What is Acetochlor?
Acetochlor is a herbicide widely used on corn in Minnesota, and its use has expanded to soybeans and sugar beets. It, along with atrazine, another widely used corn herbicide, has been frequently detected in Minnesota's surface water, at times at elevated levels. The following sections under "Learn More" explain acetochlor's role in Minnesota agriculture, its impact on Minnesota's environment, and actions being taken to reduce the presence of acetochlor in water.
Acetochlor
| Pesticide Type | Herbicide (Group 15) |
|---|---|
| Chemical Class | Chloroacetamide herbicide |
| Common Trade Names* | Confidence, Keystone, Resicore, SureStart,TripleFlex, Volley, and Warrant |
| Registration Status | EPA: Registered on corn since 1994 MN: Registered |
| Structure |
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*No endorsement is implied in the referencing of trade names.
Current activities and updates
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December 2018: Revised Acetochlor BMPs
The BMPs were revised to protect Minnesota's groundwater and surface water from potential herbicide contamination resulting from normal agricultural use. These voluntary BMPs should be adopted when applying acetochlor in Minnesota.
Water Quality Best Management Practices for Acetochlor (PDF) -
August 2017: Increase in Acetochlor Detections
Potential Reasons of Increase in Acetochlor Detections in Minnesota Surface Waters (PDF) -
October 2013: Response to acetochlor water quality impairments
Two south-central Minnesota streams, the Le Sueur River and Little Beauford Ditch, are on the state's list of impaired waters because of in-stream concentrations of acetochlor. A response to the impairments was developed by the MDA in collaboration with an advisory committee and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Le Sueur River and Little Beauford Ditch Acetochlor Impairment Response Report (PDF)