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6 6 Effective Killers Vine desiccants in preparation for harvest ON THE HORIZON IS ANOTHER HARVEST, AS WELL AS ALL THE PREPARATION THAT PRECEDES IT. BECAUSE THERE’S MUCH TO DO AS FAR AS KILLING VINES AND PREPARING EQUIPMENT (NOT TO MENTION HARVESTING YOUR OTHER CROPS FIRST), YOU NEED A VINE DESICCANT THAT’LL PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON ALL THE MORE DEMANDING TASKS. HERE ARE SOME VINE DESICCANTS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. BAYER CROPSCIENCE RELY: Potato growers looking for higher yields and more sacks per acre have a new, highly effective and reliable solution with Rely 280 herbicide from Bayer CropScience. Rely 280, an advanced and more concentrated formulation of Rely herbicide, is now registered by the EPA for use in the U.S. Some chemical desiccants kill vines quickly, stopping tuber bulking prematurely. Rely 280 works more slowly, mimicking the natural senescence process and allowing tubers seven to 14 days of extra bulking time. CHEMTURA FIRESTORM: Firestorm contains the active ingredient, paraquat dichloride, in a 3-lb ai per- gallon formulation with a fast, cost-effective, burn-down weed control activity against most annual weeds and suppresses perennials on over 100 crops. It contains a non-toxic odor to help prevent accidental ingestions and an emetic (an agent which will induce vomiting if the product is swallowed). Firestorm is an ideal burn-down partner when applied in pre-plant or pre-emergence burn-down situations to sustain glyphosate performance and helps prevent glyphosate- resistant weeds from surviving and producing seeds that will emerge the following season. Firestorm is reliable in all weather conditions with no detrimental effect on efficacy, and it is known to be safe to crops with reduced labor requirements. Also, it is compatible with other herbicides, insecticides and liquid fertilizers, with no residue issue on harvested crops. Because clay and organic matter tie up Firestorm, there is no residual soil activity to affect later-planted crops or later germinating weeds. Visit www.chemturacrop.com. Rely 280 is a non-restricted chemistry, making it easier to handle and apply. Rainfast within four hours of application, Rely 280 has a re-entry period of 12 hours and a pre-harvest interval of 14 days. Visit www.bayercropscienceus. com. SIMPLOT SULFURIC ACID-93%: The J.R. Simplot Company manufactures sulfuric acid at its Don Plant in Pocatello, Idaho. A chemical process involving molten sulfur, air and water is reacted to form the finished sulfuric acid. Sulfuric Acid is a key ingredient in the phosphate fertilizer production at the Don Plant. Simplot also utilizes Sulfuric Acid as a labeled desiccant for local potato vine kill. “Sulfuric Acid Desiccant” is sold through Simplot’s Wholesale Group to its dealers, who in turn sell to their grower customers. Sulfuric acid is known as the most rapid and consistent potato desiccant. It does not depend on air temperature, soil moisture or plant health to drive its activity. Simplot is proud to have a product like “Sulfuric Acid Desiccant” to augment its fertilizer portfolio. Visit www.simplot.com. SYNGENTA REGLONE: The steady, reliable, vine-killing action of Reglone keeps you in step with your crop’s final development. Tubers bulk up while vines go down. Potatoes have a chance to set an attractive, durable skin—a process that takes 14 to 21 days— to protect your investment. Green tissue desiccates thoroughly, reducing the chance of transmitting fungal or viral diseases from foliage to tubers. Research shows that a steady top kill can reduce the incidence of stem-end discoloration and stem-end rot compared to fast vine-killing methods. Reglone rapidly destroys green plant tissue on contact. After application, penetration through the leaf surface occurs almost immediately. This absorption is increased by high light intensity and high humidity. Photosynthesis, the food producing process that occurs in the chlorophyll of green plant tissue in daylight, generates free electrons that reduce the diquat ion to a free radical form. Oxygen rapidly reconverts the free radical and in the process produces a superoxide. Visit www2.syngenta.com. 30 Potato Grower | JULY 2010 BUYER’S GUIDE | VINE DESICCANTS