Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News:

A Newsletter for Commercial Growers of Fruit and Vegetable Crops
A Publication of University of Illinois Extension and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences

Vol. 14 , No. 5, May 14, 2008

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." --Aristotle

Address any questions or comments regarding this newsletter to the individual authors listed after each article or to its editor, Rick Weinzierl, 217-333-6651, weinzier@uiuc.edu. To receive email notification of new postings of this newsletter, call or write the same number or address.


In This Issue:

Upcoming Programs (Mississippi Valley Peach Orchard Tour; IL Summer Horticulture Day)

Regional Updates (from Elizabeth Wahle and Maurice Ogutu)

Notes from Chris Doll (weather woes; calcium sprays; codling moth and rosy apple aphid)

Degree-Day Accumulations

Fruit Production and Pest Management (thinning recommendations; updates on oriental fruit moth, codling moth, and lesser peachtree borer; Altacor labeled for use on grapes, pome fruits, and stone fruits)

Vegetable Production and Pest Management (more on Colorado potato beetle; Coragen labeled for use on certain vegetables; herbicides containing 2,4-D or dicamba)

University of Illinois Extension Specialists in Fruit & Vegetable Production & Pest Management


Upcoming Programs

  • Mississippi Valley Peach Orchard Tour, May 22, 2008 ... at Rendleman Orchards (http://www.rendlemanorchards.com/), Route 127, Alto Pass IL. Rendleman's is located approximately 12.5 miles south of Murphysboro on Route 127. For growers coming from the south, Rendleman's is 2 miles north of Alto Pass, IL. Online registration (no charge) is requested for an accurate lunch count and is available at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/edwardsvillecenter/. Sign-in begins at 9:00 a.m., with the tour beginning at 10:00. For more information, contact Elizabeth Wahle at 618-692-9434 or wahle@uiuc.edu.
  • Illinois State Horticulture Society Summer Horticulture Day, June 12, 2008 ... at Tanner's Orchard, Route 40, Speer IL. For more information contact Don H. Naylor, Executive Secretary, Illinois State Horticultural Society, at 309-828-8929 or ilsthortsoc@yahoo.com. University of Illinois Extension contacts for this program are Mohammad Babadoost (217-333-1523; babadoos@uiuc.edu) and Elizabeth Wahle (618-692-9434; wahle@uiuc.edu).

Regional Updates

From southern and southwestern Illinois: Rain and more rain for the southern region combined with mild temperatures are definitely fulfilling any grower's need for a challenge. Soils have not had a chance to warm up, making direct seeded vegetables slow to germinate. Southern Illinois farmers have planted only about 25 to 30 percent of their corn crop compared to 80 percent in the east central and northern regions of the state. Apple thinning was already expected to be a challenge because of the heavy bloom following last year's freeze-out, but continued cool temperatures add to the challenge of effective thinning. Much of the region experienced high winds throughout Mother's Day, with gusts of 50 mph. Lodging of young trees has been reported in Calhoun County, and efforts are ongoing to re-stake laid-over trees. On the positive side, there is still a fantastic crop of fruit to manage. The first round of apple thinning got underway last week, and most growers are looking for 70 degrees F plus weather to get the second round of thinners on; for some, this occurred earlier this week on Monday. Peaches have been blossom-thinned but small fruitlets are not yet loose enough for additional clubbing off. Some hand thinning has been done. In far southern Illinois, codling moth biofix was set at May 3. Growers in the northern part of the region still have not caught enough moths to be sure of first generation flight timing, but traps should begin catching moths whenever we get some warm evenings. First flight of oriental fruit moth is for the most part over in southern counties, and growers with traps should notice a drop-off in catch numbers until second flight starts. Oriental fruit moth mating disruption should be in place just in time for second flight; see comments below from Rick Weinzierl.

'Earliglow' strawberry, one of the earlier cultivars, is a week to 10 days from harvest. Thrips have been observed in some strawberries, so growers are advised to scout their crop and treat if necessary. According to the 2008 Midwest Commercial Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide, control is warranted if thrips counts exceed 2 to 10 per blossom. Lorsban is not an option for most varieties this late in the season (21-day PHI), but Brigade (0-day PHI), Danitol (2-day PHI), Entrust (1-day PHI), or SpinTor (1-day PHI) are options for control this close to harvest. Organic growers (and others) might also consider using insecticides containing neem extracts (Aza-Direct or Neemix, 0-day PHI)) that are less toxic to bees. Remember that thrips may re-invade fields after you control an initial infestation -- keep scouting throughout bloom and fruit development.

Asparagus harvest is more than half-way completed. Flower buds are visible on summer-bearing raspberries, and grapes have significant shoot growth. Brambles are susceptible to thrips damage just as strawberries are, so growers should plan to scout as bloom develops. A heads up for grape growers with a history of phylloxera ... bloom (when caps fall off) is the target stage for control of the leaf-stage form. Apply one of the recommended insecticides at bloom and repeat 10-14 days later. Blueberries are at petal fall for some varieties and fruit set is just becoming visible.

Register now for the Mississippi Valley Peach Orchard Tour (Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky), scheduled for May 22 at Rendleman Orchards. Rendleman's is located approximately 12.5 miles south of Murphysboro on Route 127. For growers coming from the south, Rendleman's is 2 miles north of Alto Pass IL. Online registration (no charge) is requested for an accurate lunch count and is available at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/edwardsvillecenter/. For more registration information contact Elizabeth Wahle at 618-692-9434 or wahle@uiuc.edu.

Finally, remember to plan ahead for the 2008 Illinois State Horticulture Society Summer Horticulture Day, June 12, Tanner's Orchard, Route 40, Speer IL.

Elizabeth Wahle (618-692-9434; wahle@uiuc.edu)

In northern Illinois, early May has brought a few sunny days with high temperatures in the mid 50s to upper 70s. Lows have ranged from the 30s to 50s, and freezing temperatures that occurred during the last two days of April did not hurt tree fruit blossoms, as apples were still at tight cluster. Extremely cold winter temperatures in the region killed some strawberries, blackberries and garlic, plants that survived are taking off very well. The region received 1-3 inches of rainfall over the last 2 weeks, with heavy rains on May 11 that continue to prevent field work.

Peaches are in full bloom, and most apples are in full bloom as well, with a few varieties at petal fall. I observed poor flowering in some apple varieties where there is an excellent bloom in one tree and the next four or five trees have few blossoms or none. Other fruit trees such as pears, plums, and sour cherries are at petal fall, and grape buds are starting to open up. Codling moth traps are up in many orchards.

Cool-season vegetables such as cabbages, potatoes, carrots, onions, and broccoli, have been planted. First plantings of sweet corn also are done. Other warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, and melons transplants are still inside greenhouses, and will soon be hardened in readiness for field planting.

Maurice Ogutu (708-352-0109; ogutu@uiuc.edu)


Notes from Chris Doll

A wet and late year. So far this month, rainfall here has totaled 5.5 inches (after 4.8 in April), and this is less than some southern Illinois growers are reporting. It has been difficult to apply and maintain spray coverage to all crops. As for the season being late, it was the latest petal fall for apples and shuck-split for peaches (both on April 30) since 1997 and previously 1992. As a result of delayed phenology, it is now thinning time for apples in some orchards. And here again, the cool and cloudy weather causes problems for thinners to work the way growers would like for them to. 2002 was the most recent year with a comparable spring. At that time it was wet and fairly late, and a heavy peach and apple bloom had occurred. Some recorded observations in that year included variable fruit set on Jons and Goldens and fruit set on some peach varieties that was not as heavy as the bloom indicated. I have seen both occurrences this year. Some petal fall sprays of Sevin on Gala and Reds appear to have been fairly successful.

Continued wet weather and saturated soils can create problems for the trees too. When the wind blows like it did Sunday morning, there can be wallowing and leaning. Corrective measures of straightening the trees and filling the wallowed hole can be done while the soil remains wet. I just read in the Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory that it is time to begin calcium sprays on apples, and this coincides with the wet soil factor that can contribute to calcium disorder in the fruits. Calcium sprays might also improve the firmness of ripening strawberries in wet fields.

Peach growers might appreciate the cool temperatures if research data from California hold true in Illinois. It was reported in California Agriculture , Volume 61, Number l, Jan-March 2007, that high early spring temperatures during the 30-day post-bloom period decreased the size of packed fruit at harvest. I don't know of any Midwest research that has shown that effect or if it works on our varieties, but one can hope for some benefit from the cool weather.

Reports of enough codling moth catches to set a biofix date for the area have been received, and flight appears to have begun May 3-5. Using a biofix date of May 4, I now have accumulated 86 degree days. The reason for uncertainty about the biofix date is that I have caught only one codling moth to date, and only 6 oriental fruit moths. There are a few traps in commercial orchards that have had zero to light catches also.

Rosy apple aphids are the only fruit insect pest that I've seen in numbers this spring. And Tom Schwartz reported that flower thrips must have drowned in the strawberry fields, as neither of us have seen any. No disease infections have been seen in sprayed orchards, but the past week's rainfall will put that statement to the test, as it was fire blight, cedar apple rust and potential infection weather for scab of both apple and peach. Wind tatter is visible following 50 mph winds on the 11th.

Chris Doll


Degree-Day Accumulations

Degree-day accumulations, base 50 degrees F, starting January 1.

Station

County

Base 50F DD Jan 1-May 13, Historic Average

Base 50F DD Jan 1-May 13, 2008

Base 50F DD Jan 1-May 20, 2008 (Projected)

Base 50F DD Jan 1-May 27, 2008 (Projected)

1. Freeport

Stephenson

337

225

296

371

2. Dekalb

Dekalb

377

228

305

387

3. St. Charles

Kane

344

247

312

382

4. Monmouth

Warren

425

286

371

455

5. Peoria

Peoria

465

328

415

500

6. Stelle

Ford

418

232

315

400

7. Kilbourne

Mason

554

373

464

555

8. Bondville

Champaign

484

292

381

471

9. Champaign

Champaign

485

330

420

511

10. Perry

Pike

522

343

434

523

11. Springfield

Sangamon

525

366

466

567

12. Brownstown

Fayette

597

396

498

605

13. Olney

Richland

595

415

514

618

14. Belleville

St. Claire

658

454

559

669

15. Rend Lake

Jefferson

696

466

578

694

16. Fairfield

Wayne

657

454

564

680

17. Carbondale

Jackson

688

491

594

703

18. Dixon Springs

Pope

727

524

633

748

Degree-day accumulations summarized above for weather stations in the Illinois State Water Survey WARM data base have been summarized using the Degree-Day Calculator on the University of Illinois IPM site (http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/degreedays/index.html). The list below includes only degree-day accumulations and projections based on a 50-degree F developmental threshold and a January 1 starting date, but other options that use different thresholds and specific biofix dates are available on the Degree-Day Calculator. The degree-day calculator is available as a result of a joint effort of current and former extension entomologists (primarily Kelly Cook) and Bob Scott of the Illinois State Water Survey. If you have questions about how to use the site, contact me or Bob Scott (rwscott1@uiuc.edu).

Degree-Day Map
Degree-day accumulations, base 50 F, January 1 - May 13, 2008 (left), and projected through May 20 (center) and May 27 (right).

Rick Weinzierl (217-244-2126; weinzier@uiuc.edu


Fruit Production and Pest Management

Fruit Thinning

Apple and peach flower development have advanced relatively slowly due to the cool weather that we have experienced. Bee activity is also less than adequate and may affect fruit set. Regardless of the weather, you should consider applying thinning agents but with some caution.

As most of you know thinning is not an exact science. There are many factors that can make a thinning chemical work more effectively and others that make it less effective. Tree physiology and environmental conditions are the two major factors affecting the response of most chemical thinners. The physiological factors in the tree that affect thinning response include variety, tree age, tree health, crop load, and severity of pruning. A weak and very old tree is relatively easier to thin than a healthy and young tree. Similarly, a heavily cropped tree is relatively easier to thin than a lightly cropped tree. However, you should know that even though the chemical may have knocked a large number of fruits off the tree, you may still have more fruit left due to poor chemical coverage. So monitor the number of the fruits that are left on the tree not those on the ground. Another factor that contributes greatly to the effectiveness of a thinner is the variety. For example, 'Fuji' fruits are harder to thin than 'Gala' fruits. The type of tree is also important; for example 'Spur' varieties are harder to thin than non spur varieties. Some studies also suggest that pruning may have an influence on the effectiveness of thinning. Application timing is also important. Some thinners work best when applied at bloom time. Benzyl adenine is much more effective when applied at bloom than after fruit set while NAA works best when fruit diameter is between 8 and 9 mm than on larger size fruits. Penetration of the chemical thinner is greater through the lower side of the leaf than the upper side and the difference increases as the leaves age because older leaves have more wax deposited on the upper surface than the lower surface. Interestingly, very little NAA enters the plant leaf through the stomata and instead most enters through active transport channels across the plasmalemma. In other words, the leaves spend energy to get NAA inside so it can cause the fruit to abscise. A tree that has heavy bloom will require significant amount of energy to take up the thinner, and so it is advisable to supplement the tree with some nitrogen at bloom to offset the amount of the energy spent on producing the flower and getting rid of the fruit during thinning.

Environmental factors also have strong influence on the effectiveness of thinning chemicals. Ed Stover and Duane Green published a very nice review in HortTechnology 2005, volume 15, pages 214-221, on the effect of environment on the performance of thinners. In this article they pointed out several pre-, during, and post-application factors that impact the effectiveness of growth regulators on fruit thinning. During the early stages of growth, leaves deposit waxes on the surface. The amount, structure and composition of these waxes influence leaf witness, and penetration of thinning chemicals. Deposition of these waxes is affected by the environment. Low light, high humidity, frost damage, and low temperatures were listed as factors that can increase the response of thinning chemicals, while high temperature and dry conditions reduce the effectiveness of the thinning chemicals. Many of these factors work synergistically, and so if the weather is warm and humid the thinning chemical will work more effectively than if the weather is cold and dry. The biggest uptake occurs right before the chemicals completely dry, when their concentrations are greatest. However, uptake decreases drastically when the chemical has completely dried. Therefore, conditions that allow for longer drying periods will increase the effectiveness of thinning. Field studies have also shown that if the chemical droplet dries before it is washed by rain, then its activity is not lost. However if the droplet is still wet and a rain occurs, then the chemical will be less effective because it washes off before it gets into the leaf. These are only a few of the factors that impact the effectiveness of the thinning chemicals and that is why it is difficult to predict if a thinner will work or not.

Image of fruit in trees
Figure 1.
Fruit size is based on the average diameter of about 50 fruits including the king fruit, usually the largest fruit in the center of the cluster, along with the next largest two to three fruits in the same cluster. Collect 10 to 12 fruit clusters from five to six trees from the same block and variety and measure fruit diameter.

The number of chemical thinners on the market had not changed much in a long time until recently when new formulations of an old chemical called 6-benzyl adenine (6-BA) were introduced. The new 6-BA formulations are MaxCel (from Valent), Exilis Plus (Fine Agrochemical, UK) and RiteWay (from Nufarm, Burr Ridge, Illinois). All three chemicals will work if the temperature is above 65 F on the day of the application and two to three days later. Growth regulators require warm temperature for optimum uptake and if the temperature is cold (55 F or lower), chances are that neither of these chemicals will be effective. These chemicals also work better on hard to thin varieties when they are combined (at 100 ppm) with 1 quart of Sevin XLR per acre. Maxcel and RiteWay are listed to work on fruit ranging in size from 5 to 12 mm, but all three have also been suggested to induce good thinning at petal fall and can increase fruit size.

Traditional thinners like NAA and Sevin are the most popular, followed by several formulations of NAD (Amid Thin and Accel). Petal fall thinning is highly desirable practice in years of heavy bloom and on varieties that are hard to thin like Fuji and Honeycrisp. Petal fall thinning is done by applying Amid Thin (naphthylacetamide) at 4 to 8 days after full bloom. Petal fall thinning using Amid-Thin is not a good idea on Gala or Delicious because of the risk of pygmy fruits. Amid-Thin is applied at 50 ppm in at least 150 gallons of water per acre. Another chemical used for petal fall thinning is Accel. The rate for Accel is no more than 30 grams of active ingredient (53.4 fluid ounces product) per acre in 150 to 200 gallons of water. Accel has been shown to increase fruit size of some apple varieties like Gala, McIntosh, Paula Red, and Golden Delicious if applied when the fruit is less than 10 mm.

Consider spraying NAA early when the fruit diameter is less than12 mm, preferably 9 to 10 mm. If fruit size is larger than 12 mm, then consider a mixture of full rate of Sevin and a half rate of NAA or Accel. Do not apply NAA when fruit size is larger than 15 mm and never combine NAA with Accel so you don't get pygmy fruits, especially on spur varieties like 'Spur Delicious' and 'Gala'. When all else fails, consider using Ethrel if fruit size is larger than 20 mm, but you can over-thin with ethrel, especially on spur type 'Delicious.' I have seen a report which suggests that ethrel is less effective when fruit size is small (8mm), but its effectiveness increases as fruit size increases. Make sure to read the label before applying any chemical.

To see if the thinner worked, I suggest that you cut a few fruits in half, soon after you apply the thinner, leaving the stem half attached to the tree. Mark the place where these fruits are and check on them after about 10 days. If they dropped, select a branch with a heavy fruit set then shake it vigorously. Count the number of fruits that are left attached to that branch. If there are more fruits left than necessary, then you can use a single application of either Sevin or NAA at full rate. Most thinners work best in the first application. Hand-thin clusters to one to two fruits.

To date there are no reliable chemical thinners for peaches, although some studies have shown that an application of 100 to 125 ppm GA3 before bloom induced some thinning but had no effect after bloom even when the concentration was doubled. In general, peach fruit clusters are still thinned by hand, usually to a single fruit every 6 to 9 inches depending on the cultivar, tree age and vigor.

Mosbah Kushad (217-244-5691; kushad@uiuc.edu)

Fruit Insect Management Considerations

Oriental fruit moth, codling moth, and lesser peachtree borer updates

In issue 4 on April 30, 2008, I noted that biofix dates for oriental fruit moth so far range from April 20 at Echo Valley Orchard south of Murphysboro to April 25 at the University of Illinois orchard sites near Urbana. Biofix near Brussels in Calhoun County was April 21. From those biofix dates, degree-day accumulations and projections, base 45 F, from nearest Illinois State Water Survey weather stations are:

Biofix Date

DD Base 45 F, through May 13

DD Base 45 F, projected through May 20

DD Base 45 F, projected through May 27

Murphysboro
(Carbondale weather data)

April 20

350

485

629

Brussels
(Brownstown weather data)

April 21

303

438

579

Urbana
(Champaign weather data)

April 25

199

321

447

For growers in Calhoun County who are using Isomate OFM Rosso pheromone dispensers to control oriental fruit moth by mating disruption and are timing applications so that dispensers are in place just before second generation flight, keep in mind that second flight will begin around 950 DD base 45 F after the beginning of first generation flight. The degree-day projections above (629 through May 27) suggest that applications can wait until very late May or early June.

Biofix for codling moth in far southern Illinois was May 3, 2008. Egg hatch begins approximately 240 DD base 50 F after biofix. Cold temperatures have delayed codling moth flight significantly, and where growers have captured only one or two moths in several traps, waiting to get a more significant flight before starting the phenology model on codling moth is probably appropriate. Note the recommended timing for first application of various codling moth insecticides based on degree-day accumulations in the table on page 15 of the 2008 Midwest Tree Fruit Spray Guide.

Traps at Echo Valley Orchard near Murphysboro picked up lesser peachtree borer moths on May 6, 2008. I usually do not keep track of degree-day accumulations for lesser peachtree borer development, but the general rule for spray timing where this insect is a problem is to make an initial spray to trunk and scaffold branches 7 to 14 days after traps first begin to catch moths in the spring. Another application in August may also be necessary. See page 34 of the 2008 Midwest Tree Fruit Spray Guide for more comments on the control of this insect and for a list of registered and effective insecticides.

Rick Weinzierl (217-244-2126; weinzier@uiuc.edu)

Altacor Labeled for Use on Grapes, Apples, and Peaches

Altacor, a new insecticide containing the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole (rynaxypyr) has been labeled by the US EPA for use on grapes, pome fruits (including apples), and stone fruits (including peaches). Altacor is produced and marketed by DuPont and is sold as a water dispersible granule that is 35 percent active ingredient by weight. Altacor is effective primarily against larval stages of Lepidoptera (so such pests as codling moth, oriental fruit moth, leafrollers, and grape berry moth. Altacor applied at 3 ounces per acre has been very effective against codling moth in apples in small-plot trials in the University of Illinois orchard. The label allows application of up to 9 ounces of Altacor 35 WG per season on grapes, apples, and peaches; the PHI for grapes and apples is 14 days; the PHI for peaches is 10 days.

Rick Weinzierl (217-244-2126; weinzier@uiuc.edu)


Vegetable Production and Pest Management

Colorado Potato Beetle Revisited

In issue 4 on April 30, I included Colorado potato beetle among the early season pests to monitor and control as needed. A call from southern Illinois about troubles controlling this insect points out the need to provide a few more details ...

Colorado potato beetle is one of a few insect species that might serve as a "poster child" (or poster insect) for an educational campaign on insecticide resistance. Populations in various locations around the globe have developed resistance to many different insecticides, and individual populations may show resistance to several unrelated insecticides. Where more than one mechanism of resistance makes a population resistant to unrelated chemicals, the phenomenon is known as multiple resistance ... and the Colorado potato beetle is the often-cited example. The 2008 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers lists around 20 different active ingredients for Colorado potato beetle control, and those ingredients represent at least 10 different modes of action (and 10 different Insecticide Resistance Group numbers). As you choose insecticides for Colorado potato beetle control, Keep in mind the following guidelines:

  • First, follow the cultural practices that help to avoid heavy infestations: rotate crops so that beetles have to move from last year's infested fields (where they overwintered in the soil) to this year's susceptible crops (potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant). Placing susceptible crops as far as possible from last year's infested fields delays and reduces beetle invasion. Straw mulching the outer rows of fields also slows buildup; trenching and propane flaming also are options.
  • Treat according to need. Thresholds are based on percent defoliation; if damage is light, don't use an insecticide, because doing so contributes to future resistance problems. Allowable defoliation (amount of leaf area loss) is 20 to 30 percent prebloom, 5 to 10 percent during flowering, and 30 percent during tuber growth.
  • Choose and rotate insecticides among different modes of action and resistance groups. See page 125 of the 2008 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers for a partial listing of insecticides and resistance groups. For more information on insecticide modes of action and resistance groups, see the IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee) Mode of Action Classification Scheme.
    • If you have used a certain insecticide in the past (for example, a pyrethroid such as Pounce, Asana, Baythroid, or Mustang Max, or a neonicotinoid such as Admire, Provado, Platinum, Actara, or Assail), plan a rotation that includes insecticides in a different class (and IRAC group). Compounds that differ in mode of action from the pyrethroids and neonicotinoids listed above (and from each other) include Agri-Mek, Avaunt, Endosulfan, Monitor, Rimon, Sevin, and SpinTor / Entrust / Delegate.
    • If an insecticide fails to give control, don't use it again. Switch to a different insecticide with a different mode of action.

Image of Colorado potato beetle adult, eggs, and larvae
Left to right: Colorado potato beetle adult (Ric Bessin, Univ. of Kentucky; http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef304.asp), eggs (Univ. of Massachusetts; www.umassvegetable.org/soil_crop_pest_mgt/ins...), and larvae (Univ. of Idaho; http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/keys/plates/plate36.htm).

Coragen Labeled for Use on Some Vegetable Crops

Coragen, a new insecticide containing the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole (rynaxypyr) has been labeled by the US EPA for use on certain vegetable crops. Coragen is produced and marketed by DuPont and is sold as a liquid formulation containing 1.67 pounds active ingredient per gallon. The new federal label allows use on cole crops, leafy vegetables, cucurbits, and fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant for the control of larval stages of Lepidoptera (so such pests as imported cabbageworm, diamondback moth, cabbage looper, tomato fruitworm, etc.). Coragen is not yet labeled for use on sweet corn, but a Section 18 Exemption request is pending for such use for the control of corn earworm. Continue to check this newsletter over the next several weeks for updates.

Rick Weinzierl (217-244-2126; weinzier@uiuc.edu)

Herbicides Containing 2,4-D or Dicamba

It has been a late spring, cold and wet. Many herbicides are likely to be applied in the next few weeks, even if it is windy. Also, there is likely to be more applications of postemergence herbicides. So, now is the time to work on avoiding drift from herbicides. Growth regulator herbicides, such as 2,4-D and dicamba, are a common cause of drift injury to fruit and vegetable crops. The best way to avoid injury is to not apply growth regulator herbicides and ask your neighbors not to use them. Dicamba and 2,4-D are the active ingredients in many common corn, small grain, turf, brush, and total vegetation control products. Also, 2,4-D and/or dicamba are in many weed and feed products that are used for lawns. A few examples are: 3-seasons Fertilizer with Broadleaf Weed Control (2,4-D); ACE Green Weed and Feed (2,4-D + dicamba); Andersons Professional Turf Product (2,4-D + dicamba); Bayer Advanced Triple Action Lawn Fertilizer and Weed Control (2,4-D + dicamba); Blain's Farm & Fleet Estate Weed and Feed (2,4-D + dicamba); Greenview 2-Way Green Power (2,4-D + dicamba); and Lebanon Proscape (2,4-D + dicamba). Avoid applying these products near fruit or vegetable plantings and do not use grass clippings from treated areas as mulch.

John Masiunas, (217-244-4469; masiunas@uiuc.edu)

Table 1. Herbicide products containing dicamba and their major use.

Trade name

Other active ingredients besides dicamba

Use

Banvel

 

Corn

Clarity

 

Corn

Diablo

 

Corn

Dicam

 

Corn

Rifle

 

Corn

Vanquish

 

Turf

Vision

 

Corn

 

Brash

2,4-D

Small grains

Celebrity Plus

nicosulfuron + diflufenzopyr

Corn

Cimarron Max

2,4-D + metsulfuron

Total vegetation

Cool Power

MCPA + triclopyr

Turf

Disappear

MCPP + 2,4-D

Turf

Distinct

diflufenzopyr

Corn

End Run

2,4-D + MCPP

Turf

Escalade

2,4-D + fluroxypyr

Turf

Gordon's Brushmaster & similar products

2,4-D + 2,4-DP

Brush

Horsepower

MCPA + triclopyr

Turf

Liberator 531

MCPP + 2,4-D

Turf

Marksman, Dicambazine

atrazine

Corn

Millennium Ultra

2,4-D + clopyralid

Turf

Northstar

primisulfuron

Corn

Outlaw

2,4-D

Small grains

Overdrive, Status

diflufenzopyr

Corn

Power Zone

carfentrazone + MCPA + MCPP

Turf

Quincet

quinclorac + 2,4-D

Turf

Range Star

2,4-D

Small grains

Speed Zone

carfentrazone + 2,4-D + MCPP

Turf

Surge Power

MCPA + triclopyr

Turf

Super Trimec

2,4-D + 2,4-DP

Turf

Three-Way, Trimec Classic, Triplet

2,4-D + MCPP

Turf

Tri-Power

MCPA + MCPP

Turf

Vessel

MCPP + 2,4-D

Turf

Weed-A-Cide

MCPP + 2,4-D

Turf

Weed-B-Gon

2,4-D + MCPP

Turf

Weedmaster

2,4-D

Small grains

Yukon

halosulfuron

Corn

 

Table 2. Herbicide products containing 2,4-D and their most common use.

Trade name

Other active ingredients besides 2,4-D

Use

Amine 400

 

Many

Brush Killer

 

Brush

Brush, Vine & Poison Ivy

 

Brush

Formula 40

 

Many

Hardball

 

Corn

Hi-Dep

 

Total vegetation

LV 400

 

Corn

Orchard Clean

 

Fruit

Phenoxy 088

 

Corn

Unision

 

Corn

 

Brash

dicamba

Small grains

Crossbow

triclopyr

Total vegetation

Cimarron Max

dicamba + metsulfuron

Total vegetation

Disappear

MCPP + dicamba

Turf

Dissolve

MCPP + dichlorprop

Turf

End Run

dicamba + MCPP

Turf

Escalade

dicamba + fluroxypyr

Turf

Gordon's Brushmaster & similar products

dicamba + 2,4-DP

Brush

Liberator 531

MCPP + dicamba

Turf

Millennium Ultra

clopyralid + dicamba

Turf

Momentum

triclopyr + clopyralid

Small grains

Outlaw

dicamba

Small grains

Quincet

quinclorac + dicamba

Turf

Range Star

dicamba

Small grains

Recoil

glyphosate

Many

Shotgun

atrazine

Turf

Speed Zone

carfentrazone + dicamba + MCPP

Turf

Spoiler, Weed Whacker

MCPP

Turf

Strike Ultra

clopyralid + 2,4-DP

Turf

Super Trimec

2,4-DP + dicamba

Turf

Three-Way

MCPP + dicamba

Turf

Triamine

MCPP + dichlorprop

Turf

Trimec Classic, Triplet

dicamba + MCPP

Turf

Trisel

MCPP

Turf

Turflon II Amine, Chaser

triclopyr

Turf

Vessel

MCPP + dicamba

Turf

Weed-A-Cide

MCPP + dicamba

Turf

Weed-B-Gon

MCPP + dicamba

Turf

Weedmaster

dicamba

Small grains

Weedone 638

2,4-DP

Corn


Less seriously ...

There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.

The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words "The" and "IRS" together it spells "Theirs?"




University of Illinois Extension Specialists in Fruit and Vegetable Production & Pest Management

Extension Educators – Local Food Systems and Small Farms

Bronwyn Aly, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline, and White counties

618-382-2662

baly@illinois.edu

Katie Bell, Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph, & Williamson counties

618-687-1727

klbell@illinois.edu

Sarah Farley, Lake & McHenry counties

847-223-8627

sfarley@illinois.edu

Nick Frillman, Woodford, Livingston, & McLean counties

309-663-8306

frillma2@illinois.edu

Laurie George, Bond, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, & Washington counties

618-548-1446

ljgeorge@illinois.edu

Zachary Grant, Cook County

708-679-6889

zgrant2@illinois.edu

Doug Gucker, DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties

217-877-6042

dgucker@illinois.edu

Erin Harper, Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermillion counties

217-333-7672

harper7@illinois.edu

Grace Margherio, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, St. Clair County

217-244-3547

gracem@illinois.edu

Grant McCarty, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties

815-235-4125

gmccarty@illinois.edu

Katie Parker, Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler counties

217-223-8380

keparkr2@illinois.edu

Kathryn Pereira, Cook County

773-233-2900

kpereira@illinois.edu

James Theuri, Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties

815-933-8337

jtheu50@illinois.edu

Extension Educators – Horticulture

Chris Enroth, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties

309-837-3939

cenroth@illinois.edu

Richard Hentschel, DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties

630-584-6166

hentschel@illinois.edu

Andrew Holsinger, Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, & Montgomery counties

217-532-3941

aholsing@illinois.edu

Extension Educators - Commercial Agriculture

Elizabeth Wahle, Fruit & Vegetable Production

618-344-4230

wahle@illinois.edu

Nathan Johanning, Madison, Monroe & St. Clair counties

618-939-3434

njohann@illinois.edu

Campus-based  Extension Specialists

Kacie Athey, Entomology

217-244-9916

kathey@illinois.edu

Mohammad Babadoost, Plant Pathology

217-333-1523

babadoos@illinois.edu


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