Training will be mandatory in North Carolina for those who want to apply the new auxin herbicides to cotton and soybean crops in 2017, according to Alan York, North Carolina State University weed specialist.

The training will be held in conjunction with the upcoming winter cotton and soybean meetings with other training sessions planned as well. The training is planned due to the recent federal registration of Xtendi Max and Engenia cotton and soybeans and the expected registration of Enlist Duo in the new future. York said the training is important to avoid the off-target drift issues that plagued the Mid-South this past summer. EPA is strongly in favor of applicator training related to responsible use of auxin herbicides.

“In addition to federal registration, a pesticide must also be registered within a state before it can be sold,” York explained. “Several states, including North Carolina, have decided to go the route of a state SLN (Special Local Need) label. That allows us to require somethings in addition to what is on the federal label.”

York said several states, including North Carolina, will require applicator training. North Carolina’s SLN label will say, “The producer, certified applicator, or person responsible for the application of this product on cotton or soybeans, in-crop, must attend Auxin Herbicides - Best Management Practices training that is approved by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture."

“In other words, training is mandatory if one wants to use the new products,” York said.  “I would have preferred a certificate-type program where the grower would have to document his training before being able to buy seed and/or herbicides, but for various reasons, that approach is not feasible.  Attendees will receive credit in the X category on private applicator licenses.  That is how we will keep up with who has received training.”

Farmers and applicators should contact their local Extension agent to find the date and time for their auxin training. York said BASF, Dow and Monsanto will also provide training, but the company training will not fulfill the requirement on the SLN labels.