Merit 60 WP Greenhouse and NurseryPlant Protection Product ComparisonPlant Protection Product ComparisonReport inaccuraciesReport inaccuracies

FOR SYSTEMIC INSECT CONTROL ON ORNAMENTAL AND VEGETABLE PLANTS GROWN IN GREENHOUSES AND NURSERIES

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Do not apply this product in a way that will contact workers or other persons, either directly or through drift. Only protected handlers may be in the area during application.
IMPORTANT: Read these entire DIRECTIONS FOR USE AND GENERAL INFORMATION before using MERIT 60 WP.
Do not formulate this product into other end-use products.

APPLICATION IN GREENHOUSES: MERIT 60 WP is for insect control on ornamental and vegetable plants in greenhouses. MERIT 60 WP is a systemic product and will be translocated upward within the plant. This product is to be applied as a soil or soilless media/hydroponic treatment only. To assure optimum effectiveness, the product must be placed where the roots of the plant can absorb the active ingredient. Irrigate moderately but thoroughly after application, allowing no leaching and runout from container for at least 10 days after application. Do not apply as a foliar application. DO NOT allow effluent or runoff from greenhouses containing this product to enter lakes, streams, ponds or other waters.

APPLICATION IN NURSERIES: MERIT 60 WP is for control of European Chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis) and Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) larvae in all field grown and container grown nursery stock including: trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses. MERIT 60 WP is a systemic product. First and second instar larvae of the European Chafer and Japanese beetle ingest MERIT 60 WP from soil particles and plant roots.
Avoid runoff or puddling of irrigation water following application.
- One application per year.
- Do not apply when rainfall is forecast for the next 48 hours.
- Repellency of bumble bee pollinators and negative effects on some beneficials (Orius sp.) can occur when MERIT 60 WP is applied.
- Do not harvest nursery stock within 12 hours of treatment.
- Apply MERIT 60 WP during adult beetle mating period/egg laying period up to first egg hatch.
- The need for and timing of application should be based on monitoring of the sites, previous records or experiences, current season adult trapping or other methods.

Incorporation: Incorporation of MERIT 60 WP in plants grown in Greenhouses can be achieved by cultivation, irrigation, mechanical placement, drenching and broadcast sprays.

Incorporation of MERIT 60 WP in Container Grown Nursery Stock can be achieved by irrigation or drenching. For Field Grown Nursery stock, incorporation of MERIT 60 WP can be achieved by broadcast spray and incorporated into soil with overhead irrigation.

NOTE: Woody Perennials: Onset of protection is slower than in herbaceous species. A delay of 2 or more weeks should be expected. Longer delays may be expected with larger plants. Application should therefore be made well in advance of expected insect activity.

Bark Media: Media with 30 to 50% or more bark content may confer a shorter period of protection when treated with MERIT 60 WP.

Tank Mixes: MERIT 60 WP has been found to be compatible with commonly used liquid fertilizers.

Treated soil/soilless media may be replanted with any crop specified on an imidacloprid label, or any crop for which a tolerance exists for the active ingredient, as soon as practical following the last application. Do not plant other food crops in treated soil/soilless media within one year of treatment.

For Field Grown Nursery stock, do not apply through any irrigation system.
Do not apply by aerial application.
Do not apply when wind speeds are greater than 12 –15 km per hour at site of application.

APPLICATION EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN FIELD GROWN NURSERY STOCK: Apply MERIT 60 WP in sufficient water to provide adequate distribution in the treated area. Use equipment which will produce a uniform, coarse droplet spray, using a low pressure setting to eliminate off-target drift. Check calibration periodically to ensure that equipment is working properly.

APPLICATION EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON GREENHOUSE ORNAMENTALS AND VEGETABLES AND ON CONTAINER GROWN NURSERY STOCK: Apply MERIT 60 WP in sufficient water to provide adequate distribution in the treated area. The use of accurately calibrated equipment normally used for soil application of insecticides (drip irrigation) is required. Use equipment which will produce a uniform, coarse droplet spray, using a low pressure setting to eliminate off-target drift. Check calibration periodically to ensure that equipment is working properly.

APPLICATION THROUGH IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
MERIT 60 WP may be applied at rates recommended on this label. The normal dilution ratio is 1:10 to 1:200, depending on the system. Always meter the product into the irrigation water during the first part of the irrigation cycle. The product may be mixed separately prior to injection. Agitation may be necessary if the mixture is allowed to stand more than 24 hours.
Remove scale, pesticide residue and other foreign matter from the tank and entire irrigation system.

Apply MERIT 60 WP only through micro-irrigation (individual spaghetti tube), drip irrigation, overhead irrigation, or hand-held or motorized calibrated irrigation equipment. Do not apply this product through any other type of irrigation system. Crop injury or lack of effectiveness can result from nonuniform distribution of treated water.

If you have any questions about calibration, you should contact Provincial Extension specialists, equipment manufacturers or other experts.

Do not connect an irrigation system (including greenhouse systems) used for pesticide application to a public water system unless the recommended safety devices for public water systems are in place.

A person knowledgeable of the chemigation system and responsible for its operation, or a person who is under the supervision of the responsible person, shall shut the system down and make necessary adjustments should the need arise.

SAFETY DEVICES FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS CONNECTED TO PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES:
If the source of water for your irrigation system is a public water supply, follow the instructions below.
1. Chemigation systems connected to public water systems must contain a functional, reduced-pressure zone, backflow preventer (RPZ) or the functional equivalent in the water supply line upstream from the point of pesticide introduction. As an option to the RPZ, water from the public water system should be discharged into a reservoir tank prior to pesticide introduction. There shall be a complete physical break (air gap) between the outlet end of the fill pipe and the top or overflow rim of the reservoir tank of at least twice the inside diameter of the fill pipe.
2. The pesticide injection pipeline must contain a functional, automatic, quick-closing check valve to prevent the flow of fluid back toward the injection pump.
3. The pesticide injection pipeline must contain a functional, normally closed, solenoid-operated valve located on the intake side of the injection pump and connected to the system interlock to prevent fluid from being withdrawn from the supply tank when the irrigation system is either automatically or manually shut down.
4. The system must contain functional interlocking controls to automatically shut off the pesticide injection pump when the water pump motor stops, or in cases where there is no water pump, when the water pressure decreases to the point where pesticide distribution is adversely affected.
5. Systems must use a metering pump, such as a positive displacement injection pump (e.g., diaphragm pump) effectively designed and constructed of materials that are compatible with pesticides and capable of being fitted with a system interlock.

SAFETY DEVICES FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS NOT CONNECTED TO A PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY:
1. The system must contain a functional check valve, vacuum relief valve and low pressure drain appropriately located on the irrigation pipeline to prevent water source contamination from backflow.
2. The pesticide injection pipeline must contain a functional, automatic, quick-closing check valve to prevent the flow of fluid back toward the injection pump.
3. The pesticide injection pipeline must also contain a functional normally closed solenoid-operated valve located on the intake side of the injection pump and connected to the system interlock to prevent fluid from being withdrawn from the supply tank when the irrigation system is either automatically or manually shut down.
4. The system must contain functional interlocking controls to automatically shut off the pesticide injection pump when the water pump motor stops.
5. The irrigation line or water pump must include a functional pressure switch which will stop the water pump motor when the water pressure decreases to the point where the pesticide distribution is adversely affected.
6. Systems must use a metering pump such as a positive displacement injection pump (e.g., diaphragm pump) effectively designed and constructed of materials that are compatible with pesticides and capable of being fitted with a system interlock.

MIXING INSTRUCTIONS
To prepare the spray, add a portion of the required amount of water to the spray tank and with agitation, add MERIT 60 WP. Complete filling the tank with balance of water needed. Maintain sufficient agitation during both mixing and application.