Pest control in crops grown in northwestern New Mexico, 2012

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Pest Control in Crops Grown in Northwestern
New Mexico, 2012
Annual Data Report 100-2012
Richard N. Arnold, Michael K. O’Neill, Daniel Smeal, Kevin A. Lombard,
and Margaret M. West1
Cooperative Extension Service • College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
INTRODUCTION
Weeds cause more total crop losses than any other ag­ricultural pest (Arnold, 1981–2008; Hall et al., 1995; Currie, 2004; Lorenzi and Jeffery, 1987). Weeds reduce crop yields and quality, harbor insects and plant diseases, and cause irrigation and harvesting problems (Chandler et al., 1984; Lorenzi and Jeffery, 1987; Currie, 2005; Massinga et al., 1999, 2003). As a result, weeds reduce the total value of agricultural products in the United States by 10 to 15% (Lorenzi and Jeffery, 1987).
Estimated average losses during 1975 to 1979 in the potential production of field corn, potatoes, and onion ranged from 7 to 16% in the Mountain States Region, which includes New Mexico (Chandler et al., 1984). San Juan County ranks first in potato production, fourth in alfalfa production, and second in corn pro­duction among all New Mexico counties (New Mexico Agricultural Statistics, 2007).
An estimated 90% of all tillage operations are for weed control (J.G. Foster, personal communications, 2005–2007). Herbicides can reduce the number of required tillage operations and can be used where cul­tivation is not possible, such as within crop rows or in solid-seeded crops. With increasing fuel and labor costs, herbicides are often more economical than other meth­ods of weed control.
Many herbicides are approved for use on crops grown on medium- and fine-textured, high-organic soils. Little information is available, however, regarding their effec­tiveness and safety on low-organic, coarse-textured soils that are common to northwestern New Mexico.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has become more stringent with regard to research data re­quired for pesticide approval. Thus, it has become criti­cal that state Agricultural Science Centers work closely with commercial companies developing new pesticides in order to obtain the research data required by the EPA. This cooperation will benefit the agricultural industry of the state and assist EPA pesticide registration.
Before 1980, the use of herbicides in northwestern New Mexico was limited. Most growers were still using 2,4-D in corn for broadleaf weed control, while annual
1Respectively, College Professor, Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, and Superintendent, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington; Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; College Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Assistant Professor, Agricultural
Science Center at Farmington; and Research Assistant, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, all of New Mexico State University.
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction........................................................................1
Monsanto, Broadleaf Weed Control in Spring-
Seeded Roundup Ready Alfalfa.....................................2
BASF, Headline SC Applications for Established
Roundup Ready Alfalfa Production...............................3
BASF, Broadleaf Weed Control in Field Corn with
Preemergence Followed by Sequential
Postemergence Herbicides with or without
Headline SC, Headline AMP, and
Priaxor Applied alone or in Combination......................4
Bayer CropScience, Broadleaf Weed Control in
Field Corn with Preemergence Followed by
Sequential Postemergence Herbicides............................5
DuPont Crop Protection, Broadleaf Weed Control
in Field Corn with Preemergence Followed by
Sequential Postemergence Herbicides............................6
Bayer CropScience, Broadleaf Weed Control in
Grain Sorghum with Preemergence Followed
by Sequential Postemergence Herbicides.......................6
References.........................................................................14
Notice to Users of this Report...........................................16