PESTICIDES

A pesticide is any chemical that is used to control pests.

PISCICIDES

INSECTICIDES

FUNGICIDES

RODENTICIDES

HERBICIDES

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General and Restricted Use Pesticides

GENERAL-USE PESTICIDES

• Less likely to harm the user or the environment when used according label instructions.

• Anyone can buy and apply general-use pesticides.

• 2,4-D, Banvel, Weed Master, Escort.

RESTRICTED-USE PESTICIDES (RUP)

• Can harm the environment or the applicator when not used as directed.

• Licensing and certification are required for purchase and use.

• Tordon 22K, Hoelon 3EC, Furadan, Warrior, Phostoxin

WHAT’S A FORMULATION?How the pesticide is packaged.

One pesticide = many forms.

COMMON EXAMPLE

SOAP

LIQUID

POWDERED - DRY

BATH GEL

Active Ingredients – a.i.Part of the formulation that kills the pest

Inert Ingredients

Make the formulation easier to handle or store.

A PESTICIDE FORMULATION IS MADE UP OF ONE OR MORE CHEMICALS:

Examples: talc and clay for dry formulations. Alcohols, solvents and antifreeze for liquid formulations

Active Ingredient

Inert Ingredient

Tordon 22K

COMMONLY USE DRY FORMULATIONS

• WP – Wettable powder

• WSB or WSP – Water Dispersable Bag or Water Soluble Packet

• DF – Dry Flowable

• WDG – Water Dispersable Granule

• P or G – Pellets or Granule

Wettable Powders (WP)• Finely ground dry material like talc and clay are the “carriers” • Active ingredient (a.i.) is bound to the carrier• Mixed with water - the a.i. is released into the solution

Examples:

• Sevin 50 W insecticide

• Kerb 50 W herbicide

• Sniper 50 W insecticide

WATER SOLUBLE PACKETS OR BAGS

Examples: Ammo WSP insecticide Thiodan WSB insecticide Some 2,4-D products

• Pre-weighted amounts of dry active formulation.

• Usually pellets

• Packaged in water-soluble plastic bags that dissolve in water.

WATER SOLUBLE PACKETS OR BAGS

ADVANTAGES

Reduce handling hazards associated with highly toxic pesticides. Plastic-like covering of bag acts as a barrier.

DISADVANTAGES

Packets dissolve when exposed to water

Bags or packets are usually premixed at a specific rate.

FLOWABLES (F)

Examples: Bravo 720 F fungicide Furadan 4 F insecticide

The finely ground active ingredient is suspended in a liquid and then mixed with

water for application.

Texture similar to Pepto Bismol

DRY FLOWABLES (DF)WATER DISPERSABLE GRANULES

Examples: Escort DF herbicide Escort XP herbicide Ally herbicide Amber herbicide

• Like WPs

• Active ingredient (a.i.)is formulated on a small granule instead of powder.

• Texture similar to bread yeast.

DRY FLOWABLES (DF)WATER DISPERSABLE GRANULES

ADVANTAGES Less exposure to fine dusts. Easier to mix than WPs

DISADVANTAGES Needs agitation

Difficult to keep suspended in backpacks. Escort DF is a good example.

Considerations For Dry Formulations

• Inhalation hazard due the dry carrier.

• Abrasive to equipment.

• Usually need to premix in water first. G and P formulations are the exception

• Easier on non-target, non-crop plants

• Easier to store

COMMONLY USED LIQUID FORMULATIONS

• EC –emulsifiable concentrate• S - soluble

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC)

Liquid formulation containing: the active ingredient, one or more solvents and an emulsifier to aid in mixing with water.

Examples:

2,4-D ester Curtail M, Treflan EC Fargo EC®.

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC)

ADVANTAGES

Little agitation required. Won’t settle out when equipment is turned off.

Relatively non-abrasive. Easy to handle, store and transport

DISADVANTAGES

Because of the solvents and emulsifiers, EC’s are a hazard to non-target plants and animals.

Easily absorbed through skin of plants and humans.

Solvents may cause rubber or plastic hoses & gaskets to deteriorate.

SOLUBLE (S)A liquid formulation in which the active

ingredient readily dissolves in water. Consists of the active ingredient and additives.

Examples

Tordon 22K® Krenite S Roundup®. Many 2,4-D products

Advantage: Will not separate or settle out when mixed

with water. Not as harmful to non-target plants

and animalsDisadvantage: Not many disadvantages.

SOLUBLE (S)

Considerations for Liquid Formulations

Liquid formulation are more easily absorbed by the skin.

More inert ingredients may damage non-target plants, insects or

animals.

-- Storage considerations --Containers may leak.

Formulations may freeze

Formulation Mixing OrderFill the spray tank 1/4 full of water . Begin agitation. Add any compatibility adjuvants or other additives used to counteract hard water conditions (water conditioners, ammonium sulfate, etc.)

Pre-mix Dry formulations in a small bucket before adding to the spray tank. Add to the tank

Agitate until the dry formulations are uniformly dispersed. Add water as needed.

Add Liquids (L).

Add Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)

Add Surfactants go in last.

Top off the tank, continue agitation

until the pesticides are properly mixed.

WP or WDG

PESTICIDE COMPATIBILITY

If the label doesn’t prohibit it, 2 or more pesticides may be mixed together to control

more than one pest during a single application.

Be careful! Some pesticides may be not mix well together and this

may cause the pesticides not to work. May even damage equipment and plug up hoses.

Compatibility TestAlways wear the labeled personal protective equipment (PPE) when mixing or pouring pesticides for any reason…even for a compatibility test.

Perform this test in a safe area away from food and sources of ignition.

Pesticides used in this test can be applied to a labeled site.

Rinse all utensils and jars and dispose of the rinse water (called rinsate) onto a site listed on the pesticide label.

Do not use utensils or jars for any other purpose after they have contacted pesticides. Mark these containers clearly!

Compatibility TestUse a clean, clear quart-size jar.

Fill the jar to about ¼ full with water.

Add pesticide(s) to the jarsOne teaspoon of a liquid formulation in one quart of water is roughly equivalent to 1 quart of pesticide in 50 gallons of water per acre.

Add the remaining water.

DOES THE MIXTURE SEPARATE?

IS THERE EXCESS CLUMPING?

Screw on the lid and shake the jar. Feel the sides of the jar.

Is there Settling?

IS THERE HEAT?

Water Quality and Pesticide Performance

• Minerals and pH levels in spray water can affect many pesticides

• Hard water can weaken some herbicides like Roundup®, Poast®, Pursuit® and Liberty®.

O-CH2-C-O- NaCl

Cl

Ca2+

Salt-based herbicide or a surfactantCalcium replaces the sodium

Use water-conditioning additives and ammonium sulfate-based adjuvants to offset

these hard water problems.

Water Quality and Pesticide Performance

• Extreme pH levels in the spray mixture can also cause some pesticides to break down prematurely.

• At pH > 7, organophosphate insecticides can breakdown in a matter of hours or minutes

• Sulfonyl urea (SU) herbicides (Escort, Ally) tend to break down more rapidly where the pH is < 7 (acidic).

* At a low pH, 2,4-D is an uncharged molecule * At a high pH, 2,4-D becomes anionic or negatively charged

OH-O-CH2-C-OH O-CH2-C-O

• This can slow its absorption into plants.

• Check pesticide labels for restrictions on hard water or pH levels.

-At high pH, 2,4-D tends to become more negatively charged.