Benchmark B

Manufacturer
Dow AgroSciences
Category
Herbicides
Registered until
2024-12-31
Registration number
28876
Active materials
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GENERAL INFORMATION:
Benchmark B Herbicide controls spring germinating weeds such as wild buckwheat, tartary buckwheat and green smartweed. Benchmark B Herbicide works best applied to seedling weeds. Benchmark B Herbicide is a low volatile ester formulation. Benchmark B Herbicide applied as directed controls some weeds, which deprive young cereal crops of vital moisture and fertilizer, reduces contamination of crops with weeds seeds, improves quality and makes harvesting easier. Benchmark B Herbicide is a contact herbicide. Thorough coverage of the weed seedlings is essential for optimum control.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

RESISTANCE- MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
For resistance management, Benchmark B Herbicide is a Group 6 herbicide. Any weed population may contain or develop plants naturally resistant to Benchmark B Herbicide and other Group 6 herbicides. The resistant biotypes may dominate the weed population if these herbicides are used repeatedly in the same field. Other resistance mechanisms that are not linked to site of action, but specific for individual chemicals, such as enhanced metabolism, may also exist. Appropriate resistance-management strategies should be followed. To delay herbicide resistance:
Where possible, rotate the use of Benchmark B Herbicide or other Group 6 herbicides with different herbicide groups that control the same weeds in a field.
Use tank mixtures with herbicides from a different group when such use is permitted.
Herbicide use should be based on an IPM program that includes scouting, historical information related to herbicide use and crop rotation, and considers tillage (or other mechanical), cultural, biological and other chemical control practices.
Monitor treated weed populations for resistance development.
Prevent movement of resistant weed seeds to other fields by cleaning harvesting and tillage equipment and planting clean seed.
Contact your local extension specialist or certified crop advisors for any additional pesticide resistance-management and/or integrated weed-management recommendations for specific crops and weed biotypes.
For further information or to report suspected resistance, contact Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. at 1-800-667-3852.

APPLICATION TIMING: 
For best results, spray up to 4-leaf stage of weeds. Apply in good growing conditions. Application must be made before the crop shields the weeds.

APPLICATION AND MIXING INSTRUCTIONS FOR GROUND OR AIR 
Field sprayer application: DO NOT apply during periods of dead calm. Avoid application of this product when winds are gusty. DO NOT apply with spray droplets smaller than the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) medium classification. Boom height must be 60 cm or less above the crop or ground. 
Aerial application: DO NOT apply during periods of dead calm. Avoid application of this product when winds are gusty. DO NOT apply when wind speed is greater than 16 km/h at flying height at the site of application. DO NOT apply with spray droplets smaller than the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) medium classification. To reduce drift caused by turbulent wingtip vortices, the nozzle distribution along the spray boom length MUST NOT exceed 65% of the wingspan or rotorspan. 

MIXING INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Fill spray tank half full with clean water.
2. Add required amount of Benchmark B Herbicide. Begin agitation.
3. If tankmixing, add the recommended amount of the tank mix partner product to the spray tank first, agitate, and then add Benchmark B Herbicide (unless otherwise directed).
4. Complete filling spray tank with water, continue agitation. 

APPLICATION RATE: 
1.2 L/ha.
Wash out spray tank and lines and clean all filters, screens and tips. Select nozzle tips to apply the recommended volume of water per hectare. Flood jet type tips are not recommended. Adjust boom height to ensure uniform coverage of weeds. For ground applications, spray at 5-10 km/h. Calibrate sprayer and ensure that all tips are in good condition and spraying the same volume. 

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: 
TOXIC to aquatic organisms and non-target terrestrial plants. Observe buffer zones specified under DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Do not apply to any body of water. Avoid drifting of spray onto any body of water or other non-target areas. Coarse sprays are less likely to drift, therefore, avoid combinations of pressure and nozzle type that will result in fine particles (mist). Do not apply during periods of dead calm or when wind velocity and direction pose a risk of spray drift. Do not spray when the wind is blowing towards a nearby sensitive crop, garden, terrestrial habitat (such as shelter-belt) or aquatic habitat. To reduce runoff from treated areas into aquatic habitats, consider the characteristics and conditions of the site before treatment. Site characteristics and conditions that may lead to runoff include, but are not limited to: heavy rainfall, moderate to steep slope, bare soil, poorly draining soil (e.g. soils that are compacted or fine textured such as clay). Avoid application of this product when heavy rain is forecast. Contamination of aquatic areas as a result of runoff may be reduced by including a vegetative strip between the treated area and the edge of the water body.

BUFFER ZONES:
The buffer zones specified in the table below are required between the point of direct application and the closest downwind edge of sensitive terrestrial habitats (such as grasslands, forested areas, shelter belts, woodlots, hedgerows, riparian areas and shrublands), sensitive freshwater habitats (such as lakes, rivers, sloughs ponds, prairie potholes, creeks, marshes, streams, reservoirs and wetlands) and estuarine/marine habitats.
When a tank mixture is used, consult the labels of the other tank-mix ingredients and observe the largest (most restrictive) buffer zone of the products included in the tank mixture.

Generic Aerial Application Label Instructions 
Directions for Use
Apply only by fixed-wing or rotary aircraft equipment which has been functionally and operationally calibrated for the atmospheric conditions of the area and the application rates and conditions of this label. Label rates, conditions and precautions are product specific. Read and understand the entire label before opening this product. Apply only at the rate recommended for aerial application on this label. Where no rate for aerial application appears for the specific use, this product cannot be applied by any type of aerial equipment. Ensure uniform application. To avoid streaked, uneven or overlapped application, use appropriate marking devices. 
Use Precautions
Apply only when meteorological conditions at the treatment site allow for complete and even crop coverage. Apply only under conditions of good practice specific to aerial application as outlined in the National Aerial Pesticide Application Manual, developed by the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee on Pest Management and Pesticides.
Operator Precautions
Do not allow the pilot to mix chemicals to be loaded onto the aircraft. Loading of premixed chemicals with a closed system is permitted. It is desirable that the pilot have communication capabilities at each treatment site at the time of application. The field crew and the mixer/loaders must wear chemical resistant gloves, coveralls and goggles or face shield during mixing/loading, cleanup and repair. Follow the more stringent label precautions in cases where the operator precautions exceed the generic label recommendations on the existing ground boom label. All personnel on the job site must wash hands and face thoroughly before eating and drinking. Protective clothing, aircraft cockpit and vehicle cabs must be decontaminated regularly. 
Product Specific Precautions
Read and understand the entire label before opening this product. If you have questions, call the manufacturer or obtain technical advice from the distributor or your provincial agricultural representative. Application of this specific product must meet and/or conform to the following: Volume: Apply the recommended rate in a minimum spray volume of 20 litres per hectare.

FOR AERIAL APPLICATION refer to the following 12 points.
1. Weeds must be treated at the recommended growth stages while actively growing. Weed stage should be checked prior to spraying.
2. Benchmark B Herbicide must be applied in volume rates of not less than 20 L/ha. For best results when there is a heavy crop canopy, or when the majority of the weeds are cow cockle, smartweed, hempnettle, pigweed or Canada thistle, a volume rate of 40 L/ha is recommended.
3. The application rate per hectare of Benchmark B Herbicide must not be reduced.
4. Effective swath width (as determined by boom width and spray pattern overlaps) must be accurately maintained. Conduct tests to determine the effective swath width of your aircraft. (For example, the effective swath width may be less than one half of the overall swath).
5. Flat-fan or hollow cone nozzles are recommended.
6. Nozzles should be positioned to compensate for prop-wash and wing-tip vortex effects. Nozzles should not be placed within 1 m of wing-tips.
7. Nozzles orientations (measured from direction of flight) to achieve desired minimum droplet density with maximum coverage.
8. Efficient trackmarking is essential ("Automatic Flagmen" markers should only be used as a back-up system).
9. Avoid spraying in temperatures greater than 25 C.
10. Spray only when wind is blowing away from a sensitive crop.
11. Do not spray in a dead calm and when wind speed exceeds 8 km per hour.
12. For aerial application mixers/loaders must wear coveralls over normal working clothes.

PRE-HARVEST GRAZING INTERVALS: (wheat, barley, oats)
Do not use treated crops for grazing of livestock or green feed until 30 days after application of Benchmark B Herbicide. Do not cut treated crops for forage until 30 days after application of Benchmark B Herbicide.

Registered for culturesRatePreharvest Interval
Spring barley1.2 l30
Winter barley1.2 l30
Winter wheat1.2 l30
Spring wheat1.2 l30
Spring oats1.2 l30
Winter oats1.2 l30