Clethodim 101: Everything Growers Need to Know About Clethodim

This guide includes the following sections:

What Is Clethodim?

Clethodim is a selective, systemic herbicide commonly used to control grass weeds in a variety of row and specialty crops, including soybeans, cotton, lentils, peas, peanuts and sunflowers.

Designed to be mixed with water and applied to crops using a sprayer, clethodim is used post-emergence to inhibit the growth of grass weed shoots and roots, killing the weeds. It can also be used to control volunteer corn, which grows from kernels left behind in the field after harvest.

When Should Farmers Apply Clethodim?

Farmers should apply clethodim once grass weeds have emerged and are in early growth stages. Spray clethodim when weather conditions are favorable, ideally when there is no rain in the forecast for at least the next 24 hours. Because clethodim is applied with a sprayer, monitoring wind conditions and using best application practices is recommended to minimize drift.

How Much Clethodim Should Farmers Use Per Acre?

The specific clethodim application rate per acre depends on weed pressure, crop type and agronomic factors, including tillage method.

For example, the label instructions for Willowood Clethodim 2EC recommend using 6-16 fluid ounces of product per acre when treating weeds impacting most crops. For volunteer corn control, the Willowood Clethodim 2EC label recommends using 4-6 fluid ounces per acre for weeds 4-12 inches tall and 6-8 fluid ounces per acre for weeds 12-24 inches tall.

When tank mixing with clethodim, crop oil is required. Clethodim is also frequently sprayed with glyphosate. Since poor water quality can reduce the uptake and translocation of clethodim, a spray-grade AMS water conditioner is recommended with clethodim applications to enhance weed control.

Following the label instructions carefully when using clethodim or any other herbicide maximizes product performance and ensures safe application.

How Long Does Clethodim Take to Work?

The amount of time it takes for clethodim to work can vary depending on many factors, including the:

Type of weed being treated
Weed growth stage
Environmental conditions

In most situations, clethodim fully controls grass weeds several days or potentially more than a week after application. Note that clethodim takes longer than many herbicides to show that it is working.

How to Tank Mix with Clethodim

Adjuvant Recommendation: Apply	Adjuvant Recommendation: Perform	When to Use This Adjuvant Combination
IN-Plant™	FieldGrip™ DRA	IN-Plant is our go-to crop oil adjuvant to meet clethodim’s label requirement for crop oil. FieldGrip DRA provides low-rate, high-performance drift control.
IN-Plant™ ADV	FieldGrip™ DRA	IN-Plant ADV is a low-rate, oil-based adjuvant with an excellent crop safety profile, which also meets clethodim’s label requirement for crop oil. FieldGrip DRA provides low-rate, high-performance drift control.
IN-Cert™ HighSurf MSO	FieldGrip™ DRA	IN-Cert HighSurf MSO is a high-performance oil and surfactant blend ideal for complex tank mixes, which meets clethodim’s label requirement for crop oil. FieldGrip DRA provides low-rate, high-performance drift control.

Clethodim Safety Guidelines

When handling and applying clethodim, keep the following guidelines in mind:

Personal protective equipment: Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and pants, when handling and applying clethodim.
Restricted entry interval: Follow the restricted entry interval (REI) listed on the label. The REI is the amount of time that must pass after application before workers can re-enter the treated area.
Storage and disposal: Store clethodim in a cool, dry place away from food and feed, and dispose of any unused product or containers according to local regulations.

Clethodim 2 EC Herbicide

Buy Clethodim from FBN Direct

Ready to purchase clethodim for your ag operation? FBN Direct carries Willowood Clethodim 2EC, a herbicide containing clethodim as an active ingredient, and a broad range of tank-mix partners.

With a convenient online platform, transparent pricing and direct-to-farm delivery available on your schedule, FBN Direct puts Farmers First®.

Related Resources

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