in North Dakota is resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides and glyphosate.

“This registration provides farmers with an important management tool for controlling kochia and herbicide-resistant kochia,” he said.

The SLN labeling allows a pre-plant or preemergence application of Spartan Elite to dry bean fields by ground or air. Application may be made up to 3 days after planting if seedlings have not broken the soil surface and if the seed furrow is completely closed or covered by soil. The product may be applied at a rate of 19 to 26 fluid ounces per acre depending on soil texture, pH, and organic matter.

Users must comply with all restrictions, precautions and the directions found in the SLN labeling, and a copy of the labeling must be in the user’s possession at the time of application.

This SLN registration is effective immediately and expires Dec. 31, 2020.

Section 24(c) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act gives states the authority to register additional uses for federally registered pesticide products, or new products to meet special local needs.

North Dakota leads the U.S. in production of dry edible beans, growing approximately a fourth of the national total.