Ohio State University Extension To Hold Herbicide Spray Drift Awareness Workshops
June 7, 2010 New herbicide-resistant field crop cultivars will be hitting the market within the next few years, which is causing some spray drift concerns among growers of more sensitive crops, like grapes, tomatoes, peppers, and cabbage.
Ohio State University Extension will be holding a series of free workshops the month of June to address grower concerns and bring growers together to increase communication among neighbors.
“We wanted to launch a series of outreach and educational efforts to draw awareness to these new technologies and improve communication among producers,” says Doug Doohan, an Ohio State University Extension fruit and vegetable specialist. “In addition, we want to open discussions to characterize the risks. If drift does occur, what crops would be most impacted, what are the injuries, and how will that affect yields?”
Within the next three to four years, field crop cultivars with resistance to dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides are anticipated to hit the market. The new herbicide-resistant cultivars are intended to provide producers additional protection against weeds that glyphosate can no longer control.
The concern is that any spray drift from dicamba or 2,4-D herbicide applications could harm nearby vegetable and fruit crops that are sensitive to such chemical exposure.
Educational workshops, which will include vineyard cultural practices, will be held at the following dates and locations:
• June 15, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – The Winery at Otter Creek, 5291 Bennington Chapel Road, Johnstown, OH
• June 17, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Valley Vineyards, U.S. 22 and Ohio State Route 3, Morrow, OH
• June 22, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Dead Drop Vineyards, Seneca County, OH
• June 24, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – OARDC Ahstabula Agricultural Research Station, 2625 South Ridge East, Kingsville, OH
The information also will be shared at a viticulture workshop at OSU South Centers at Piketon, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, on Aug. 13.
For more information or to register, contact Dave Scurlock at [email protected].
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