Goehring OK’s aerial application of herbicide for corn

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has issued a special local needs (SLN) registration to Syngenta Crop Protection, allowing aerial application of Callisto™ herbicide to control broadleaf weeds in cornfields.

"Record and near-record snowfalls this past winter and heavy precipitation this spring make it difficult or impossible to use ground equipment in some fields, likely forcing growers to rely on aerial pesticide applications,” Goehring said.

Goehring told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that he believes the situation meets EPA’s criteria for a special local need, since Callisto poses a lesser health and environmental risk, and provides a second mode of action as part of a resistance management plan.

"The situation will cause growers to use auxinic herbicides, such as 2,4-D and Dicamba, for postemergence broadleaf weed control,” he said. "Although relatively effective on broadleaf weeds like kochia, lambsquarters, wild mustard and ragweed, these herbicides can drift off-site, damaging crops, trees and environmentally sensitive areas. Relying on a single mode of action also increases the chance of weeds becoming resistant to these products.”

The SLN registration allows a single aerial application of Callisto to corn at a rate of three fluid ounces per acre. Applications must be made when wind speed is less than 10 miles per hour. A 50-foot buffer between the area to be treated and adjacent sensitive plant species such as broadleaf crops is also required.

Applicators must follow directions, restrictions, worker protection standard requirements and precautions on the EPA-registered label and all use directions on the SLN label. They must also have the SLN label in their possession during 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.

"This SLN registration is not seen as a long-term option, and will expire Aug. 15, 2011,” Goehring said.

North Dakota ranks 13th in the U.S. in production of grain corn.