Support for Citrus Access to Triazine Herbicides

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) recently filed comments with federal agencies supporting continued access to the triazine herbicides simazine and atrazine for citrus and other specialty crops. The comments were submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Environmental Protection Agency regarding FWS’ draft Biological Opinion (BiOp) for Atrazine and Simazine Herbicides.

FFVA submitted the comments on behalf of its citrus, sugarcane, sweet corn and agronomic sod producer members.

“These tools (triazine herbicides) are especially important in the high organic matter content soils of the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee, and in the flatwoods citrus production areas of the state,” FFVA stated.

Following are some FFVA comments specifically addressing the products’ use in citrus:

• In Florida, simazine plays a crucial role in the management of weeds in crops such as citrus, as citrus groves are particularly susceptible to competition from weeds, especially the broadleaf and vine-type weeds that simazine manages so effectively. These weed pests can significantly impact the citrus tree’s growth and yield. By applying simazine, citrus farmers can effectively suppress the growth of unwanted broadleaved weeds and vines, ensuring healthier and more productive crops.
• Use of simazine in permanent crops like citrus is essential to water conservation as well as for frost protection.
• Simazine also reduces the need to till in crops like citrus, which decreases soil erosion and helps protect perennial tree crops and their root systems from injury by tillage equipment.
• Historically, simazine has been one of the most economical herbicides available to citrus growers. The large citrus grove acreages make labor-intensive mechanical weeding costly and totally impractical.
• Far-reaching tank mix compatibilities allow growers to combine simazine with post-emergent herbicides for broader weed control. Simazine’s cost efficiencies have been especially important during the recent periods of low citrus returns.
• Even though it can legally be applied twice, simazine is typically only applied once per crop to Florida citrus, either in the fall or in spring.
• Until recently, simazine use in citrus has trended down because of the introduction of Alion herbicide (indaziflam). However, weed management spectrum gaps (vines and other large seeded broadleaf weeds), concern about tree safety with Alion, enhanced broadleaf weed pressure because of thinning tree canopies resulting from citrus greening disease (particularly the vine-type weeds), and overall economics have created a recent uptick in use and demand for simazine in citrus.
• FWS’s draft BiOp indicates that more than 100,000 acres of citrus are treated annually with simazine.
• The citrus industry in Florida only has simazine and one other alternative herbicide available to it from a broadleaf weed and vine management perspective. The other alternative broadleaf/vine herbicide is diuron. Having only two viable options available … means that to effectively manage broadleaf and vine weeds, Florida’s citrus growers need continued, meaningful access to simazine as reflected by the current label use directions.

See FFVA’s full comments here.

Source: FFVA