New FBN® Report: Are you getting a fair fertilizer price?
The cardinal rule of ag chemicals: Always read the label.
Your best resource for learning how to use your product safely and effectively is the manufacturer. This blog post will help ensure a safe and successful application.
Discover the extreme price differences for more than 15 commonly used ag chem products in the 2024 U.S. Ag Chem Price Transparency Report.
The Active Ingredient Statement provides the name and amount of each active ingredient and the total ratio of inert ingredients in the container.
The important chemical(s) are individually listed on the label by the common and/or chemical name and the concentration (as a percentage) in the product.
Liquid products generally show both the percentage of the active ingredient and the amount in the container. Since all liquid products don’t weigh the same, it is important to understand the pounds of active ingredient in each gallon.
Dry products usually only list the percentage of the active in the package. If the label says a product has 50% of an active ingredient, then you can multiply the percentage by 16 oz. to figure out the amount of active in the package.
The list of pests controlled by a given product should be listed under the brand name. This is often not the complete list of labeled crops or pests, so make sure you review the entire label and verify that the crop you plan to spray is identified.
Don’t rely on general terms of what the product will control. If you’re spraying for rootworm in corn, make sure the label specifically identifies the product’s use for Corn Rootworm. Or if you’re trying to control Palmer amaranth in corn, make sure the product is specifically labeled for Palmer Amaranth in corn.
The EPA Registration Number indicates the specific company that registered the chemical and verifies that it has been approved for sale. The EPA Establishment Number Identifies the approved EPA facility where the product was manufactured.
Click here to better understand how to read a chemical label.
The commercial name of an ag chem product is the brand name given by the manufacturing company, for example, Willowood Mesotrione 4SC.
The common name of an ag chem product is given by the EPA to a chemical for easier recognition. Callisto is the common name for Mesotrione.
The chemical name is the technical name that identifies the chemical components and structure. For example, 2-[4-(methylsulfonyl)-2-nitrobenzoyl]-1,3-cyclohexanedione, or Mesotrione.
Inert ingredients are not required to be individually listed, but the total inert concentration must be listed. Variations in inert ingredients can affect the performance of the active ingredient, so it’s important to talk with your local crop consultants, pest control advisors, and university extension agents to understand their effect on particular crops, soils, and pests.
Signal words indicate the relative acute toxicity of the product to humans and animals. If two products will control the same pest, signal words can help you choose the less toxic option.
There are 4 types of signal words:
DANGER ☠ POISON — Highly toxic by any route of entry into the body.
DANGER — Can cause severe eye damage or skin irritation.
WARNING — Moderately toxic either orally, dermally, or through inhalation; causes moderate eye or skin irritation.
CAUTION — Slightly toxic either orally, dermally, or through inhalation; causes slight eye or skin irritation.
Precautionary statements are information about possible hazards. Additional information can be found in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS, which are currently being renamed simply Safety Data Sheets or SDS). These types of statements include Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals and Environmental, Physical, and Chemical Hazards.
Direction on what to do if someone accidentally comes in contact with or is poisoned by a pesticide is provided on the ag chem label. ALWAYS call the National Poison Center Hotline (1-800-222-1222) for further medical instructions. Since the label has information the doctor will need, it is important to have the label available when calling the hotline or when taking someone to the doctor or hospital.
The label will say: “It is a violation of federal law to use any pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.” The directions for use section explains how to properly use the product to get the best results without harming yourself, others, or the environment.
You can search for and read thousands of chemical labels here. The label’s directions for use will tell you:
What pests this product is registered to control
Where the product can and cannot be used (plants, animals, locations)
How to apply (or not apply) the product
How much product to use (often a range for soil type, organic matter, or plant size)
Timing of when the product should be applied (either time of year or stage of the crop)
How many times you can apply the product
How soon the crop can be harvested after application
The Re-Entry Interval (REI) is the period of time after which it’s safe for people to return to a treated area after application
The storage and disposal section of a chemical label explains how to store the product and what to do with the unused portion of the product and the empty container.
Always keep products in original containers, out of the reach of children, and in a locked storage area.
Be aware that temperature can affect product quality and environmental safety.
Do not contaminate food or foodstuffs.
For proper container disposal, always triple-rinse, puncture, and dispose of the container according to your local and state regulations.
Find links to state and national regulations here.
You can double down on savings and convenience when you shop for ag chemicals on FBN. On our easy-to-use online platform, you can shop for the products you need to run your operation smoothly this season like Willowood Glypho 6, Willowood Clethodim 2EC*, and 2,4-D LV6 Value Pick.
There is a widespread lack of price transparency in the ag chem marketplace, and our report uncovered the fact that some farmers are paying as much as 4x what other farmers pay for the same chem products. Take control with our groundbreaking Price Transparency Tool, which empowers you to:
See what other farmers are paying nationally
Benchmark prices to compare against other local farms
Track seasonal trends and see how prices change over time
Learn how to unlock the free tool here.
When you order products through FBN, you can get them shipped directly to your farm. It’s one of many ways we’re making farming better for farmers.
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Glyphosate 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Glyphosate
Metolachlor 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Metolachlor
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Insecticides 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Insecticides
Inoculants 101: Everything Farmers Need to Know About Inoculants
Biostimulants 101: Everything Growers Need to Know About Biostimulants
Herbicides 101: Everything Growers Need to Know About Herbicides
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Willowood Clethodim 2EC is a restricted use pesticide.
*RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE Due to acute toxicity. For retail sale to and use by certified applicators only – NOT to be used by uncertified persons working under the supervision of a certified applicator.
FBN Direct products and services and other products distributed by FBN Direct are offered by FBN Inputs, LLC and are available only in states where FBN Inputs, LLC is licensed and where those products are registered for sale or use, if applicable. If applicable, please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. Nothing contained on this page, including the prices listed should be construed as an offer for sale, or a sale of products. All products and prices are subject to change at any time and without notice and excludes CA mills tax and MN ACRRA fees. Terms and conditions apply.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its label. The distribution, sale and use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided on this page or which is provided by us in any form. It is your responsibility to confirm prior to purchase and use that a product is labeled for your specific purposes, including, but not limited to, your target crop or pest and its compatibility with other products in a tank mix and that the usage of a product is otherwise consistent with federal, state and local laws. We reserve the right to restrict sales on a geographic basis in our sole discretion. You must have a valid applicator license to use restricted use pesticides. Please consult your state department of agriculture for complete rules and regulations on the use of restricted use pesticides, as some products require specific record-keeping requirements.
Any product suggestions or preselected bundles are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for consulting the applicable product label or independently determining the appropriate product offerings and quantities for your operation