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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

COUNTDOWN is a short residual, soil-applied, pre-emergent herbicide that is absorbed by the roots and shoots (coleoptile) of germinating seedlings with inhibition of growth in the meristematic region. Foliar uptake is possible but of lower effect. Upstream translocation in the plant occurs but movement in the phloem is very unlikely. Best activity can be expected from applications before or shortly after the germination of target weeds.

COUNTDOWN should be applied to a moist smooth seedbed free of soil clods and emerged weeds. Efficacy may be reduced by improper incorporation, high levels of crop or trash residues, stones, or foreign matter and in areas of extremely high weed seed density such as header rows. For optimal efficacy and crop safety avoid shallow seeding and ensure accurate seed placement that avoids placement of seed in the herbicide band. Avoid water-repellent soils, soils subject to waterlogging, or where furrow walls are likely to collapse. Duration and effectiveness of weed control will depend on use rate, soil type, and rainfall or irrigation after application. Adequate rainfall should occur within 10 days of application, as this herbicide requires sufficient available soil moisture to ensure soil movement and uptake by emerging weeds.

Crop Tolerance

The selectivity of COUNTDOWN in cereals is a combination of positional and physiological selectivity. Positional selectivity must be maintained by sowing at adequate depth below the herbicide band. The physiological selectivity of COUNTDOWN is given by the ability of cereals to metabolize the herbicide to inactive compounds more rapidly than susceptible weed species. Environmental factors such as rainfall events following application and soil type will influence product movement into the seed zone. Crop damage may result where tank mixed with other herbicides, heavy rainfall follows sowing, in the event of crop stresses including frost or in sandy soils with high leaching potential. Risk of crop damage may be exacerbated where varieties with short coleoptile length are planted in conjunction with the use of some fungicide seed treatments.

Incorporation and Tillage Requirements

IBS with knife or blade points: Working speed should ensure adequate incorporation of the product but avoid soil throw into the adjacent seeding row. Use of press wheels will minimize the potential for herbicide to be dragged back into seeding rows. Weed control may be reduced in seeding rows as a result of concentration of herbicide in crop inter-rows. A knife or blade point is defined as being <12 mm in width, having no wings, inverted T or blade and is generally on a minimum 200 mm row spacing. Full disturbance or conventional cultivation, including trailing harrows/prickle chain: Care should be taken to ensure seed placement below the herbicide band as crop damage may result where seed is sown too shallow. Consult Trilogy label for tank mix rate selection.

When applying standalone, COUNTDOWN must be incorporated into the soil using the IBS operation within 7 days of application. When used in a tank mix with trifluralin, apply within 24 hours of sowing and mechanically incorporated using the IBS operation.

Mixing

COUNTDOWN is an emulsifiable concentrate that mixes readily with water. Fill the spray tank to one quarter full. Add COUNTDOWN and continue adding water to make up to the final spray volume. Agitate while mixing and spraying. When tank mixing wettable powder or water-dispersible granule formulations should be added to the tank first followed by suspension concentrates (flowables), water-soluble salts then COUNTDOWN or other emulsifiable concentrate formulations. Maintain thorough agitation during mixing and application. Agitate tank mixes vigorously if allowed to stand. Note: Tank mix spray solutions should NOT be left standing in the vat overnight.

Compatibility

As formulations of other manufacturer’s products are beyond the control of Adama and water quality varies with location, all mixtures should be tested prior to mixing commercial quantities. For more information, please contact your local Adama representative. ALWAYS REVIEW LABEL GUIDELINES FOR THE TANK MIX PARTNER PRIOR TO APPLYING WITH COUNTDOWN.

COUNTDOWN HERBICIDE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Application

Apply by ground rig only in a minimum of 50 L water/ha. Water rate selection should be based on soil type and stubble load. Stubble loads above 40 to 50 % ground coverage can reduce weed control below acceptable levels. Water volumes greater than 70 L/ha are recommended in order to reduce the impact of stubble in direct drill or minimum tillage systems. Use a nozzle delivering spray quality in the medium to very coarse spray range. DO NOT apply by air.

Tank Mixes

Tank mixtures of COUNTDOWN with Trilogy are recommended where annual ryegrass control is required and/or for control of additional weed species not controlled by a standalone application of COUNTDOWN. Application of COUNTDOWN with Trilogy for Annual Ryegrass may not effectively control high densities of Group D resistant populations nor delay the development of herbicide resistance. Tank mixing of herbicides is only effective in managing resistance where a lethal dose rate of each herbicide is applied.