Strategy, a new selective herbicide for control of major annual grasses and broadleaf weeds, has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squash and watermelons, announced United Agri Products (UAP), headquartered in Greeley, Colo.

Strategy is a liquid flowable, systemic herbicide that combines the active ingredients ethalfluralin and clomazone. Strategy contains reduced rates of those actives in a formulation that provides greater crop safety to sensitive cucurbit seedlings, yet is more consistent on a wider spectrum of weeds than either herbicide used alone.

Strategy is a pre-emergent herbicide applied to the soil surface after planting or as a banded spray between rows after crop emergence or transplanting. Strategy is labeled for use in all states except California and Arizona.

“Strategy is the broadest-spectrum, most effective pre-emergence herbicide available to prevent economically devastating weeds from overpowering cucurbit seedlings,” says J. J. Grow, Strategy product manager for UAP. “University and cooperator trials have shown that Strategy provides reduced risk of crop injury, increased yield response, and a sound return on investment.”

Broadleaf weeds that Strategy controls include anoda, carpetweed, lambsquarters, mallow, pigweed, plantain, Purslane, pusley, sida and velvetleaf.

Grassy weeds controlled include barnyardgrass, crabgrass, foxtail, goosegrass, millet, panicum and whattercane.

Weeds partially controlled include cocklebur, ragweed, smartweed, johnsongrass, millet and signalgrass.

“The Strategy formulation takes advantage of the complementary modes of action of ethalfluralin and clomazone,” says Grow. “The microencapsulated clomazone in Strategy provides excellent translocation from weed roots and shoots to leaves. The pre-emulsified ethalfluralin vapors are adsorbed into the soil and provide long residual, with an average field half-life of 60 days.”

Strategy has positive environmental and health characteristics, with low toxicity and active ingredient rates reduced by more than a third.

Strategy is available initially in 2.5-gallon jugs, with two in a case.

For more information about Strategy, contact your local United Agri Products dealer or other agrichemical supplier.