Controlling grass is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your Whitetail Institute and most other perennial forage stands remain as thick, lush, nutritious and attractive as possible, and that they can last as long as they are designed to last. The Whitetail Institute’s new Arrest Max is the newest generation of selective grass herbicides designed to help you do just that — and even better than original Arrest.
Without question, Arrest is a very good grass herbicide. Arrest provides consistent control of most kinds of grass and has been an indispensable tool for food plot managers for years. So, you might wonder why the Whitetail Institute would look for anything better. There are two reasons. The first underlies everything the Whitetail Institute does: The Whitetail Institute is obsessed with providing the very best products it can offer. The second is that grass control is so important. In fact, it’s one of the most important steps in spring perennial-forage maintenance. If you’re used to spraying Arrest as part of spring perennial-forage maintenance, you’ll have no trouble shifting over to Arrest Max, because they’re similar in how and when you use them. The big differences between Arrest and Arrest Max are even more good news: Arrest Max controls perennial grass even better, the mixing instructions are even easier and Arrest Max will let you stretch your food plot dollars farther. One pint of Arrest will make enough spray solution for up to 1/2-acre. One pint of Arrest Max, though, will make a full one acre of spray solution for Whitetail Institute perennials.
Enhanced Grass Control
Arrest Max is a new and improved selective grass-control herbicide that’s specifically designed to control grass in Whitetail Institute and most other types of perennial forage stands — and do so even better than Arrest. That can be a big benefit when you're trying to control Johnsongrass, Bermudagrass, Quackgrass, Fescue, Orchardgrass, Foxtail, Goosegrass and other tough, resilient grasses. You can find the full list of grasses Arrest Max controls on the Arrest Max label right on the Arrest Max package as well as at www.whitetailinstitute.com.
When Should I Use Arrest Max?
The best time to spray Arrest Max is during a window of time during spring and early summer. The window begins as soon as you see grass starting to actively grow (actually growing taller). Arrest Max is a foliar-uptake herbicide, meaning it enters grass through its leaves, so the grass must be actively growing to take in the herbicide. For the same reason, don’t spray Arrest Max when the grass isn’t actively growing, for example because of seasonal dormancy or when growth has been slowed by excessive heat or drought. Arrest Max will be rainfast one hour after spraying. Arrest Max is designed to provide optimum control when grass is still young, before its roots have had time to mature. If possible, try to spray Arrest Max before the grass grows to a height of about 12 inches, at which point most grasses will have mature roots. Arrest Max can still control grass that has been allowed to mature, but repeated applications two to three weeks apart might be required. This is also true when dealing with tougher, perennial grasses. Even so, grass age is somewhat less of a problem with Arrest Max than it was with Arrest, especially if you tank-mix Arrest Max with the Whitetail Institute’s Sure-Fire Crop Oil Plus (highly recommended when you’re dealing with mature and/or perennial grasses).
What is the Recommended Mix Rate for Arrest Max?
Here we see another improvement over Arrest: The Arrest Max label shows that a single mix rate of one pint of Arrest Max per acre is appropriate for controlling grass in Whitetail Institute perennial stands. And it’s just as easy to figure out the spray mix for 1/2-acre plots; just use 1/2 as much of each component (and 1/4 as much for 1/4-acre plots).
Plots Smaller than 1/4 acre. If your plot is smaller than 1/4 acre, a small backpack sprayer or even a hand sprayer might be a better choice than a larger sprayer. Although the Arrest Max label provides mixing rates for one gallon of spray solution at a time, it can be difficult to accurately measure very small quantities of herbicide and Sure- Fire, especially in the field. Instead, consider mixing the solution recommended above for 1/4 acre in a new, clean five-gallon gas can, and then transferring the solution to the small sprayer as needed. If you have any solution left when you’re through spraying, don’t try to save it. Instead, dispose of it according to label instructions.
Additional Information
What is Sure-Fire Crop Oil Plus? Sure-Fire Crop Oil Plus is an adjuvant (something that enhances herbicide activity); specifically, an agricultural oil. Unlike other types of agricultural oils, Sure-Fire is specifically designed with the food-plotter in mind. Surefire is vegetable based, not petroleum based, and it also contains an anti-foaming agent, which makes it much easier to correctly mix herbicide spray solutions.
When should you add Sure-Fire Crop Oil Plus to your Arrest Max spray tank? Arrest Max already comes with an adjuvant in it, but sometimes it’s a good idea to add Sure-Fire to the Arrest Max spray tank as well to boost the herbicide’s effect even more. An example is when the grasses to be controlled are mature and/or perennial. In such cases, Sure-Fire is highly recommended for use with Arrest Max.
If the grass in my food plot is tall, should I mow it before spraying Arrest Max? No. This is one of the many great things about Arrest Max and that makes it even easier to use than Arrest.
How long after spraying Arrest Max will it be rain-fast? One hour. How will I know Arrest Max is working? Treated grass tends to show a reduction in vigor and growth fairly quickly, but it can take a week or two for you to see real evidence of control. Generally, you’ll start seeing damage to the youngest parts of the grass about seven to 14 days after spraying, followed by a progressive collapse of the rest of its foliage. It may take a bit longer for some kinds of grass or if the weather is usually hot or droughty. If some of the tougher grasses start to regrow after about two to three weeks, spray the same Arrest Max solution again for additional control.
Can I use Arrest Max on perennial forages other than Whitetail Institute perennials? The answer depends on what the forage is. It can be used on any clover or alfalfa plot. If you’ll be spraying a perennial forage other than a Whitetail Institute perennial, you must check the Arrest Max label to determine whether Arrest Max is approved for use on that forage and, if so, the correct Arrest Max rate for it.
Can I use Arrest Max to control grass in annual forages? Arrest Max is designed for controlling grass in Whitetail Institute and most other perennial forage stands. For information on controlling grass in annual forage stands, call the Whitetail Institute.
What size does Arrest Max come in? Arrest Max is available in pint bottles, which are sold individually or in four-pint cases. If you have any questions about new Arrest Max, Sure-Fire Crop Oil Plus or any other matter concerning grass and weed control in food plots, call the Whitetail Institute’s in-house consultants at (800) 688-3030, extension 2. The consultants are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. The call and the service are free.
