EPA issues new labels for two herbicides

LITTLE ROCK —The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued new labels for two herbicides offering growers new tools for the 2022 growing season.

Reviton, a marketed tiafenacil formulation, is a broadleaf herbicide newly labeled for aerial applications in Arkansas. Tommy Butts, extension weed scientist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the addition of the 24C classification, will likely prove to be a key benefit for growers as spring burndown applications continue.

“It’s another tool in the toolbox,” Butts said. “In a year of limited supply and high prices, that’s especially important.”

Reviton is part of a chemical family known as PPO inhibitors, which, among other things, prevent production of chlorophyll and destroy cell membranes.

Under the Section 24C special local needs label, Arkansas farmers will be able to use Reviton for preplant and pre-emergence burndown in corn except sweet corn and popcorn. It can also be used pre-plant in soybeans and cotton.

One of the most important facets of Reviton is that it may be safely tank-mixed with clethodim, which controls ryegrass and other grassy weeds.

“We haven’t seen negative interactions when it’s mixed with clethodim, which tends to have limited tank-mix partners, because a lot of other herbicides will affect clethodim’s effectiveness,” Butts said.

“Reviton primarily goes after broadleaf weeds, but can provide a boost to grass control, and clethodim goes after grasses, so the fact that those two can be mixed together is a nice option as a tank-mix.”

Rogue, the active ingredient of which is benzobicyclon, is a post-flood rice herbicide that provides a new method of control for weed species such as flatsedge and sprangletop, and helps suppress weedy rice.

Farmers have to be certified to use Rogue. Among other things, Rogue needs to be sprayed into flood water and should be used only zero-grade and straight levee fields where water can be held with little or no movement, Butts said.

“The herbicide itself isn’t a new mode of action, but it’s a new mode of action in rice,” Butts said. “We’ve never had an HPPD inhibitor before that we could use in rice.”

HPPD inhibitors work by effectively bleaching weeds, shutting down photosynthesis and causing them to wilt and die.

Butts said Rogue is especially beneficial because of increasing resistance issues associated with other herbicides already in use throughout the mid-South.

“When you have herbicide resistance, normally it’s to a specific mode of action,” he said. “With this one being a completely different mode of action never used before in rice, it opens the door a little more.”

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LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism awarded more than $3.6 million in Outdoor Recreation Grants awarded to projects within 25 counties across the state on Friday, March 4. The grants are divided into two categories: Matching Grants and Facilities for Underdeveloped Neighborhoods (FUN) Park Grants.

“The Outdoor Recreation Grants Program has provided $47.2 million in matching grants since 1988 and nearly $11 million in FUN Park Grants since 1991,” said Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst. “There’s no question that these grants to Arkansas cities and counties have been impactful and led to increased access to outdoor recreation and improved quality of life for our state’s residents. These monies help create opportunities for the public to get outside and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.”

“Much of the efforts of Arkansas State Parks is

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focused on the renowned locations of state parks.

The efforts of the Outdoor Recreation Grants section of State Parks allows us to further partner with communities and municipalities to provide recreational experiences,” Arkansas State Parks Director Shea Lewis said. “We have found, during the pandemic, that these resources are more important than ever.

“Few things can unite a community like a local park,” said Outdoor Recreation Grants Program Director Matt McNair.

“Whether tournament-caliber ballfields on the edge of town, playgrounds and basketball courts tucked away in unique neighborhoods, or tiny downtown pocket parks providing a little rest and shade to workers and errand-runners, local parks allow folks to reacquaint themselves with their neighbors and the things they love about their hometown.

Everyone in our program feels proud and privileged to be a small part of that.”

Project Officers advise the Committee as to eligibility, feasibility and project history. Each year, nearly 200 site visits are conducted to assist local communities.

The list of the 2022 Matching Grant recipients include:

• Bald Knob (White County) to develop two picnic shelters with tables, install a new play structure with impact surfacing and improve accessibility at Collision Park and install field lighting at Bald Knob Sports Complex, $130,000.00.

• Batesville (Independence County) to install a pedestrian bridge and improve access at Riverside Park, and install a new play structure at Kennedy Park, $146,004.00.

• Brookland (Craighead County) to develop two new parks (Smith Street and East Ridge Parks) with pavilions, park amenities, play areas, walking trails, basketball facilities, and access, $225,000.00.

• Cave City (Sharp County) to construct a new playground with accessibility and fencing at Cave City Park, $75,834.13.

• Clarksville (Johnson County) to develop an allinclusive playground and improve accessibility at Cline Park, $225,000.00.

• Dumas (Desha County) to develop restroom facility, replace play equipment, widen and resurface existing walking trail, and improve access at Memorial Park, $175,000.00.

• Hope (Hempstead County) to develop a new pocket park with shade structure, performance stage, benches, landscaping, accessibility and lighting, $31,480.00.

• Hot Springs (Garland County) to construct a pump track at Velocity Park, $131,500.00.

• Johnson (Washington County) to replace play equipment, resurface existing basketball court, and develop new restrooms, a pavilion, volleyball facility, park amenities, accessibility and fencing at Johnson City Park, $225,000.00.

• Lowell (Benton County) to develop an all-inclusive playground with shade structure, accessibility and fencing at KJ Memorial Park, $225,000.00.

• Mountain Home (Baxter County) to develop an allinclusive play area, amphitheater seating, restrooms, horseshoe pits and accessibility improvements at Hickory Park, $225,000.00.

• Mountain View (Stone County) to repair and refurbish existing city pool and improve playground safety and access at Stone County Recreational Complex, $90,000.00.

• Mulberry (Crawford County) to develop pickleball courts and improve access at Mulberry City Park, $65,000.00.

• Prairie Grove (Washington County) to develop restrooms, install new play equipment and improve access at Muddy Fork Park, $119,699.32.

• Rose Bud (White County) to construct restroom facility, stage area, and improve access at Rose Bud City Park, $48,000.00.

• Russellville (Pope County) to develop allinclusive playground and improve access at Russellville City Park, $180,000.00.

• Scranton (Logan County) to develop basketball facility, playground, park amenities, and access improvements at Scranton City Park, $50,000.00.

• Searcy (White County) to develop access, fencing and improve site condition at Riverside Park; improve access at Searcy Sports Complex; and replace old play equipment and impact surfacing at Yancey Park, $55,000.00.

• Stuttgart (Arkansas County) to develop a new pocket park with pavilion, movie screen wall, bike racks and bike station, concession facility, seating areas, native landscaping, Wi-Fi hotspot and park amenities, $195,000.00.

• Valley Springs (Boone County) to construct a pavilion, improve accessibility, and install lighting, impact surfacing and park amenities at Valley Springs City Park, $91,385.43.

The ORGP is housed within Arkansas State Parks, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, and is tasked with the promotion and facilitation of public outdoor recreation in Arkansas. To help accomplish these goals, the ORGP offers technical and funding assistance for land acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation facilities to local governments throughout the state.