Frequently Asked Questions on PyGanic® Products
Q. Why is PyGanic® OMRI® & NOP compliant, and other pyrethrum containing products are not?
A. MGK is the only pyrethrum supplier in the U.S. that refines its own pyrethrum. Since we have total control over the processes used in refining, we engineered new ways to produce pyrethrum so it meets the organic standards.
Another reason is that most pyrethrum-containing products include the ingredient Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO). Piperonyl Butoxide is a synthetic material that is not allowed in organic production.
Q. What rate do you recommend that will deliver the level of control I need?
A. In general, using PyGanic EC 5.0II at the 9 fluid ounces per acre rate provides excellent knockdown and kill of insects. The 9 fluid ounce rate per acre is the most common rate used. It is our recommended starting point when using PyGanic EC 5.0II for the first time.
There are conditions under which we recommend you consider increasing the rate used per acre. These include:
* Extremely high insect populations.
* When treating insects with hard exoskeletons in their mature, adult phases.
To determine the optimum rate for your situation, you have the option to conduct small-scale trials at the various labeled rates. You may also consider trying a range of water volumes.
Q. MGK compares PyGanic to pyrethroid and organophosphate products in your literature. Will PyGanic perform similarly to these types of products?
A. PyGanic will deliver excellent knockdown and kill of insects it contacts. PyGanic degrades rapidly when exposed to sunlight, and other field conditions. PyGanic does not have residues which remain on the plant or in the field. Therefore it does not provide residual control of insects which hatch or enter the field the day following application.
Q. What is the difference between "pyrethrins", "pyrethrum" and "pyrethroids"?
A. The terms "pyrethrins" and "pyrethrum" both refer to the naturally occurring compounds which are derived from the extract of chrysanthemum-like flowers. Pyrethrins is the name given to the six distinct insecticidal compounds extracted from these flowers. Pyrethrum is the name used to describe the same compounds, but in general terms. Pyrethroid refers to synthetic, man-made insecticides with chemical structures generally similar to "pyrethrins". Pyrethroids have characteristics which make them significantly different from pyrethrum. Since they are synthetic pyrethroids are not allow for use in organic production.
Q. How much water should I use when making an application?
A. Coverage is the single most important application issue when working with a "contact-only" insecticide like PyGanic. Delivering a lethal dose to the target pest at the time of application will result in excellent control. The amount of water used as a carrier has to be enough to get good coverage. There is a point of diminishing returns when the amount of water used per acre is too high. In these cases, the concentration of the spray solution is so low that a lethal dose is not delivered to the pest.
Key considerations for determining how much water to use as carrier include:
* How much water is required to provide good coverage to the crop, the insects, and potential harborage sites.
* The type of equipment you are using.
* The lower the amount of water use (while still get good coverage on the pests) the higher the dose of PyGanic you will deliver to the insect in one droplet of spray.
* We recommend 50-100 gallons of water per acre as the optimal amount. However, many users report excellent results with spray solutions of up to 250 gallons (or more) of water per acre.
Q. Can PyGanic be tank-mixed with other products?
A. Yes, PyGanic is frequently used in combination with other crop protection products such as Bacillus Thuriengensis, Azadiractin, Spinosad, Neem Oil, and a host of other additives, fungicides, nutrients, surfactants and penetrants. PyGanic provides benefits such as quick knockdown and kill of insects, broader spectrum of control, and resistance management benefits to these types of products.
Be sure to follow the label directions for all products to be applied, including PyGanic. We recommend that you conduct a compatibility test, incorporating the products in the proper proportions to ensure the physical compatibility of the mixture.
Q. Will the addition of a surfactant, spreader or wetting agent to a PyGanic spray solution increase the level of insect control I get?
A. We are aware of numerous studies that demonstrate tank-mixing certain types of these products with PyGanic will slightly increase the level of insect control. We have not seen enough information to recommend specific brands. Your best source of this type of information may be the manufacturer of the additive. As with any penetrant, wetting agent and surfactant, we recommend small scale testing be conducted in order to ensure these products will not injure your crops. Always be sure the spray solution is within the pH range of 5.5 to 7.0.
Q. When is the best time of day to spray PyGanic?
A. Since PyGanic is a "contact insecticide", performance will be best if you spray when insects are most active. This will insure that PyGanic comes into contact with as many pests as possible, which will provide the highest level of control.
If conditions are such that you need to spray your crop in the early morning, or early evening, PyGanic will provide control of the pests contacted, so getting excellent coverage is vital.
Q. What effect does PyGanic have on beneficial insects?
A. PyGanic is a broad-spectrum insecticide. It will kill beneficial insects that it comes in contact with. You have two basic options when using PyGanic in fields where beneficial insects are present:
1) Apply PyGanic when insects are most active, and plan on re-releasing beneficial insects 1 or 2 days following the PyGanic application.
2) Apply PyGanic in the early morning or early evening, when beneficial insects such as honey bees are typically less active.
Q. How is PyGanic different from other Pyrethrum-containing products such as EverGreen® 60-6, Pyrenone®, Pyrellin® and PyronylTM?
A. Products such as these contain Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO), which is not allowed for use in organic production. Pyrellin does not contain PBO, but does contain other ingredients which are not allowed in organic production.
Q. What is PyGanic's shelf life?
A. PyGanic's formulations are designed with good storage stability characteristics. Store PyGanic out of direct sunlight, and away from extreme heat. If PyGanic freezes, shake the container after the liquid has thawed, to ensure an even concentration of ingredients throughout the formulation. When stored properly, PyGanic should last for a year or more.
Q. What affect does pH of the spray solution have on PyGanic's performance?
A. The pH of the spray solution is very important! It is vital that the spray solution is buffered to a pH of 5.5 - 7.0. Application of a spray solution with a pH outside of this range will most likely result in poor efficacy on target pests. If the solution is outside of this pH range, the pyrethrins will degrade.
Q. What are the mixing instructions for smaller sprayers or applications made in greenhouse or nursery settings?
A. The mixing recommendations for these situations are as follows:
PyGanic Crop Protection EC 1.4II:
* 1 to 2 fluid ounces of PyGanic 1.4II mixed with 1 gallon of water.
* 16 - 32 fluid ounces of PyGanic 1.4II per 30 gallons of water
* 3.5 to 7 pints of PyGanic 1.4II per 100 gallons of water
PyGanic Crop Protection EC 5.0II:
* 1.5 to 3 teaspoons of PyGanic 5.0II mixed with 1 gallon of water.
* 5 to 10 fluid ounces of PyGanic 5.0II per 30 gallons of water
* 1 to 2 pints of PyGanic 5.0II per 100 gallons of water.
Awlays read and follow label and MSDS directions.
Q. Where is PyGanic registered for use?
A. PyGanic is registered in all 50 states of the U.S., and we are working on registrations in several other countries as well.