ANTIEVAP

The problem
The weed management and moisture conservation practice of fallow spraying has been widely adopted by Australian farmers, for winter as well as summer cropping. Because some broadleaf weeds (such as afghan melons) with hairy and waxy leaf surfaces are hard to wet and penetrate, there has been a requirement to mix knockdown herbicides with highly volatile Phenoxy herbicides. Phenoxy herbicides such as MCPA, dicamba, 2,4-D and 2,4DB ( all Group I ) control a wide range of broadleaf weeds relatively cheaply. Their only disadvantage is that during some adverse climatic conditions, vapour and spray drift can move several kilometres away from the spray target and cause non-target damage to adjacent crops, shelterbelts and diversification tree crops.

The solution
The use of ANTIEVAP Spray Adjuvant (ANTIEVAP) will minimise this by encapsulating the herbicide active in the spray solution and depositing it on the leaf surface in a controlled, uniform size droplet. Because mineral based spray adjuvants strip the waxy cuticle off the leaf surface, it also assists the active herbicide to penetrate into the plant tissue .During summer spraying, low water rates with high temperatures and/or low relative humidity can cause rapid evaporation of the spray solution, which may reduce effectiveness. This is unsatisfactory, as herbicides need a period of time to penetrate the leaf surface to work properly. ANTIEVAP reduces the evaporation rate, allowing the active chemical time to do its job properly in the quickest time possible .Summer weed management is also effective in reducing fungal spore carry over, from grass weed species to cultivated crops.

Compatibilities
ANTIEVAP is compatible with the following herbicides and pesticides:

CROPSHIELD

Product Overview
Recent trial evidence has shown that some types of spray oils can greatly reduce the potential yield of cereals and pulse crops. This is caused by old technology surfactants, which are blended in the manufacturing processes of spray oil. They produce a phenol by-product during UV degradation, which damages the plant tissue, and interferes with the photosynthesis processes. It is also thought that the aggressive solvents contained in many cheap base oils used by some manufacturers can also damage plant tissue thus reducing crop yields. This also appears to interfere with the manufacture and laying down of proteins and carbohydrates during seed head formation. CROPSHIELD is a specially refined grade of agricultural base oil blended with the latest available technology in biodegradable non-ionic emulsifiers (surfactant). It is formulated for use as a spray adjuvant with a wide range of herbicides and insecticides to promote optimum leaf uptake and pesticide efficiency.

Advantages

• Extensive field experiments conducted in Australia indicate that CROPSHIELD significantly improves the performance of foliar applied herbicides compared with other available spray oils. Particularly the fop and dim actives.
• CROPSHIELD may also be used to achieve similar benefits with certain other plant protection chemicals like insecticides and fungicides.
• Contains biodegradable surfactants.
• Excellent emulsion stability under a range of water qualities and water rates, which improves the even dispersal of the chemical active.
• Assists herbicide penetration through waxy leaf surfaces by modifying the leaf cuticle.
• Reduces evaporation of spray solution before and after reaching the target leaf surface.
• Reduces the surface tension of the spray droplet, thereby aiding coverage.
• Produces a more uniform droplet reducing the very small and large droplets, alleviating the splash factor and evaporation.

Product Use
CROPSHIELD is generally applied at 1%-3% v/v (1-3L/100L) of spray solution in boom spray operations.
However, rate recommendations will vary according to:

• The specific type of herbicide(s),
• The prevailing weather and crop conditions, and
• Weed load at the time of spraying.

Compatibilities
CROPSHIELD is suitable for use in applications where a mineral oil, petroleum oils, crop oils or oil-based adjuvants are specified on the active chemicals ‘Table For Use’ instruction label. CROPSHIELD has been shown to be extremely effective when used with foliar applied herbicides and other crop protection products. Examples of these are outlined below (this is not an exhaustive list).

CROPSHIELD is NOT compatible with wettable sulphur or compounds containing sulphur such as lime sulphur.

ENHANCE

Product Overview
SACOA ENHANCE Spray Adjuvant (ENHANCE) has been developed through extensive research for use with certain foliar applied herbicides and insecticides. Its superior chemical formulation places ENHANCE at the forefront of spray adjuvant technology in Australasia. With herbicide resistance a significant issue, farmers are needing to ensure correct selection and application of post-emergent herbicides which needs to be supported by a well designed and formulated adjuvant. This enhanced effectiveness is supported by research showing that certain herbicides achieve far superior control of particular hard to kill weeds when applied in combination with specially formulated spray adjuvants. This, in conjunction with chemical and crop rotation, will maximise the efficiency of the particular chemical group.

Advantages
ENHANCE will outperform other older style crop oil type products and improve the overall cost-effectiveness of the spray application through:

• Maximising the biological potential of the pesticide active ingredient.
• Reducing the potential clogging or blockage of spray nozzles.
• Facilitating enhanced penetration of herbicides.
• Superior droplet control of herbicides by altering the spray solution characteristics.
• Minimising any inadvertent losses due to spray drift and/or evaporation.
• Offering extreme stability under low water rates.
• Increasing the amount of canopy deposition by the applied spray.
• Increasing coverage by modifying the surface characteristics of plant cuticular wax.
• Enhancing the degree and rate that some pesticides are absorbed by plant tissue, even in dry conditions.

Compatibilities

Incompatibility Issues
Incompatibility problems when tank mixing granulated products like Atrazine and other pesticides with spray adjuvants has been widely documented in recent times. Comprehensive testing by Agriculture Western Australia has indicated adjuvants with levels of surfactant greater than 15%, were physically more compatible in multiple tank mixes involving Atrazine than adjuvants with less than 5% total surfactant level. This was backed up by NuFarm research in 1998, with numerous trials determining the physical compatibility of Nutrazine DF 900® with a range of tank mixes of commercially available spray adjuvants. This work also found adjuvants with a surfactant content greater than 15% were less likely to cause problems.

Product Use
ENHANCE is generally used at a rate between 0.5% and 1% v/v (1L/100L) of spray volume as directed on the chemical label. However, rate recommendations will vary according to:

• The specific type of herbicide(s).
• The prevailing weather and crop conditions.
• Weed load at the time of spraying.

PLANTOCROP

Product Overview
SACOA PLANTOCROP Spray Adjuvant ( PLANTOCROP) is the result of a commitment by SACOA to drive the development of vegetable based products to complement their existing mineral-based range of spray oils and adjuvants. This commitment has involved years of research, and trial work to ensure that environmental responsibility and sustainability could be packaged alongside product effectiveness and superior crop safety. We have achieved this with PLANTOCROP - an esterified seed oil produced from food grade canola oil reacted with ethanol. It is comparable in performance to Crop Oil Concentrates (COC) in that they increase penetration of the pesticide by modifying the waxy cuticle on the leaf surface. This is done by the superior penetrating characteristics of the highly refined Esterified Seed Oil (ESO).

Advantages

• Non phytotoxic and biodegradable.
• Unique formulation improves efficiency of pesticides.
• Excellent emulsion stability in cold water.
• Demonstrated enhanced efficacy on selective post-emergent grass herbicides.
• Superior herbicide penetration through waxy leaf surfaces.
• Reduces evaporation of spray solution before and after reaching the target surface.
• Allows improved spreading and sticking to leaf surfaces due to reducing surface tension of spray droplet.
• Does well on weeds with waxy leaf surfaces such as annual grasses and cape weed.
• It is based on modified vegetable oil, so it is safe on crops, and the environment.
• PLANTOCROP will enhance penetrating properties of Herbicides and Pyrethroid insecticides.
• PLANTOCROP also has excellent UV stability. This enables the active chemicals to maintain stability and to be more available to the plant target. This results in a higher efficiency of the chemical product it is used with.

Trials undertaken at the Victorian Department of Agriculture have shown esterified vegetable oil based products (ethyl oleate and methyl oleate) to be very effective at enhancing the performance of the pyrethroid-based insecticides.

Compatibilities

Product Use
PLANTOCROP is generally used at a rate of 0.5L/100L of spray volume as directed on agrochemical labels. One exception is with the herbicide Select ®, where it is used at 1L/100L of spray volume.

Cold Condition Mixing
PLANTOCROP will mix well with most products in cold conditions. Labels such as Topik ® herbicide specifically state that in water 10C or below, an esterified seed oil product is the preferred adjuvant.

X-SEED

SACOA X-SEED Spray Oil (X-SEED) is an adjuvant for use with many horticultural and agricultural sprays that state on their labels that they are to be applied with a food-grade seed oil. X-SEED is based on a unique blend of emulsifiers and environmentally renewable, super de-gummed Canola oil. It is specifically designed to mix with and increase the effectiveness of most foliar nutrients, biopesticides such at BT's and growth regulators, herbicides, insecticides, defoliates, desiccation aids and certain fungicides. Because of high molecular weight of vegetable oils, and the relatively coarse spray deposit formed by X-SEED it also helps to minimise spray drift, and run-off, while at the same time increasing the contact coverage and uptake of the chemical by the spray target.

X-SEED will improve the effectiveness of pesticide sprays directed against mites, aphids, whitefly and fungi, as well as providing:

• Reduced wind drift
• Improved wetting
• Improved rain fastness
• Improved sticking and bonding of spray onto plant surface
• Protection and spreading of agricultural sprays into and onto the target

As a result of these features X-SEED significantly improves the performance of most herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and foliar nutrients resulting in a more cost effective and successful spray program.

Applications
Potential applications of X-SEED include use with:

• Herbicides
• Insecticides: including new bio-insecticides suitable for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs
• Protectant fungicides
• Foliar fertilisers and chelate trace elements
• Growth regulators and hormones
• Defoliates
• ULV Sprays as a bulking agent
• For micro encapsulation
• As a desiccation aid used to harvest crops such as potatoes

X-SEED can also be used to encapsulate pesticides by premixing the pesticides with X-SEED to increase spray efficacy, rain fastness and facilitate tank mixing of incompatible products and preventing hydrolysis.

Rates
Rates are dependant upon quality of chemical required though a minimum guide is a ratio of 25% X-SEED to active chemical volume premixed and added to the spray vat. For wettable powders or granular formulations add water at 1:1 ratio, mix into slurry, and add X-SEED. Always follow pesticide label instructions.

• Wettable sulphur pre bud burst label rates are 500g/100L - 660g/100L.
• Temperature should be @15°C at time of application.
• Avoid frosty conditions.
• Use high spray volume around vine crown @ 900L/Ha, (or 600L/Ha for very young vines).
• X-SEED added to the spray solution at 2% (10- 12 L/Ha minimum) may improve rust mite kill by 15-20%.

Spray Timing For Rust Mite
Possibly the most important aspect is that the critical spray window is at the start of rust mite migration, before feeding and egg lay. This is at woolly bud stage for most varieties except Cabernet Sauvignon, which should be sprayed between bud swell and woolly bud stage. Growers should be aware that canola oil is phytotoxic to grape foliage if applied after budburst.

Compatibility

• X-SEED is compatible with most commonly used agricultural and horticultural products.
• Always check the label of the product to be mixed with X-SEED.
• Do not use if the labels states that the chemical is not to be mixed with seed, vegetable or blended emulsifiable crop oil.
• Most seed oils can cause phytotoxicity in adverse climatic conditions.
• If a chemical label states that the product is to be used with a mineral oil or 'Water miscible summer oil" please follow this recommendation and contact your reseller for an appropriate SACOA product (such as BIOPEST).

Do NOT use X-SEED with

• Delan®
• Targa®
• Eurapen®
• Achieve®
• Dodine®
• Correct ® (Propaquizafop)
• Lime sulphur

COTTOIL

Product Overview
SACOA COTTOIL Spray Adjuvant has been specifically designed to meet the exacting standards of product performance and modern chemistry. Specially designed and blended, this narrow range emulsifiable spray oil is intended to be used for dual application in cotton, as either:

• A carrier for certain ULV or multi blend insecticides, or
• An adjuvant for defoliant sprays.

COTTOIL has been formulated to aid in retention whilst still optimising the performance, natural benefits and inherent qualities that certain petroleum spray oils can offer. That is why COTTOIL is well accepted by the agricultural sector and enjoys widespread use across a range of different growing conditions and cotton varieties.

Advantages
Excellent emulsion stability under a range of water qualities and water rates.

• Assists insecticide penetration, effectively modifying the epicuticular wax (lipid) surface of the pest to facilitate the passage of the pesticide more efficiently.
• Reduces evaporation of spray solution before and after reaching the target surface.
• Reduces the surface tension of the spray droplet, thereby aiding coverage.
• Produces a more uniform droplet reducing the very small and large droplets, alleviating the splash factor.
• Does not promote pest resistance and is suitable for use in IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and IRM (Integrated Resistance Management) programs

Compatibilities
COTTOIL has been tested for compatibility with a range of modern insecticides. Examples of these are outlined below.

Product Use
COTTOIL is registered for use as a defoliation aid and as a carrier for certain ULV insecticides. COTTOIL is applied at 2L/Ha when used as a defoliation aid and between 3-5L/Ha when sued as a carrier (refer insecticide label for rate recommendations). When using COTTOIL in boom spray operations, rates generally range between 1% - 3% v/v, rate recommendations will vary according to:

• The specific type of insecticide,
• The prevailing crop conditions, and
• Insect pressure at the time of spraying.

WETTA 1000

Product Overview
SACOA WETTA 1000 Biodegradable Surfactant (WETTA 1000) is specifically designed for use as an agricultural tank added adjuvant. Its excellent dynamic wetting ensures optimum pesticidal efficacy.

WETTA 1000 is the latest in Non-ionic Ethoxylates technology and recent efficacy trial work indicates it’s more robust than other leading brands containing 100% w/v non-ionic surfactant.

Advantages
WETTA 1000:

• Increases efficiency of foliar herbicides.
• Improves retention of spray droplets on foliage.
• Excellent Dynamic Surface Tension properties.
• Is 100% Biodegradable.
• Great compatibility with all types of herbicides.
• Provides optimal pesticide activity.
• Mixes easily and quickly.

Compatibilities
WETTA 1000 is suitable for use where a wetting agent is recommended on the herbicide label.

Product Use
WETTA 1000 should be added to most Herbicide sprays to increase their efficacy.

The excellent wetting properties of WETTA 1000 increases herbicide activity by improving spray coverage, droplet retention and uptake as evidenced in the trial results below.

WETTA 1000 can be used with both acid and alkaline sprays and mixes easily with all types of water. The recommended rate of use is 120mL per 100 litres.

WETTA 1000 can be applied through standard spray equipment.

Herbicide and water rates should be as per label recommendations to ensure adequate coverage.