Question:

Is it too late for 2,4-DB to be applied?

Jordan:

This is okay from a plant response standpoint. I have applied it closer to digging and did not see a negative response. The PHI is 45 days and that is actual harvest not digging. So peanuts combined in mid-October are okay. Note that sicklepod and cocklebur are the only weeds it really helps on now when applied alone. It helps on Palmer amaranth but not when really big and mature. The help on all these weeds is when they are approaching getting big and are actively growing. Also note that farmers selling to Birdsong have a much more stringent cutoff date. Apparently there is some concern over residues of 2,4-DB in the EU. Registration and use of pesticides in US and EU are viewed differently. Based on EPA, harvesting 45 days after application of 2,4-DB results in “reasonable risk of no harm” when peanut is consumed. But it is impossible to segregate peanuts for US and international markets, and we certainly want to grow our international markets.