Cotton Harvest Aid Considerations for Small Grains
Small grain crops are commonly planted shortly prior to or immediately following cotton harvest in many areas of Oklahoma. Due to the various options for cotton harvest aid products, and their corresponding label restrictions regarding rotation to winter crops, producers wishing to follow cotton with a small grain should pay careful attention to the limitations their harvest aid selection may place on the success of their small grain.
The utilization of the small grain, whether intended as a cover crop, for grazing
or forage and/or food use, may impact the cotton harvest aid use rate or plant back
restriction to specific types of small grains. The best management option is to determine
the end use of the small grain prior to selecting harvest aid products, as some products
will eliminate some end use options for the small grain.
Table 1 provides a brief overview of major considerations regarding small grains associated
with various common cotton harvest aid products. For additional information, please
refer to the product label or contact your local county Extension office.
Table 1. Considerations and restrictions for harvest aid products in cotton intercropped or in rotation with small grains.
| Cotton harvest aid product | Use considerations/restrictions | Plant back interval | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aim (Carfentrazone-ethyl) | Cotton: up to 1.6 oz per acre in a single application and max in-season rate of 3.2 oz per
acre allowed as harvest aid Winter wheat: 0.5 to 1 oz per acre prior to boot Other small grains: 0.5 to 1 oz per acre prior to jointing |
Small grains: 1 day | |
| ETX (Pyraflufen-ethyl) | Cotton: up to 1.7 oz per acre in a single application and max in season rate of 3.4 oz per
acre allowed as harvest aid Wheat or triticale: up to 1.25 oz per acre prior to emergence; up to 0.6 oz per acre prior to flag leaf |
Wheat or triticale: 0 days Other cereals: 1 day |
|
| Sharpen (Saflufenacil) | Cotton: up to 1 oz recommended as a single application and max in season rate of 2 oz per
acre allowed as harvest aid Small grains: 1.0 to 2.0 oz per acre preplant or preemergence |
Small grains: 0 days (up to 4 oz) | |
| Ethephon (including 6 lb./gallon, 3 lb./gallon and ethephon + cyclanilide products; Super Boll, Boll'd, Boll Buster, Ethephon 6, Flash, Finish 6 Pro, etc.) | If small grains are planted earlier than 30 days after application, or intercropped with cotton, the small grain may only be used for cover and cannot be harvested for food or feed. Applies to all labeled use rates | Small grains: 30 days | |
| Thidiazuron + Diuron (including Ginstar, Cutout, Adios, Redi-Pik, etc.) |
If intercropped with cotton the small grain may only be used for cover and cannot
be harvested for food or feed. Applies to all labeled use rates |
Small grains: 1 month | |
| Folex (Tribufos) | Do not graze treated fields; do not use on crops harvested for food or forage. Applies to all labeled use rates | Small grains: 0 days | |
| Paraquat (including 2 lb. a.i./gallon Gramoxone and 3 lb. a.i./gallon Parazone, Firestorm, etc.) |
Cotton: maximum 2 pints of 2 lb. a.i. per gallon or 21 oz of 3 lb. a.i. per gallon may be
used as a cotton harvest aid Barley or wheat: 2 to 4 pints (2 lb. a.i./gallon) or 1.3 to 2.7 pints (3 lb. a.i./gallon) at preplant or preemergence |
Small grains: 0 days |
Seth Byrd
Extension Cotton Specialist
Misha Manuchehri
Extension Weed Scientist