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GROUP H HERBICIDE

For the control and suppression of various broadleaf weeds and grasses in sugarcane, chickpeas and fallow as specified in the DIRECTIONS FOR USE Table.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Resistant Weeds Warning
Balance 750 WG Herbicide is a member of the isoxazole group of herbicides. Balance is a herbicide which inhibits 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (4-HPPD). For weed resistance management Balance is a Group H herbicide. Some naturally-occurring weed biotypes resistant to Balance, and other Group H herbicides, may exist through normal genetic variability in any weed population. The resistant individuals can eventually dominate the weed population if these herbicides are used repeatedly. These resistant weeds will not be controlled by Balance or other Group H herbicides. Since occurrence of resistant weeds is difficult to detect prior to use, Bayer CropScience Pty. Ltd. accepts no liability for any losses that may result from the failure of Balance to control resistant weeds.

Mixing
Partly fill the spray tank with water. Start agitation. Add the correct amount of Balance 750 WG to the spray tank with the agitation system running. When tank-mixing with paraquat, ensure that Balance is added to the spray mixture first, followed by paraquat to ensure thorough mixing. When tank-mixing with glyphosate, ensure that Balance is added to the spray mixture first, followed by glyphosate to ensure thorough mixing. Continue agitation while topping up the tank with water and while spraying. In all cases, use prepared spray mixture on day of preparation. Do not allow spray mixture to stand overnight. In the case of tank mixtures with glyphosate, water should be clean and free of clay, silt and algae. Provided it meets these requirements then water collected from roofs, bore water, dam water and water from creeks may be used.

Application
Balance 750 WG can be applied to hot and dry soils, without the risk of breakdown by sunlight. This ultraviolet stability removes the need for immediate soil incorporation of the product. Balance 750 WG is activated by rainfall or irrigation, which is required to carry the herbicide into the root zone of the germinating weeds. Deep germinating weeds (e.g. wild radish) may not be adequately controlled in years where rainfall is low (<15 mm).
Weed escapes may occur after spraying Balance 750 WG if weed germination occurs before the chemical is activated OR carried to the depth of the weed root zone. Under prolonged dry conditions a greater quantity of rainfall or irrigation may be required for effective activation of the product. Under these conditions, shoots of germinating weeds may intercept the Balance 750 WG herbicide band and appear affected, but may not be controlled. Weeds that do not turn completely white within days of emergence must be sprayed with an appropriate knockdown herbicide. To avoid weed escapes, it is recommended to allow weeds to germinate, and then apply Balance 750 WG in tank mixture with paraquat at an appropriate label rate to provide additional weed knockdown.
Soil movement from irrigation or cultivation may result in poor weed control from Balance 750 WG. Do not incorporate Balance 750 WG by flood irrigation or with high-pressure water cannons if excessive soil movement is expected, particularly if the soil is in a loose, dry condition. Best results are achieved where rainfall or low pressure overhead irrigation carries the herbicide downward in an even band to the depth of the weed root zone.
Sugarcane
Apply in a minimum spray volume of 250 L/ha. For best results flat fan nozzles are recommended. Select the lowest pressure (within the recommended nozzle operating range), to reduce drift. Use a nozzle size that delivers a medium to coarse droplet at the selected operating pressure.

Compatibility
Sugarcane
Balance 750 WG may be tank-mixed with paraquat formulations at the appropriate label rates for each product. Balance 750 WG may be tank-mixed with Soccer® 700 WG, atrazine (900 g/kg) and Actril® DS (apply no more than 500 mL/ha in combination with Balance).
Tank Mixtures: Read and follow all label directions including restraints, spray drift restraints, mandatory nospray zones, critical comments, withholding periods, regional use restrictions and safety directions for the tank mix products.
Chickpeas
Balance should not be tank-mixed with trifluralin.
Fallow
Balance 750 WG may be tank-mixed with glyphosate. Tank mixes of glyphosate and Balance may reduce glyphosate efficacy. Balance 750 WG may be tank-mixed with atrazine and Flame.

Spray Equipment Clean-Up
After using Balance 750 WG, empty the tank completely and drain the whole system. Without entering it, thoroughly wash inside the tank using a pressure hose. Alternatively, if the tank is fitted with in-tank rinse nozzles, activate these nozzles to thoroughly rinse the inside of the tank. Drain the tank and clean any tank, pump, line and nozzle filters. Before disassembling nozzles, filters and other parts for cleaning, thoroughly wash down the exterior of the spray equipment with a pressure hose.
To rinse. After cleaning the tank as above, quarter fill the tank with clean water and circulate through the pump, lines, hoses and nozzles. Drain and repeat the rinsing procedure twice.
To decontaminate. Before spraying sensitive crops (e.g. canola, pulses (except chickpeas), forage legumes and forage brassicas), wash the tank and rinse the system as above. Quarter fill the tank and add a liquid alkali detergent at 500 mL/100 L of water or a chlorine bleach (4% chlorine) at 300 mL/100 L of water and circulate throughout the system for at least fifteen minutes. Drain the whole system. Nozzles, screens, relief valves, dump lines, caps and taps at the end of spray lines, tank lids, flow meters, lines to pressure gauges, external tank indicators, induction hoppers and transfer systems should be removed/pulled apart and cleaned separately. Pay special attention to by-pass lines from pressure relief or dump valves to the main tank. Finally, flush the system with clean water and allow to drain.
Drainage and rinse water should be discharged into a designated disposal area or if this is unavailable, onto unused land away from desirable plants and their roots, and water courses.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Apply as sprays to the soil surface. Balance 750 WG can be applied to hot and dry soils, without the risk of rapid breakdown by sunlight. For effective weed control, incorporation by rainfall or irrigation to the weed root zone is required, but immediate soil incorporation is not critical due to the ultraviolet stability of Balance. See ‘Crop Safety’ and ‘Application’ under General Instructions.

RESTRAINTS
All crops
DO NOT apply by aircraft.
Sugarcane
DO NOT apply with wetting agents, crop oils or other adjuvants.
DO NOT apply to poorly drained soils, e.g. soils prone to waterlogging, sodic soils or soils affected by physical compaction.
DO NOT apply to crops with poor root development or to crops under stress from waterlogging, drought, nutrient deficiency or disease.
DO NOT apply at any rate to soils of cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.) less than 3 meq/100 g or with clay content less than 10%, or with organic carbon content of less than 0.8%. These values should be obtained from soil analysis prior to using Balance.
DO NOT apply at rates of 125 g/ha or higher to soils with organic carbon content of less than 1.0%, unless the cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.) is above 9.5 meq/100 g. These values should be determined through soil analysis prior to using Balance.
DO NOT apply at rates of 125 g/ha or higher to soils of cation exchange capacity (C.E.C) less than 4.5 meq/100 g.

SUGARCANE
Weeds controlled:
Pre weed emergence: Barnyard grass, billygoat weed (blue top), blackberry nightshade, crowsfoot grass, green summer grass, guinea grass, sowthistle, summer grass, thick head, turnip weed.
States: Qld, NSW, WA only
Rate:
Light soils 100-125 g/ha
Medium soils 100-150 g/ha
Heavy soils 100-200 g/ha
See GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS for soil guidelines.
Use higher rates for longer residual effect.
Critical comments: PLANT CANE BROADCAST OR BANDED SPRAY APPLICATIONS (From planting up to 3-4 leaf crop stage only) May be applied as a broadcast or band spray‘over the top’ of plant cane from planting up to the 3 to 4 leaf crop stage. ADD paraquat at label rates where green cane leaf has emerged at application, even if no weeds have emerged. DO NOT apply to shallow planted cane unless there is sufficient soil cover above the sett. Aminimum of 60 mm soil cover is required above the sett even in heavy soils. In most cases it is preferable to have 75-100 mm soil cover at least. More soil cover is recommended where soils have a high infiltration rate. In conventionally planted (furrow planting) sugarcane, DO NOT apply to unconsolidated soil in the cutaway situation, where rainfall or irrigation may cause soil movement into the planting drill. If planting into pre-formed mounds using doubledisc opener planters or similar equipment, ensure that planting slits in soil are closed completely so that there is adequate soil cover over the sett.
PLANT CANE and RATOON CANE DIRECTED SPRAY APPLICATIONS PRIOR TO CANOPY CLOSURE Apply as a directed inter-row spray (e.g. Irvin leg) to the soil surface. Best results are obtained after all tillage operations are completed and the row mound surface has consolidated to minimise soil and herbicide movement. The inter-row surface should not be disturbed after  application. Direct the spray to minimise contact with sugarcane foliage. Do not apply to sugarcane less than 0.75 m in height. If weeds have emerged at application, add a knockdown herbicide at the appropriate label rate to provide improved weed knockdown.
RATOON CANE BROADCAST OR BANDED SPRAY APPLICATIONS (After harvest up to two-leaf crop stage) May be applied “over the top” of ratoon cane as abroadcast or band spray up to the two-leaf crop stage. Balance can be applied to burnt or green trash blanketed ratoon cane. If a non-UV stable pre-emergence herbicide is included for extended weed spectrum, heavy trash blanket layers should be removed prior to application to ensure herbicide contact with the soil surface. Avoid soil disturbance, e.g. stool splitting, after application. If weeds have emerged at application or if green leaf tissue is unfurling from ratoon shoots, add paraquat at the appropriate label rate to burn down existing weed growth and minimise uptake by crop. Other pre-emergence herbicides may be necessary for extended weed spectrum. For best results, consider label requirements for those products regarding soil moisture at application as well as incorporation guidelines.

CHICKPEAS
Weeds controlled: Capeweed, crassula, Indian hedge mustard, medic, prickly lettuce, sowthistle, turnip weed, wild radish
Weeds suppressed: Deadnettle, slender celery
States: Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic, SA and WA only
Rate: 100 g/ha
Critical comments: Pre weed emergence: Application can be made to dry or damp soil. Application should be made as soon as possible after planting prior to emergence of the crop. If applied during the planting operation ensure Balance is applied after furrow closure. Failure to thoroughly close and firm the seed furrow may allow herbicide to directly contact the seed which may cause crop injury. If sowing with knife points or disc openers, ensure that herbicide cannot be concentrated in the sowing furrow by soil wash. Either close the furrow with harrows, or stabilise the furrow with press wheels. Mechanical incorporation is not recommended. Use a nozzle configuration to achieve a medium to coarse spray pattern. A minimum spray volume of 50 L/ha is recommended.
Application of Balance post-sowing preemergent to chickpeas planted in sandy or gravely soils, or soils low in clay or organic matter may result in crop damage. Heavy rains after the application of Balance may cause crop damage, particularly in sandy or gravely soils. Balance is not recommended for use on Yorker chickpeas. See “Crop Safety” in the GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS section below.

Weeds controlled: Capeweed, crassula, deadnettle, Indian hedge mustard, medic, prickly lettuce, silvergrass, slender celery, sowthistle, spear thistle, turnip weed, wild radish.
Weeds suppressed: Saffron thistle, spiny emex, wireweed
States: Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic, SA and WA only
Rate: 100 g/ha + 1.5 L/ha simazine (500 g/L SC)
Critical comments: The Critical Comments for the use of Balance alone in chickpeas (above) also apply to this section. Application of Balance + simazine in sandy or gravely soils may result in severe crop damage.

NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE, OR IN ANY MANNER, CONTRARY TO THIS LABEL UNLESS AUTHORISED UNDER APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION

WITHHOLDING PERIODS
Sugarcane
Harvest: DO NOT HARVEST FOR 19 WEEKS AFTER APPLICATION
Grazing: DO NOT GRAZE ANIMALS ON TREATED CROPS
Chickpeas
Harvest: NOT REQUIRED WHEN USED AS DIRECTED
Grazing: DO NOT GRAZE OR CUT FOR STOCK FOOD FOR 6 WEEKS AFTER APPLICATION
Summer fallow
Harvest:
Crops planted after summer fallow: NOT REQUIRED WHEN USED AS DIRECTED
Grazing:
DO NOT GRAZE TREATED WEEDS AND STUBBLE IN A SUMMER FALLOW SITUATION FOR 8 WEEKS AFTER
APPLICATION
DO NOT GRAZE OR CUT FOR STOCKFOOD A CROP SOWN FOLLOWING A FALLOW SPRAY FOR 6 WEEKS
AFTER SOWING