TopnotchPlant Protection Product ComparisonPlant Protection Product ComparisonReport inaccuraciesReport inaccuracies

PRODUCT INFORMATION
TOPNOTCH is a broad spectrum, preventative fungicide with systemic and curative properties recommended for the control of important plant diseases in Crop Group 15 - Cereals. TOPNOTCH may be applied as a foliar spray in alternating spray programs. All applications should be made according to the use directions that follow.

General Use Precautions
DO NOT apply TOPNOTCH through irrigation equipment.
DO NOT use in nurseries, greenhouses or landscape plantings.
Under certain conditions conducive to extended infection periods, use another registered fungicide for additional applications.

Rotational Crop Precautions
To avoid possible residues above the acceptable limit, DO NOT plant any other crop intended for food, grazing, or any component of animal feed or bedding within 105 days of TOPNOTCH application to the preceding crop unless the second crop appears on this label.
Oats and rye may be planted 45 days after TOPNOTCH application.

Phytotoxicity
TOPNOTCH demonstrates some phytotoxic effects when mixed with products that are formulated as Emulsifiable Concentrate. These effects are enhanced if applications are made under cool, cloudy conditions and these conditions remain for several days following application. In addition, adjuvants that contain some form of silicone may contribute to phytotoxicity.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
TOPNOTCH should be integrated into an overall disease and pest management strategy whenever the use of a fungicide is required. Cultural practices known to reduce disease development should be followed. The DIRECTIONS FOR USE section in this label identifies specific IPM recommendations for each crop. Consult your local agricultural authorities for additional IPM strategies established for your area.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
As this product is not registered for the control of pests in aquatic systems, DO NOT use to control aquatic pests.
DO NOT contaminate irrigation or drinking water supplies or aquatic habitats by cleaning of equipment or disposal of waste.
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 wing- or rotorspan.
DO NOT apply through irrigation equipment.
DO NOT apply through any type of ultra-low volume (ULV) spray system (less than 30 liters per hectare).

Buffer zones:
Use of the following spray methods or equipment DO NOT require a buffer zone: hand-held or backpack sprayer and spot treatment.
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.

Method of Application: Field sprayer*

Crop: Cereals
Buffer Zones (meters) Required for the Protection of:
Freshwater Habitat of Depths:
Less than 1 m: 1
Greater than 1 m: 0
Estuarine/MarineHabitats of Depths:
Less than 1 m: 1
Greater than 1 m: 0
Terrestrial habitat: 1

Method of Application: Aerial

Crop: Cereals (Fixed wings)
Buffer Zones (meters) Required for the Protection of:
Freshwater Habitat of Depths:
Less than 1 m: 1
Greater than 1 m: 0
Estuarine/MarineHabitats of Depths:
Less than 1 m: 3
Greater than 1 m: 1
Terrestrial habitat: 20
Crop: Cereals (Rotary wings)
Buffer Zones (meters) Required for the Protection of:
Freshwater Habitat of Depths:
Less than 1 m: 1
Greater than 1 m: 0
Estuarine/MarineHabitats of Depths:
Less than 1 m: 1
Greater than 1 m: 1
Terrestrial habitat: 20

* For field sprayer application, buffer zones can be reduced with the use of drift reducing spray shields. When using a spray boom fitted with a full shield (shroud, curtain) that extends to the crop canopy, the labelled bufferzone can be reduced by 70%.When using a spray boom where individual nozzles are fitted with cone-shapedshields that are no more than 30 cm above the crop canopy, the labelled buffer zone can be reduced by 30%.

GROUND APPLICATION

Spray Equipment
Equip sprayers with nozzles that provide accurate and uniform application. Be certain that nozzles are the same size and uniformly spaced across the boom. Calibrate sprayer before use.
Use a pump with capacity to: (1) maintain at least 35-40 psi at nozzles, and (2) provide sufficient agitation in tank to keep mixture in suspension - this requires recirculation of 10% of tank volume per minute. Use a jet agitator or liquid sparge tube for agitation. DO NOT air sparge.
TOPNOTCH is a suspoemulsion concentrate. It is suggested that screens be used to protect the pump and to prevent nozzles from clogging. Screens placed on suction side of pump should be 16-mesh or coarser. DO NOT place a screen in the recirculation line. Use 50-mesh or coarser screens between the pump and boom, and where required, at the nozzles. Check nozzle manufacturer’s recommendations. For more information on spray equipment and calibration, consult sprayer manufacturers and provincial recommendations.

Spraying/Mixing
TOPNOTCH may be applied with all types of spray equipment commonly used for making ground application. Proper adjustments and calibration of spraying equipment to give good canopy penetration and coverage is essential for good disease control. The higher rates in the rate range and/or shorter spray intervals may be required under conditions of heavy infection pressure, highly susceptible varieties, or when environmental conditions conducive to disease exist. Apply TOPNOTCH in sufficient water volume for adequate coverage and canopy penetration.
Prepare no more spray mixture than is required for the immediate operation. Thoroughly clean spray equipment before using this product. Agitate the spray solution before and during application. Rinse spray tank thoroughly with clean water after each day’s use and dispose of pesticide rinsate by application to an already treated area.
Add 1/2-2/3 of the required amount of water to the spray or mixing tank. With the agitator running, add TOPNOTCH to the tank and continue agitation while adding the remainder of the water. Begin application of the spray solution after the TOPNOTCH has completely dispersed into the mix water and maintain agitation until all of the mixture has been sprayed.

AERIAL APPLICATION

Instruction for Aerial Application
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 at 1-855-264-6262 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:
Apply in at least 45 litres of water per hectare.
Avoid spraying when the wind is blowing towards a nearby sensitive crop, garden, terrestrial habitat (such as shelter-belt) or aquatic habitat.

SPRAY DRIFT MANAGEMENT
ATTENTION
TOPNOTCH is extremely phytotoxic to certain apple varieties.
AVOID SPRAY DRIFT. Extreme care must be used to prevent injury to apple trees (and apple fruit).
DO NOT spray TOPNOTCH where spray drift may reach apple trees.
AVOID spraying when conditions favor drift beyond area intended for application. Conditions which may contribute to drift include thermal inversion, wind speed and direction, sprayer nozzle/pressure combinations, spray droplet size, etc.
DO NOT use spray equipment which has been previously used to apply TOPNOTCH to spray apple trees. Even trace amounts can cause unacceptable phytotoxicity to certain apple and crabapple varieties.
AVOIDING SPRAY DRIFT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICATOR.

USE DIRECTIONS

CEREALS

CROP: BARLEY
DISEASE: Barley net blotch (Pyrenophora teres), Barley scald (Rhynchosporium secalis),  Barley leaf rust (Puccinia hordei), Septoria leaf spot (Septoria sp.),  Tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis), Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis)
RATE (L/ha): 0.53
APPLICATION TIMING: Apply once between stem elongation and half-head emergence (G.S. 29-55). Good spray coverage and canopy penetration are important for best results.

CROP: RYE
DISEASE: Barley scald (Rhynchosporium secalis), Septoria leaf spot (Septoria sp.), Tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis)
RATE (L/ha): 0.53
APPLICATION TIMING: Apply once between stem elongation and half-head emergence (G.S. 29-55). Good spray coverage and canopy penetration are important for best results.

CROP: TRITICALE
DISEASE: Septoria leaf spot (Septoria sp.), Tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis)
RATE (L/ha): 0.53
APPLICATION TIMING: Apply once between stem elongation and half-head emergence (G.S. 29-55). Good spray coverage and canopy penetration are important for best results.

CROP: WHEAT
DISEASE: Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis), Wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina), Septoria leaf spot (Septoria sp.), Tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis)
RATE (L/ha): 0.53
APPLICATION TIMING: Apply once between stem elongation and half-head emergence (G.S. 29-55). Good spray coverage and canopy penetration are important for best results.

CROP: OATS
DISEASE: Barley net blotch (Pyrenophora teres), Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata var. avenae), Septoria leaf spot (Septoria sp.)
RATE (L/ha): 0.53
APPLICATION TIMING: Apply once between stem elongation and half-head emergence (G.S. 29-55). Good spray coverage and canopy penetration are important for best results.

Specific Use Restrictions: DO NOT make more than one application per season. DO NOT apply within 45 days of harvest for grain and straw (45 day PHI). DO NOT harvest within 30 days for forage and hay (30 day PHI). Not all of these cereal crops have been tested for efficacy and phytotoxicity at the recommended label rates and TOPNOTCH should be used at the discretion of the user.
TOPNOTCH may be applied by air or ground equipment.
GROUND APPLICATION: Apply specified rates in a minimum of 100 L of water per hectare.
AERIAL APPLICATION: Apply specified rates in a minimum of 45 L of water per hectare.

RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
For resistance management, please note that TOPNOTCH is a mixture of Group 3 (propiconazole) and Group 11 (azoxystrobin) fungicides. TOPNOTCH has two modes of action: (1) DMI (Demethylation Inhibitor of sterol biosynthesis) [Group 3], and (2) inhibitor of the Qo (quinone outside) site within the electron transport system (QoI) as well as disrupting membrane synthesis by blocking demethylation [Group 11]. Any fungal population may contain individuals naturally resistant to TOPNOTCH and other Group 3 or Group 11 fungicides. A gradua l or total loss of pest control may occur over time if these fungicides are used repeatedly in the same fields. 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 fungicide resistance:
DO NOT exceed the total number of applications of TOPNOTCH per season per crop as stated in label.
Follow the specific crop recommendations that limit the total number of sprays on a crop and the required alternations with fungicides from other resistance management groups.
In situations requiring multiple sprays, develop season long spray programs for Group 11 (QoI) fungicides. The program should meet the goal of no more than 1/3 of the total sprays per season, when a Group 11 fungicide is used as a solo product, or 1/2 the total sprays when a Group 11 fungicide is used in a mixture. Programs that include both solo Group 11 products and/or mixes containing Group 11 products should be no more than 1/2 the total sprays.
Where possible, rotate the use of TOPNOTCH or other Group 3 and 11 fungicides with different fungicide groups that control the same pathogens.
DO NOT apply sequential treatments of TOPNOTCH , or other fungicides in the same Fungicide Group, in a season. DO NOT apply at rates lower than recommended on the label.
Fungicide use should be based on an IPM program that includes scouting, historical information related to pesticide use and crop rotation and considers cultural, biological and other chemical control practices.
Monitor treated fungal populations for sign of resistance development.
If disease continues to progress after treatment with this product, DO NOT increase the use rate. Discontinue use of this product, and switch to another fungicide with a different target site of action, to which pathogen resistance has not developed.
Contact your local extension specialist or certified crop advisors for any additional pesticide resistance-management and/or IPM recommendations for specific crops and pathogens.
For further information or to report suspected resistance, contact a company representative at 1-855-264-6262.

Application Limitation and Preharvest Interval (PHI) Summary

CROP: Wheat, barley, oats, triticale, rye, straw
PHI Interval: 45 days
Maximum number of applications per year: 1

CROP: Forage and Hay
PHI Interval: 30 days
Maximum number of applications per year: 1