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Missouri and Nebraska

2013

Update to EPA

July 25 2013 Washington D C EPA Headquarters July 25, 2013 Washington D.C., EPA Headquarters

Four eco-monitoring 

sites

in Missouri.

Stewardship underway in 

MO-01 and MO 01 and MO-02.
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 Annual state level meetings were held to update 

agencies on the program Agencies included: agencies on the program. Agencies included: ◦ NRCS, MODNR, MO Dept of Ag, USDA-ARS, Ag Retailers 

Assoc., Missouri Corn Growers Association, and 

University of Missouri Extension

 Annual watershed meetings were held to update 

and educate growers and retailers about the 

project.

 One on One visits with every farmer and retailer 

in the watershed were conducted multiple times 

throughout the year to gather information and 

raise awareness.
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 Contact with - 90 growers in MO-01 MO-02 along with 20-25 retailers and wholesalers for the 2013 season

 December 2012 –

 Grower/retailer meeting in MO-07 to update all on 2012 water runoff numbers for the Honey Creek watershed. 

History of the project, label education and plan for the 2013 growing season were discussed. 

 J y anuar –March 2013

 Various meetings held and attended to in conjunction with Missouri Corn Growers association. Growers across 

northeast, east central and central Missouri were updated on the atrazine watersheds. 

 More specific presentations were given in the MO-08 area at the Audrain County Crop Conference. Growers were able 

to view maps, water runoff numbers and learn what they could do to help be proactive. 

 Retailers were visited in all watersheds. Managers were able to ask questions and see how the dry and impacted their 

area. Supervisor was along for visits to retailers as sometimes “another approach” is good.

 Attended and visited with growers at local MFA open house in MO-08. Growers were able to see maps ask questions 

regarding the project. Followed up with growers from the Crop Conference in January.

 Attended Pesticide Applicators Training held in county. 

◦ Visited with local growers that spray their own ground regarding watershed and atrazine project. (personally know 

these people)

 Presentation with a wholesaler to promote watershed work and update growers in the MO-02 area.

 Communication with Waterborne regarding grower contacts and changes in the watersheds

 Grower visits in MO – 01/02 to review previous year and discuss changes and plans for 2013

 Attended open house and weed meeting and MO-02 to gain more knowledge of 2013 plans and also was 

acknowledged by manager due to watershed history

 Communication with Waterborne regarding samplers and grower contacts in the watersheds

 April – July 2013

 Grower visits in MO – 01/02 to review previous year and discuss changes and plans for 

2013

 Retailer RE-visits to review 2013 pl dd h f h lans and discuss any questions either of us have 

regarding growers or the watershed (May)

 Meeting with Waterborne and Syngenta in the watershed to review project and “see” the 

watershed and samplers

 Retailer contacts to discuss what was done/planned for 2013 due to the weather and 

short windows of opportunities (July – retailers are eager to hear how the watersheds 

did)

 Attended 4R Nutrient Summit in Iowa

 Participating in the Missouri Nutrient Reduction Strategies Committee 

 Presented to Area 2 Presented to Area 2 – Northeastern Missouri NRCS Northeastern Missouri NRCS – Pest and Nutrient Planning Pest and Nutrient Planning

Committee on the atrazine watersheds and updates regarding the progress and outlook 

for the project 
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 Label requirements were reviewed with all applicators including:

◦ Setback requirements from streams, terrace intakes, and ditches

◦ HEL and non HEL rate differences

◦ M i ll bl t Maximum allowable rates per year

◦ Different premix options with atrazine

◦ Proper calibration of equipment

 Best Management Practices were encouraged where appropriate:

◦ Grass buffers along streams and ditches 

◦ Atrazine incorporation

◦ Split application of atrazine (pre and post)

◦ Program alternatives (ex: Lumax)

 Yearly update with growers and retailers about progress in the 

watershed.

 Developed atrazine stewardship module for certified applicators 

training in Missouri. Will be used in all applicators training with some test questions coming from the module.

 Missouri Certified Applicators Training 

 Missou Ce t ed pp cato s est ri Certified Applicators Test

 Slides 9-15 from University of Missouri 

Extension RUP certified applicators training 

module
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Pesticide use considerations in 

environmentally sensitive watersheds

 Human health

 Public drinking water 

 Recreational area

 Food and/or garden locations

 Ecological considerations

 Endangered species 

 Pesticide levels that may cause changes in ecological environment 

 Recognize the characteristics that makes the area more sensitive 

or vulnerable

 Public drinking water reservoir watershed

 Designated clean water area or park 

Source: University of Missouri Extension RUP certified applicators training module

Minimum BMPs for atrazine use on all 

fields

 Maximum of 2.0 lbs/ac on HEL fields with 30% or more crop residue cover 

 Maximum of 1.6 lbs/ac on HEL fields with less than 30% crop residue cover 

 Do not apply within 66 ft of any stream or river

 Do not mix or load atrazine within 50 ft of a lake, reservoir, stream or 

river

 Do not apply within 50 ft of any well or sinkhole

 D l i hi 200 f f l k i Do not apply within 200 ft of any lake or reservoir

 Do not apply within 66 ft of a standpipe in a tile-outletted terraced 

field unless: 

 Atrazine is immediately incorporated to a depth of 2-3 inches

 Applied to no-till field when high crop residue practice is used 

Source: University of Missouri Extension RUP certified applicators training module
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Minimum BMPs for atrazine use on all 

fields

 Maximum of 2.0 lbs/ac on HEL fields with 30% or more crop residue cover 

 Maximum of 1.6 lbs/ac on HEL fields with less than 30% crop residue cover 

 Do not apply within 66 ft of any stream or river

 Do not mix or load atrazine within 50 ft of a lake, reservoir, stream or 

river

 Do not apply within 50 ft of any well or sinkhole

 D l i hi 200 f f l k i Do not apply within 200 ft of any lake or reservoir

 Do not apply within 66 ft of a standpipe in a tile-outletted terraced 

field unless: 

 Atrazine is immediately incorporated to a depth of 2-3 inches

 Applied to no-till field when high crop residue practice is used 

Source: University of Missouri Extension RUP certified applicators training module

Practices with an estimated medium to 

high effectiveness

 Incorporation 

 Depth of 1-3 inches can significantly reduce herbicide runoff 

 Strip Cropping 

 Can reduce the total herbicide load 

 Banded application at planting

 Apply near the row to reduce total herbicide load

 Precision farming 

 Technology can reduce application in setback areas

 Irrigatedl d an water management

 Timing and structural features to prevent water runoff 

 Riparian forest buffers

 Intercepts pesticides, nutrients and sediment and buffers streams

Source: University of Missouri Extension RUP certified applicators training module
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Additional Practices

 Scheduling atrazine application 

 Do not apply within 2 days of rainfall

 Split Application or two pass system

 Reduces the available amount during heavier periods of rain events

 Catchment basins or wetlands 

 Contour farming 

 Terraces with grass outlets

 Reduces pesticides, nutrients and sediment runoff by slowing down 

movement and filtering through grass 

 Crop rotation 

Source: University of Missouri Extension RUP certified applicators training module

Determine What Practice To Use 

 Determine if you are in a drinking water reservoir watershed

 Determine if y gp y ou have high runoff potential soils in your field 

(from the county soil survey)

 Follow the Flow chart 

 determine what practices may best suit your needs 

 What fits your farming practices and machinery

 Is time a limiting factor 

 Be aware of which herbicide products you are using that may 

contain atrazine 

 others

Source: University of Missouri Extension RUP certified applicators training module
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Does your field fall within a watershed with 

high claypan soils (MLRA 109,112, 113 or 

114)?

Do you intend to plant corn or 

sorghum in the next season 

and use atrazine?

Yes

Yes

One or more of the following moderate to highly 

effective BMPs are also recommended:

Prior to use, understand and comply with all atrazine 

label requirements.

Shallow incorporation that retains at 

least 30% crop residue cover 

recommended.

Check watershed map for potential 

field vulnerability as a guide for 

BMP consideration.

What are your tillage intentions?

One or more of the following BMPs are

effective BMPs are also recommended:

• Do not apply within 1-2 days of rainfall

• Strip cropping (in-field alternating crops)

• Use of precision application equipment

• Plant on the contour

• Use in-field grass contour strips

• Use water retention basins or structures

• Split application

• Riparian buffers (2-3 years to develop)

Tillage

In addition...

No-till*

One or more of the following BMPs are

recommended:

• shallow incorporation after atrazine 

application

• banded application at planting

• contour or ridge tillage

The following practices are also suggested:

• Apply post-emergence

• Use terraces with grass outlets

• Grass waterways (designed primarily for soil erosion control)

• Use artificial wetlands

• Edge of field grass buffers (2-3 years to develop)

* If using no-till in high claypan soils, soil-applied herbicides cannot be incorporated and pesticide losses 

to surface runoff are highest for no-till systems.

Source: University of Missouri Extension RUP certified applicators training module

Field Evaluation Process

1. Generate a field-by-field map of your farm 

2. Note the following in each field: 

1. I i d i l Intermittent and perennial streams

2. Rivers

3. Drainage ditches 

4. Wells and sinkholes 

5. Standpipes

6. Lakes and reservoirs

7. Highly erodible land 

3. Establ h b ff d l d f d blish appropriate buffers around locations identified in step 2

4. Select proper application rates 

5. Share all appropriate information with applicator

6. Retain all field and application information for future use

Source: University of Missouri Extension RUP certified applicators training module
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 Most commonly adopted stewardship 

practices:

◦ Label awareness and conformity

◦ Variable application timing

 Pre-emerge

 Split application

 Total post application

◦ Sensitive lands setback areas

◦ Shallow incorporation (harrow)

◦ Multiple product selection (e.g. Halex, Lexar, 

Lumax)

◦ Constructed vegetative practices

 Stewardship practices adopted by growers 

and retailers are sustainable in that:

◦ They don’t rely on incentives

◦ Are economically viable

◦ Are efficacious

◦ Are easily transferable
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35 00

40.00

45.00

50.00

MO-01 preliminary 2013 atrazine monitoring data

10 00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

ppb

0.00

5.00

10.00

Date

70 00

80.00

90.00

100.00

MO-02 preliminary 2013 atrazine monitoring data

20 00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

ppb

0.00

10.00

20.00

Date
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 Best Management Practices (BMPs) are specific 

agricultural practices that protect water quality by 

reducing the movement of sediment nutrients reducing the movement of sediment, nutrients

(including fertilizers) and pesticides from crop 

fields.

◦ Field evaluation and preparation

◦ Application planning

◦ Mixing and loading Mixing and loading

◦ Calibration

◦ Container disposal

 Weather conditions

 Incorporation

 Split/band application

 Rates and setbacks
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Important: Always read and follow label instructions.

 Proximity to water resources

 Soil type, slope, residue cover, setbacks

 Record keeping

 Conservation tillage

 Grass waterways, filter strips, riparian buffers

 Appropriate nutrient rates and timing of 

application
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 Product label contains provisions for protection of 

groundd f an surface waters

 For retail sale to and use only by certified 

applicators or persons under their direct 

supervision

 Only for those uses covered by the certified 

applicator’s license

 Application must comply with any state or local 

atrazine use requirements that may be more 

restrictive than the federal label

Publication: For External Use
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 Nebraska Corn Growers Association

 Lo e g ue atu a esou ce st ct wer Big Blue Natural Resource District

 Plymouth Cooperative

 Nebraska Extension

 Nebraska Department of Agriculture

 52 Landowners & Growers 

 Spring/Fall LBBNRD Grower Survey & 1/1 

visits

 April 2013 Lunch & Learn Session 

 (NeCGA, LBBNRD, Extension & 29 Growers)

 May Meetings with Stakeholders (General Update)

 Ne Dept. of Ag, Extension, NeCGA, LBBNRD, Plymouth 

Cooperative, Local Sale Representative

 LBBNRD – Continues to Independently Sample for Continues to Independently Sample for

Atrazine 
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 Grass Buffers Installed in Small Number of 

Selected Sites

 Significant Increase in Soil Moisture Sensors 

 Increase in Center Pivot Irrigation Systems

 Rotation to Alternative Herbicide Programs

 Minimal Incorporation Practices due to High % 

of No-Till Acres

 Greater Awareness of Setback Restrictions