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nafex - Clopyralid; was Re: [NAFEX] Bumper Crop/caution

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  • From: "gorgon zolla" <lazolla@hotmail.com>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Clopyralid; was Re: [NAFEX] Bumper Crop/caution
  • Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 15:26:34 -0500

<< Not only do you have to worry about herbicides in snarf leaves, but you have
to consider that leaves and grass clippings that have been subjected to the
clorpyralid class of herbicides will destroy your fruit crops. Anecdotal
information and some early studies reveal that cloryralids will inhibit
fruit formation for at least one season in stone fruits and pomes.
Washington state orchards suffered drift from this herbicide used by road
maintenance crew destroying roadside growth. The orchards' apples, pears
and peaches did not fruit the next season. Annuals died and perennials
didn't flower either. So....know your leaves and clippings. Ask about
their upbringing! >>

The residentail uses for Confront have been deleted from the product labels since mid-2002 (see http://www.dowagro.com/newsroom/news/072602.htm). Confront was the only clopyralid formulation labelled for use on residential lawns. Since Confront was only ever sold through commercial channels, not to homeowners, I doubt if there is any residential-labelled confront left today. The commercial uses that are still listed (mainly golf courses) require clippings to be kept out of any municipal compost flow.

Spray drifts containing clopyralid products will cause severe injury to trees if permitted to contact the foliage, like any of the phenoxy or pyridine families of herbicides. In fact, triclopyr, the other active ingredient in Confront, has far more potential for damaging drift (to trees) than the clopyralid, from what I have seen through using the each of the two chemicals alone.

However, because clopyralid is not mobile in the soil, mulch contaminated with clopyralid is unlikely to damage trees.

The reported injury with compost has mainly involved beans and other legumes, and tomatoes and other nightshades, both families that are unusually susceptible to clopyralid; also, it has involved situations where the roots of the plant penetrated the compost, or where the tender green growth has been in contact with the mulch, as with strawberries.

Steve Dunlop
Nerstrand, MN

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