​Weed Control using Pre-emergence Herbicide Strip Application System Along with Sowing/Planting Devices

A 6-row pre-emergence herbicide strip-application system was designed and developed at ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal as an attachment to inclined-plate planter to apply herbicide at the time of sowing in widely spaced crops to control weeds along the crop rows, often not possible in mechanical weeding. It consisted of a frame on which 6 flat fan spray nozzles were mounted by means of clamps, a single action piston pump with 9 l/min capacity, pressure regulator valve and pressure gauge and pressure pipes. The spacing between the spray nozzles, angle and height of spray nozzles can be varied by adjusting the clamps. The developed system has ability of strip as well as blanket application of herbicide. The same machine can be used as post-emergence herbicide/pesticide applicator after the removal of furrow openers and increasing the height of nozzles from the ground. The machine was tested and evaluated during Kharif season for soybean and pigeon pea crops. The field capacity of the developed system was found to be 0.4 ha/h. The operating cost of the pre-emergence herbicide applicator with inclined plate planter was worked out as Rs 1350/- per ha. It can save about 40-50% herbicide.

Finding the Correct Pesticide Applicator License in Florida

It can be difficult to determine which pesticide license is needed for an applicator's specific situation. Each license has unique study material, a different fee structure, and varied CEU requirements. This new 71-page publication utilizes a "dichotomous key" for the pesticide license process to help guide users to the correct license. Each license category page will also provide all the relevant information needed to get and maintain a license in the state of Florida.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi292

Calibration of Herbicide Applicators

If pesticide applicator equipment is not properly calibrated, the pesticide will probably be applied below or above the desired application rate. This 3-page document discusses the two most common methods for sprayer calibration. Written by Jason A. Ferrell, Brent A. Sellers, and Pratap Devkota, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised May 2020. Previous version: Ferrell, Jason, and Brent Sellers. 2009. “Calibration of Herbicide Applicators”. EDIS 2009 (10). https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/118262.

The pesticide applicator profile of São José dos Quatro Marcos - MT

In order for the correct final destination of empty pesticide packaging to occur, the participation of the entire production chain, from the manufacturer, shopkeeper to the users (farmers) must be involved. The legislation is very clear and demanding about correct disposal, but control is sometimes flawed, and incorrect disposal occurs which can poison humans and contaminate water bodies and animals. This is likely due to lack of information and training or even insufficient information. Thus, the objective of this research was to diagnose the behavior of a group of farmers from São José dos Quatro Marcos (MT) regarding the correct disposal of empty pesticide packages, through semi-structured interviews and bibliographic research. We conclude that the educational level of farmers could be one of the major factors interfering with their knowledge of pesticides, causing this lack of prior knowledge to result in actions understood as being commonplace when working with pesticides.

Study Questions for the Certified Pesticide Applicator Examination: Natural Areas Weed Management

The following questions are intended to help prepare you for taking the Natural Areas Weed Management Certified Pesticide Applicator Examination. It should be used along with IFAS publications SP 295 Natural Area Weed Management - A Training Manual for Restricted Use Pesticide Applicators and SP 257 Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas, which can be obtained from the IFAS Extension Book store by calling 800-226-1764 (local 359-392-1764) or from http://ifasbooks.ufl.edu. For some questions you will need a copy of a Garlon 4 herbicide label, which can be obtained from http://www.cdms.net/manuf/manuf.asp. Answers to all questions can be found in these publications. You will greatly improve your ability to achieve a passing examination score by locating the answers to the study questions and writing them down. This document is SS-AGR-255, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Instituteof Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Published August 2005.

Survey of Missouri Pesticide Applicator Practices, Knowledge, and Perceptions

The introduction of soybean and cotton traits with resistance to synthetic auxin herbicides has led to an increase in concern over the off-target movement of dicamba and 2,4-D. A direct-mail survey was sent to Missouri pesticide applicators in January of 2016 to understand current herbicide application practices and applicator knowledge and awareness of the new synthetic auxin technologies. Completed surveys were returned by 2,335 applicators, representing approximately 11% of the state’s registered pesticide applicators. Survey data reported herein provides information regarding current pesticide applicator knowledge and practices and highlights areas that need more emphasis during applicator training. Overall, survey respondents were familiar with physical drift and methods to minimize that risk. However respondents were less familiar with volatility and temperature inversions, which can each influence off-target herbicide movement. Of the 427 commercial applicators and 1,535 noncommercial applicators who answered questions regarding volatility, 81% and 74% respectively, recognized that high temperatures can contribute to a herbicide’s ability to volatilize. However, only 48% and 39% understood that a herbicide’s vapor pressure influences volatility. Answers from the survey indicate further education is needed on the synthetic auxin technologies, such as what herbicides can be used with each technology, proper methods for inspecting and cleaning spray equipment, and the importance of reading herbicide labels. When asked whether applicators were aware of the new 2,4-D-resistant and dicamba-resistant traits, 76% of 443 commercial applicators and only 40% of 1,713 noncommercial applicators selected “yes.” Additionally, survey results suggests that current methods aimed to facilitate communication among producers and applicators, such as FieldWatch and Flag the Technology, may not be successfully adopted, at least in Missouri. Findings from this survey can be utilized to enhance training of pesticide applicators in preparation for the synthetic auxin herbicide technologies.

Pesticide Applicator CEU Opportunities via the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Offices On-Line Interactive Tutorials

PI-144, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Fred Fishel and Jason Ferrell, describes the development of interactive tutorials for pesticide applicator CEU credit, includes information on how to purchase then and submit the files for approval. Published by the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office, January 2007.