4 Essential Herbicides for Utility Vegetation Managers in 2023

As the popularity of Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) programs continues to grow throughout the utility industry, the same goes for the adaptation of selective herbicide applications. Selective herbicide treatments can provide several benefits over exclusive mowing practices, including long-term cost savings, increased efficacy and environmental sustainability.

However, the degree to which these advantages are realized often depends on which product chemistries are used to maintain control of incompatible plant species. Investing in herbicide products that offer a lower cost per acre may end up costing more in the long run.

Less-effective herbicides may save a bit of money in the short term, but they also tend to offer abbreviated treatment cycles. That means recurring maintenance requirements and an avoidable increase in associated costs over time. Moreover, manufacturers of cheaper products rarely provide technical or claims support to their customers. That’s where Corteva Agriscience sets itself apart from other agricultural companies.

Learn how the following herbicide products offered by Corteva can strengthen incompatible plant control throughout utility substations and right-of-way (ROW) corridors in 2023 and beyond:

Optimizing Broadleaf Weed and Brush Control

Extending broadleaf weed control and increasing activity on hard-to-control weeds can support the invaluable development of low-growing native plant communities throughout utility ROW. In turn, these desirable plants help safeguard the integrity of utility infrastructure and support the development of biodiverse habitat for native wildlife. Keep in mind: The ability to achieve these optimum results often hinges on product selection, making TerraVue® herbicide the optimum solution for broadleaf weed and brush control.

Powered by Rinskor^® active, a reduced-risk herbicide that won the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Challenge Award, TerraVue can control more than 140 broadleaf weeds and brush species throughout utility ROW. In addition to offering the industry’s most favorable environmental profile, TerraVue is practically nonvolatile. The product also is safe to use on grass and most beneficial forbs. Best of all, TerraVue can be tank-mixed with other industry-leading chemistries to enhance control of certain woody species.

Herbicide Solutions to Expand the Woody Brush Spectrum

When used alone or tank-mixed with TerraVue herbicide, Vastlan® herbicide offers a broad spectrum of brush and vine control, including a number of trees that pose a risk to overhead powerlines and utility infrastructure, including: 

·        Ash (Fraxinus)

·         Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

·         Birch (Betula)

·         Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

·         Elm (Ulmus)

·         Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

·         Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Corteva also offers Garlon® 4 Ultra herbicide as the industry standard for basal cut-stump, basal bark and dormant-stem treatments. Even after other products call it quits for the season, Garlon 4 Ultra delivers excellent broad-spectrum control of incompatible trees and woody plants, including dogwood (Cornus florida), maple (Acer), pine (Pinus), poplar (Populus), saltcedar (Tamarix aphylla) and more. 

Similar to Vastlan herbicide, Garlon 4 Ultra herbicide can be tank-mixed with TerraVue herbicide to increase the woody brush control spectrum for herbicide treatments applied after full leaf out.

A New Herbicide Solution for Total Vegetation Control 

Weed resistance is a persistent issue for vegetation managers, especially for those working to achieve bareground results around transmission towers and utility substations. Fortunately, Piper® EZ herbicide can serve as an excellent tool for maintaining control of select grasses and broadleaf weeds, including glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and other EPSP synthase-resistant weeds. 

As an essential component of total vegetation control programs, Piper EZ herbicide provides preemergence control with differing modes of action that enhance resistance management. Piper EZ and tank-mix partners, such as TerraVue herbicide, also can provide postemergence control after targeted species have emerged earlier in the year.

With new weed species invading a variety of noncrop use sites each year, the new modes of action provided by Piper EZ herbicide helps vegetation managers knock problematic species back and prevent the emergence of germinating seedlings throughout the growing season.

To learn more about the growing portfolio of herbicide products offered by Corteva, as well as application success stories, seasonal treatment opportunities and best practices for vegetation control, visit Utility.VegetationMgmt.com.  

_{™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Piper® is a trademark of Valent U.S.A. LLC. Rinskor® is a registered active ingredient. Under normal field conditions, TerraVue® is nonvolatile. TerraVue has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with TerraVue and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. Piper EZ, TerraVue and Vastlan are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Consult the label for full details. State restrictions on the sale and use of Garlon® 4 Ultra apply. Always read and follow label directions. © 2022 Corteva.}

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