1. Pesticide Formulations Substitutes for Common Pesticide Formulations
Kevin Fry
Extension Educator, Agronomy
CMEG
PENN STATE
Crop Management Extension Group

2. Instructions
Match household product with its similar pesticide formulation type.
Write product name in box next to the formulation it best represents.

3. Pesticide Formulations
Household Products

4. Foot Powder

5. Pepto-Bismal & V8

6. Mayonnaise

7. Detergent Gelpacs & Liquacaps

8. Pine-Sol

9. Cocoa & Flour

10. Cat Litter & Grape-nuts

11. Vicks VapoRub

12. Hair Spray

13. White Grape Juice

14. Drink Mix & Corn Starch

15. Glass Cleaner

16. Toothpaste & Granola Bar

17. Grits & Dry Milk

18. Contac Cold Medicine

19. Guinea Pig/Rabbit Food

20. Pesticide Formulations
Answers

21. #1. Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC)
Emulsion; fine liquid particles suspended in another liquid
Forms cloudy mixture when mixed with water
Homogenized milk
Dual II Magnum
Prowl 3.3EC

22. #2. Solution (S) / Concentrated Solution (C or LC)
Liquid that will form a true aqueous solution
Banvel / Clarity 4S
Roundup Weathermax 4.5S

23. #3. Flowable (F or L)
Fine solid particles dispersed (suspended) in a liquid
Atrazine 4L
Princep 4L
Callisto 4SC

24. #4. Dust (D) Fine solid particles Ready to use Not water-soluble
Copper Dragon
Easy Garden 10%

25. #5. Granule (G) Small particles Ready to use Not water-soluble
Diazinon, Ant Killer
Lorsban 15G
“Weed and Feed”

26. #6. Pellet (P or PS) Formed small- to medium-sized particles
Ready to use
Not water-soluble
DowAgro 1/8” “blanks”
Spike 20P

27. #7. Wettable Powder (W or WP)
Relatively insoluble fine-particle solid that forms a suspension
Not a true solution
Karmex
Pounce 25WP

28. #8. Water-Dispersible Granules (WDG) / Dry Flowables (DF)
Small particles of a wettable powder
Will form a suspension
Not a true solution
Option 35WDG
Steadfast 75DF

29. #9. Soluble Powder (SP or WSP)
Fine- or medium-particle sized solid that will dissolve in water to form a true solution
Roundup Pro Dry
Ambush 25WSP

30. #10. Water Soluble Packaging (Gel Pack)
A semi-solid colloid (jelly) packaged in water-soluble film.
Buctril Gel
“Toss and go” packaging

31. #11. Aerosol (A) Fine airborne particles/droplets plus a propellant
D-Con House and Garden
Bug repellent
DEET

32. #12. Bait (B) Attractant/feeding stimulant + food + pesticide
MaxAttrax Ant Feeding
Attack brand Beetle Trap
Trails End Molluscicide

33. #13. Invert Emulsion (IE)
An emulsion in which the active ingredient is dispersed in oil rather than in water
Usually a thick mixture
Certain roadside non-crop products

34. #14. Microencapsulated (ME)
Coated or encased units – time release
Prowl H2O
MicroTech
BioBarrier

35. #15. Ready-to-Use (RTU) Solution or suspension diluted to use rate
Roundup RTU

36. #16. ULV/Fog/Smoke Fine particles/ droplets suspended in air
Raid concentrate fogger

37. So what!? Why are formulations important?
Storage – dry vs. liquid; concentrated?
Handling – dry vs. liquid, do you have preference?
Mixing and Loading

38. Mixing and Loading
Mixing and loading order can be determined by the formulation if not specified on the label.

39. Formulation Tank Mixing Order
Fill tank ¼ to ½ full with water or carrier and begin agitation
Adjuvants used for anti-foaming, buffers, compatibility, AMS, etc.

40. Formulation Tank Mixing Order
Fill tank ¼ to ½ full with water or carrier and begin agitation
Adjuvants used for anti-foaming, buffers, compatibility, AMS, etc.
Dry products (WP, WDG, DF, WSP)
Liquid Flowables (F or L)

41. Formulation Tank Mixing Order
Fill tank ¼ to ½ full with water or carrier and begin agitation
Adjuvants used for anti-foaming, buffers, compatibility, AMS, etc.
Dry products (WP, WDG, DF, WSP)
Liquid Flowables (F or L)
Microencapsulated (ME)
Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)

42. Formulation Tank Mixing Order
Fill tank ¼ to ½ full with water or carrier and begin agitation
Adjuvants used for anti-foaming, buffers, compatibility, AMS, etc.
Dry products (WP, WDG, DF, WSP)
Liquid Flowables (F or L)
Microencapsulated (ME)
Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)
Liquid solutions (S, C, LC) usually clear
Adjuvants used for herbicide efficacy enhancement (COC, NIS, MSO)

43. Formulation Tank Mixing Order
Fill tank ¼ to ½ full with water or carrier and begin agitation
Adjuvants used for anti-foaming, buffers, compatibility, AMS, etc.
Dry products (WP, WDG, DF, WSP)
Liquid Flowables (F or L)
Microencapsulated (ME)
Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC)
Liquid solutions (S, C, LC) usually clear
Adjuvants used for herbicide efficacy enhancement (COC, NIS, MSO)
Add water/carrier to desired level

44. Remember acronym W.A.L.E.S*
W – WP, WDG, DF, WSP
A – Agitate
L – Liquid Flowables
E – Emulsifiable Concentrates
S – Surfactants
*Read each product label for product-specific mixing instructions.

45. Notes on Sprayer Mixing
Start with a clean tank. Leftovers may cause unforeseen problems
Always use clean water
Make a slurry of each dry formulation before adding to tank
Agitate thoroughly before adding each product
Spray solution and clean tank after each days use

46. Notes on Sprayer Mixing
Certain insecticides and/or fungicides can be tank mixed with herbicides—check the product label
If you question the compatibility of a tank mixture, use the JAR TEST

47. Jar Test
Better to have gel, precipitate, sludge, or concrete in a jar rather than in your sprayer, hoses, pumps, and tips.

48. Jar Test
Labeled combinations of herbicides with fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides are difficult to find.

49. Jar Test Safety Always wear PPE when pouring or mixing pesticides.
Perform this test in a safe area away from food and sources of ignition.
Pesticide used in this test should be put into the spray tank when completed and applied to a labeled site.
Rinse all utensils and jars, and pour rinse water into spray tank.

50. Jar Test In two 1-quart jars, add 1 pint of carrier in each
Add ¼ teaspoon of compatibility agent to one jar (equivalent to 2 pints per 100 gal)

51. Jar Test
In two 1-quart jars, add 1 pint of carrier in each
Add ¼ teaspoon of compatibility agent to one jar (equivalent to 2 pints per 100 gal)
To each jar, add the required amount (see below) of pesticide in proper order
When all ingredients have been added, shake both jars for 15 seconds and allow to stand for at least 15 minutes. Then inspect for flakes, sludge, gels, etc., which may indicate incompatibility.

52. Jar Test
In two 1-quart jars, add 1 pint of carrier in each.
Add ¼ teaspoon of compatibility agent to one jar (equivalent to 2 pints per 100 gal).
To each jar, add the required amount (see below) of pesticide in proper order.
When all ingredients have been added, shake both jars for 15 seconds and allow to stand for at least 15 minutes. Then inspect for flakes, sludge, gels, etc., which may indicate incompatibility.
Compare the two jars, one with the compatibility agent and one without.
Decide if the mixture can be sprayed with or without the compatibility agent or even at all.

53. Required Amounts of Pesticide for Jar Tests
For dry rates (16oz per lb)
1 lb/A = 1.5 teaspoons
For liquid rates
(16 fl oz = 1 pint; 2 pints = 1 quart)
1 pint/A = 0.5 teaspoon
1 qt/A = 1.0 teaspoon
Jar test rates based upon 25 gal per acre sprayer delivery rate.

54. Required Amounts of Pesticide for Jar Tests
For low liquid rates (< 8 oz)
Fill quart jar half full of water
Add label rate of pesticide (Ex oz/A Accent)
Fill remainder of jar (32 oz)
Add one teaspoon of dilute solutions to jar test

55. Sample Jar Test Questions? Use quart jars to simulate actual jar test.
Jar test #1 – Fill 2 jars half full of water. Add enough oil to make a ¼ - ½ inch layer. Add a few drops of Dawn detergent soap (compatibility agent)
Shake both jars, observe right away and again in a few minutes. Would you spray either of the mixtures?
Jar test #2 – Fill 2 jars half full of warm water with 3-4 tea bags (PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME). Add a few teaspoons (at least 3) of milk to both jars. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to one jar. Shake both jars and observe after a few minutes. Would you spray either of the mixtures?
Jar test #3 – Fill 2 jars half full of water. Add a tablespoon of baking powder (or soda) to each jar. Add a ¼ to ½ cup of vinegar to one jar. Shake both jars and observe after a few minutes. Would you spray either of the mixtures?

56. This presentation was developed by Kevin Fry, Penn State Extension Educator in Armstrong County.
Use of this presentation or parts of this presentation is encouraged as long as this credit slide is included.
This presentation was adapted from a hands-on presentation and handouts given by Pat Hipkins, Senior Research Associate and Assistant Coordinator of the Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs, at the Northeastern Region Pesticide Safety Education Center Workshop in September 2005.
All product photographs in this presentation were taken by Kevin Fry, Penn State Extension Educator in Armstrong County.
The mixing and loading photographs in this presentation were taken from pesticidepics.com, the National Pesticide Media Database on the Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs web site.
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by the Penn State College of Agriculture Sciences is implied.
“Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.”
© The Pennsylvania State University February 2006