Mep StarPlant Protection Product ComparisonPlant Protection Product ComparisonReport inaccuraciesReport inaccuracies

GENERAL INFORMATION
Mep Star is a foliar applied plant regulator for use on cotton. Mep Star allows growers to manage the cotton plant for short-season production leading to reduced risk of yield and quality loss due to delayed and prolonged harvest. Benefits obtained from the use of Mep Star include less boll rot, improved defoliation. reduced plant height providing a more open canopy, increased early boll retention andlor larger bolls, less trash and lower ginning costs, better harvest efficiency and a darker leaf cooler. These benefits often favorably influence the yield potential of the cotton plant.

Spray Coverage
Water is the recommended diluent under most circumstances, however, oil is permitted in the following states for ultra low volume (ULV) aerial applications: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Refer to the Air and Ground Application sections for recommended spray volumes. Thorough coverage of the cotton foliage is required regardless of the application method or gallonage of application used.

Cleaning Application Equipment
Before and after applying this product, clean application equipment thoroughly using a strong detergent or commercial sprayer cleaner according to the manufacturer's directions, particularly if a product with the potential to injure weeds was used.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Early Application
On both short-staple and Pima cotton, growers have the option of low-rate multiple applications (see Table 1) or higher, less frequent dosages (see Table 2). These options provide maximum flexibility under a variety of growing conditions. The multiple application method gives the grower the ability to discontinue using Mep Star if any significant stresses occur after an earlier application. If the stress is relieved, the grower has the option of continuing treatments. In addition, the rate and timing ranges indicated in the Application Rates and Timings Tables enable the grower to tailor usage of Mep Star based on the degree of vegetative vigor in a given field. Mep Star may be tank mixed with insecticides, miticides or foliar fertilizers when application timings coincide (Refer to the General Restrictions and Limitations section of this label).
Fields should be carefully scouted. Mep Star should not be applied if plants are under any form of stress. In the absence of stress, a maximum of 5 low rate applications can be made each season. The first application may be applied at match head square in the absence of stress. The rate and timing of subsequent applications will depend on vegetative vigor. Additional treatments should be made at 7-14 day intervals under good growing conditions. However, if excessive growth is observed at any time, higher rates of Mep Star can be used.
If insect pressure or other stresses have caused early and significant loss of squares or young bolls, and these stresses have been alleviated, the need for Mep Star is increased since excess vegetative growth is likely due to poor fruit loading.

Late Season Application
Certain benefits to cotton can be obtained by a late application of Mep Star (approximately during the fourth to sixth week of blooming). However, a late season application should not and does not substitute for early season use - the time of greatest benefit from the use of Mep StarTM. Late season application
can lead to one or more of the following:
• Better defoliation
• Earlier maturity
• Reduction in late season vegetative growth or regrowth after cutout or defoliation
• More complete and manageable cutout
• Reduction in trash
• Lower ginning costs.

Some of these effects may favorably influence cotton yield potential and fiber quality. A late season application of Mep Star should only be applied if fields are not drought or nutrient stressed. However, fields that are very rank and extremely vigorous due to a combination of poor boll load and excellent growing conditions may not respond as much as desired to late season applications at the suggested rates.

Timing for Late Season Applications
Fields where cotton cuts out and then starts regrowth: Apply when regrowth begins, as evidenced by new leaves in the terminal and stem elongation. This application time often, but not always, corresponds to 5-6 weeks after first bloom.
Fields where cotton never completely cuts out: Apply Mep Star when there are 4-6 nodes above the white flower (NAWF). NAWF is measured by counting the number of mainstem nodes from the first position white bloom (the one closest to the mainstem) to the terminal. Count the node with the first position white bloom as zero and the last node in the terminal, which is counted, should have a leaf at least the size of a quarter. The NAWF generally reaches 4-6 nodes during the fourth to sixth week of bloom.
During this time, the NAWF should be decreasing about one node every 5-6 days - if its rate of decrease  is less, the plant is not cutting out soon enough (the crop is too vigorous). If the fifth week of bloom arrives and NAWF is still above 5-6, apply Mep StarTM.

Late Season Application Use Rate
Apply 8-24 fluid ounces of Mep Star per acre. The lower rate should be used on cotton with only moderate additional growth potential, and the higher rate on fields likely to continue vigorous growth.