Re: Warrior-T, Basamid, Zero Tolerance

Kevin and others,
                            In my opinion, Warrior-T is the greatest thing 
since sliced bread for giant pumpkin growers!  Yes it is a restricted use 
pesticide but here are the facts and reasons.  Warrior-T is the newest in the 
line of synthetic pyrethrins. It has only been commercially available for two 
years.  It incorporates the lastest technology with some long known facts.  
The active ingredient in Warrior is Lambda cyhalothrin.  It is a synthetic 
derivative of pyrethrum and thus non-carconigenic(non-cancer causing).  
Pyrethrum is naturally found in crysanthemums.  What zeneca(the maker of 
warrior) has done is take what works in nature and MAGNIFIED it!  They 
synthetically copied pyrethrum and combined it with a solvent base that 
allows it to last 21 days and stick to the plant.  The solvent is the main 
reason warrior is restricted.  It is a skin irritant and once you get it on 
your skin it doesn't like to come off with water.  It won't actually burn you 
but your skin will feel like it is on fire for about a day. NOT FUN. I wear 
all the precautionary clothing while spraying.   Other than that it is one of 
the safest chemicals you will ever deal with.  Much safer than say furadan or 
thiodan. The reason for the solvent is to help it last longer and stay on the 
plant.  After a rain you can still count on 90% strength with warrrior.  Most 
chemicals drop to 40% or less after a rainshower and have to be reapplied.
        Warrior works three ways.  It kills by ingestion or contact and it 
also works as a repellent.  Myself and four other giant pumpkin growers used 
it this summer with the same results.  The stories were the same.  It kills 
them(bugs) all. Even the squash vine borer Moth.  Myself and the other 
growers all witnessed the same thing.  The moth comes in she hovers almost in 
a state of repulsive confusion!  If she decides to land on a leaf the "deed 
is done" she will die within the next hour or two.  Many times we saw moths 
come in hover and then leave.  We also saw moths come in land and either 
never take off again or fly off drunk land in the grass and die shortly 
thereafter.
   There are three other guys on this list besides myself and Dewight who 
used warrior last summer. I will leave it up to them if they wish to be 
identified. One is a former record holder. I promise you. They will say the 
same things I have just told you.  However, REMEMBER YOU MUST HAVE YOUR 
RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE LICENSE TO BUY AND USE WARRIOR.  I took the time to 
study and take my states test last spring.  I am very glad I did.  My first 
two years squash vine boeres totally wiped me out. Now I have the upper hand. 
 If this sounds to good to be true, try it for yourself before you speak !  I 
had an experienced grower tell me nothing   was labeled to kill the vine 
borer moth.  This is true but what the manufacturer doesn't tell you is they 
haven't tested it on curcurbits(pumpkins,squash, and melons)  Currently 
zeneca is waiting for approval from the epa to add curcurbits to their 
already extensive list of crops among which is cotton, corn soybeans, and 
tomatoes.  They already know it works its just a political monetary waiting 
game at this point.  Approval is expected sometime next spring or summer.
     So you ask yourself how does this guy know so much about warrior-T??  
Well, the reason is pretty simple.  I love this hobby to much to lose to some 
stupid bug three years in a row.  So I dug and dug til I found what I was 
looking for.

Brad Walters
IPGA organizer

Vineborers 2
Brad 1

We shall see who wins next year won't we?!!
  

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin-growing FAQ: http://www.mallorn.com/lists/pumpkins/search.cgi
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index