Goehring OKs herbicide to protect dry bean crop

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has issued a special local needs (SLN) registration to the Canyon Group LLC, giving North Dakota dry edible bean producers more flexibility in using Permit® herbicide (active ingredient: halosulfuron-methyl) to control common ragweed.

"The current, federal registration allows only pre-emergent applications to dry beans,” Goehring said. “This SLN registration allows post-emergent application, giving growers more flexibility when weather does not allow applications prior to the plants’ emergence.”

The SLN labeling allows a single post-emergent application of Permit herbicide to dry beans at a rate of 0.5 to 0.67 ounces of product per acre in a minimum of 10 gallons of water using ground equipment. Application can be made only before bean flowering.

Applicators must comply with all applicable directions, restrictions, and precautions on the SLN labeling and the EPA-registered label, and have a copy of the SLN labeling in their possession at the time of application.

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. EPA reviews these registrations.

"Other products provide good control of common ragweed, but only when the weed plants are less than three inches in height,” Goehring said. “Since no federally registered products are available to manage common ragweed beyond the three-inch growth stage, I believe this situation meets the criteria of being a special local need.”

In a letter supporting the SLN registration, Richard Zollinger, a weed scientist at North Dakota State University, said surveys have determined that common ragweed is the second most troublesome weed for dry bean growers.

The SLN registration expires Jan. 1, 2016.

Permit is registered to and marketed by the Gowan Company, Yuma, AZ, but is manufactured as GWN-3061 Herbicide by the Canyon Group LLC. Gowan supports the SLN registration.

North Dakota producers lead the nation in dry edible beans, including Navy beans, pinto beans and other varieties. The state grows about 36 percent of U.S. dry edible beans.