The first step to an effective herbicide application begins with a field scout and the proper chemical selection. The work however does not stop there; ensuring the products are mixed thoroughly and in the correct order can have a significant impact on the product efficacy and ease of use.
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In the past, the acronym W.A.L.E.S was created to help remember the tank mixing order of various products. With the introduction of more products and additives, it has since expanded to become W.A.M.L.E.G.S. (pictured below). 

Photo credit: Jason Deveau on Twitter (@Spray_Guy)

​This acronym does a good job of giving a general overview of the mixing process, but it is still missing a few items which are included below:

Pesticide Tank Mixing Order

1. Water Conditioners
   1. While the chart above does not include water conditioners in the list, it is the first product that should be placed in the tank (after it is filled ¾ with water) if needed. This includes pH adjusters such as AMS, pHix, and water conditioners that come in the case with products like Simplicity OD, Tandem, and Assert.
2. Wettable Powders, Flowables (DG, DF, WDG, F)
   1. These are your dry products ex) Simplicity GoDri, Part A of Barricade II, Sortan IS etc.
3. Agitate
   1. The wettable powders should be placed into the tank slowly and agitated thoroughly to ensure the product is suspended in the tank. Do not add the next product until this is complete. While there is only one A listed in WAMLEGS, products from each chemical type should be agitated and completely mixed before adding another product type ex) thoroughly mix all the suspension concentrates (SC) prior to adding in the emulsifiable concentrates (EC). 
4. Microcapsule Suspension (ME)
   1. Liquid product, but the active is contained within microcapsules ex) Command 360 ME
5. Liquid and Soluble (SC)
   1. These are the “thick” liquid products ex) Bison/Liquid Achieve, Travallas, Varro, Velocity
6. Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)
   1. The most popular formulation for in crop herbicides ex) Axial/Brazen II, Infinity, Stellar XL, Pixxaro, Prestige XL
7. High Load Glyphosates
   1. By high load it means the higher concentration formulations, ex) 540g ai formulations like transorb and weathermax.
8. Surfactants
   1. For many of the Corteva products, additional surfactant is required as well as for the group 1 graminicides. A general rule of thumb, surfactants always go into the tank last. Liberty is the exception to that rule where if a product is tank mixed with a graminicide, the adjuvant needs to go in first.
9. Not included in WAMLEGS: Fertility Products
   1. Foliar fertility products should be added to the tank last and agitated thoroughly prior to spraying

​Just as the weed control varies with herbicides, so does the application timing. On the early spectrum, certain products may be sprayed as early as the one leaf stage, while others (particularly those with 2,4-D) cannot be safely applied until the 4 leaf stage. On the later end, group 2 graminicides such as flucarbazone (Everest), thiencarbazone (Varro), and imazabethabenz (Assert) can only be sprayed up to the 6 leaf stage safely. Other actives such as tribenuron can be sprayed safely on the crop all the way up to the flag leaf.

With the rain delay, it is best to double check the crop staging and confirm that it is within the label application window prior to spraying. To help put the crop stages into perspective, here is a graph demonstrating the different growth stages of wheat and the phrasing that is in the crop protection guide and on product labels. 

​Here are also a few chemicals and where they fall on the chart above*:

Prior to 1st node/Max 6 leaf, 2-3 tillers/ Prior to Stem Elongation
Assert, Axial Xtreme, Axial Xtreme iPak, Luxxur, Predicade, Tundra, Varro, Velocity, Batalium, Clodinafop, Fenoxaprop, Stellar XL, Everest
 
Prior to Flag Leaf Emergence (36)
Cirpreme, Curtail M, Prestige, Rush 24, OcTTain, MCPA, Paradigm, Pixxaro, Rexade, Rezuvant, Avenza, Tandem, Tridem
 
Early Flag Leaf/Flag Leaf Just Visible (37)
2,4-D, Infinity FX, Buctril M, Thumper, Forcefighter M, Infinity, Pinoxaden, Trakyloxydim
 
Emerged Flag Leaf (39)
Travallas, Barricade II
 
*Please note that best practices include double checking the label or consulting your agronomist prior to spraying. The information above is provided only as a guideline. If you need assistance with staging your crop, don’t hesitate to contact any of us at Horizon Fertilizers.