Q: Is Stylet-Oil harmful to the environment? Where does the oil go?
A: The vast majority of a Stylet-Oil application is broken down by microbes in the environment into carbon dioxide + water. Approximately 2% of the oil has potential to eva- porate and some of the oil will bleed through the leaf cuticle. (For additional information on environ- mental influences, including rain fastness, click here.)

Q: Can Stylet-Oil be sprayed prebloom as a sulfur replacement on grape?
A: Yes. As an early-season sulfur replacement growers should make 3 prebloom oil applications @ 1 to 1.5% spray concentration at 40 to 50 gpa every 10 to 14 days. Begin spraying at budbreak or the 2 to 4-inch shoot growth stage. An optional 4th oil spray at bloom may be made as a tank mix with Rovral (1 lb / Acre), Elevate or Vangard for simultaneous Botrytis and powdery mildew control. The oil has no effect on flower bloom or pollination.

Q: Can Stylet-Oil be safely sprayed post bloom on grapes?

A: During the post bloom period, growers may 1) resume a traditional sulfur program; 2) spray oil alone; 3) tank mix oil with DMI / strobilurin fungicides labeled for powdery mildew control; or, 4) alternate oil sprays with DMI / strobilurin fungicides labeled for powdery mildew control.

Q: What is the spray interval between a sulfur application and a Stylet-Oil application?
A: On grape, do not apply sulfur within 10 days of an oil application. On all other crops, do not apply micronized sulfur within 10 days of an oil application and do not apply oil within 14 days of an application of wettable or dusting sulfur.

Q: Is Stylet-Oil an eradicant against powdery mildew diseases?
A: Based on years of University and independent research, Stylet-Oil is the best eradicant available against grape and cherry powdery mildew diseases.

Q: Will Stylet-Oil outperform sulfur early-season during cooler times of the year?
A: Sulfur needs to volatilize to be active against powdery mildew. Generally, 65° F is recognized as a minimum temperature required for sulfur activity against mildew. Stylet-Oil is not temperature depend- ent thus works as an eradicant, protectant and antisporulant 24 hours per day.

Q: Can Stylet-Oil be tank mixed with Dithane or Penncozeb for control of early-season grape diseases?
A: Yes. The oil can be tank mixed with either Dithane or Penncozeb for black rot, downy mildew and phomopsis control. We recommend either product as a tank mix partner with the oil. Ziram may be tank mixed with the oil for late-season downy mildew control.

Q: On grape, can Stylet-Oil be tank mixed with copper fungicides?
A: Yes, however, do not use copper and oil together with fruit present.

Q: Does Stylet-Oil affect the appearance of the "bloom"?
A: Yes. The "bloom" is the whitish-gray surface seen on ripening grape berries (as well as on blue berries, plums) and is caused by light striking microscopic waxy plates arranged at random angles on the berry surface. Stylet-Oil will cause these plates to lay flat so that when light strikes the berry it does not scatter light but reflects light resulting in a shiny berry. The effect is cosmetic and does not affect the berry, pollination, taste, fermentation or disease control. The bloom will return within 2 to 3 weeks of the last oil application.

Q: Will Stylet-Oil affect wine flavor, taste or quality?
A: Stylet-Oil is a "Food Grade Quality" mineral oil which is colorless, tasteless and odorless. Extensive testing by University and independent researchers confirm Stylet-Oil has no effect on wine flavor, taste or quality.

Q: Can Stylet-Oil delay fruit ripening on grape?
A: It depends. Accumulative research since 1995 shows a slight delay in ripening (< 1.7 Brix) when multiple applications at high use rates (1.5 to 2% concentration @ 200 gpa) are made close to harvest or when the crop is on a season-long (7 to 8 application) spray program. Brix levels return to normal within a couple of weeks of the last oil spray. Oil applications made during the prebloom or bloom period have no effect on sugar production.

Q: Can growers safely tank mix Stylet-Oil with spreader / stickers?
A: We do not recommend tank mixing Stylet-Oil with spreader / stickers or organosilicone surfactants because of the risk to destroy the oil’s emulsification system. These chemicals may be sprayed separate from the oil as long as the foliage has dried. It makes no difference whether the oil goes on before or after the spreader / sticker application.

Q: Can growers tank mix the oil with emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations which are compatible with the oil?
A: On most crops there is no problem. Use the recommended label rate of the material to be tank mixed with the oil. Add the oil as the last ingredient to the mix. Be sure to only use products registered for use on crops which Stylet-Oil is registered on. On cherry: we do not recommend tank mixing the oil with insecticide EC formulations. On hops: do not tank mix with Folicur fungicide.

Q: Can the type of sprayer used to apply the oil affect product performance?
A: Absolutely. Stylet-Oil works on the basis of physical contact with an insect pest, disease pathogen or host plant spray target. Thus, growers should choose spray equipment which maximizes spray coverage for the crop / canopy being sprayed. Stylet-Oil has been successfully applied using air assist, orchard or speed sprayers, hydraulic boom and Kinkelder electrostatic sprayers. DO NOT apply the oil using aircraft or low volume electrostatic or ULV equipment as these sprayers do not produce "wetting" sprays necessary to enhance performance of protectant chemicals.

Q: Is there a simple way to determine the quality of spray coverage while spraying for powdery mildew?
A: Yes. Because the oil kills mildew on contact, growers can use the oil as a "spray marker" to determine the over-all quality of coverage.

Remember:   50% Spray Coverage  = No More Than 50% Kill

Q: The maximum temperature we recommend spraying Stylet-Oil is 90° F (assuming plants are not under heat or moisture stress). If an oil application is made at less than 90° F, and the temperature rises above 90° F that day, will there be injury?
A: No, not under normal circumstances. The temperature at the time of application is the critical factor, thus spraying should be limited to cooler nighttime or daytime periods. However, spraying stressed plants with oil (at any temperature) may result in phytotoxicity.

Q: What is the minimum spray temperature requirement?
A: Do not spray when freezing temperatures are anticipated within 48 hours of an oil application. On vegetables: Do not apply when temperatures are below 50° F (10° C).

Q: Stylet-Oil is labeled on grape for both mite and powdery mildew control. Can a grower control mites while spraying for powdery mildew?

A: Certainly. 1998 Research from Cornell Extension Service has shown 3 prebloom Stylet-Oil sprays (1% @ 100 gpa) to significantly reduce mid-to -late season mite populations on Concord grape. Spray for thorough coverage to the point of runoff @ 1 to 2% spray concentration for mite control.

Q: Can growers tank mix Stylet-Oil with Agri-Mek and expect better mite control than with Agri-Mek sprayed alone?
A: Definitely. In fact Syngenta recommends an adjuvant (such as Stylet-Oil) be tank mixed with Agri-Mek to improve performance. Stylet-Oil will enhance the uptake of Agri-Mek into the leaf when tank mixed at a spray concentration of 0.25% (1 qt per 100 gals of water in the tank). However, growers will need a 1% spray concentration of oil if mildew control is required.

Q: Will Stylet-Oil enhance the uptake of systemic chemicals such as Provado, Benlate, Rally or Ridomil?
A: Yes. Stylet-Oil will enhance the uptake of systemic chemicals and improve their performance. Be sure to read all label and mixing instructions before tank mixing.

Q: What is Stylet-Oil’s mode of activity against powdery mildew?
A: The oil is both an eradicant and protectant against mildew and works on the basis of physical contact. The oil disrupts cell walls of the organism resulting in death within seconds of contact and by interfering with attachment of the organism to its host. 1996 research has shown the oil 1) prevents mildew development; 2) kills infections before they become visible; 3) kills infections after they become visible; and, 4) prevents sporulation. One of the many benefits of using the oil is that it can be used as an eradicant, protectant and antisporulant.

Q: Can Stylet-Oil be used as a resistance management tool?
A: Absolutely. In fact we strongly urge growers to use the oil as the first treatment in a powdery mildew control pro- gram to eradicate resistant mildew strains before these strains are exposed to chemi- cals prone to resistance. Cleaning up an orchard or vineyard before the first DMI or strobilurin chemicals are applied is an excellent resistance management strategy. Stylet-Oil's mode of action works at the physical level ― not the biochemical level ― thus the oil is an ideal material to alternate with DMI / strobilurin fungicides.

Q: Does Stylet-Oil have activity against Botrytis bunch rot and can the oil be tank mixed with Rovral or Vangard fungicides?

A: Yes and yes. Stylet-Oil has activity against Botrytis bunch rot. Extensive testing since 1993 has shown an excellent treatment for bunch rot to be a tank mix of Rovral at 1 lb/Acre + Stylet-Oil at 1% spray concen- tration. This tank mix is as effective as Rovral sprayed alone at the 2 lb/Acre rate. A similar performance boost occurs when Stylet-Oil is tank mixed with a label rate of Vangard or Elevate. NOTE: Using the oil at the 1% rate will control powdery mildew at the same time.

Q: Stylet-Oil is available in what size containers?
A: JMS Stylet-Oil, Organic JMS Stylet-Oil and JMS Stylet-Oil For Grass Seed Use is available in the following container sizes:

2-1/2 gal jugs (packaged two per box)        15 gal drums        30 gal drums (not available in the Pacific          Northwest)        275 gal totes

Q: How much impurity is in 30 gallons of Stylet-Oil (UR = 99.1%) compared to the same volume of a typical 92% UR summer oil?
A: There are 1.2 quarts of impurity in 30 gallons of Stylet-Oil compared to 9.6 quarts of impurity in the same volume of a typical 92% UR summer oil.

Q: Are these impurities active in biological control?
A: No. Mineral oil impurities are not active in biological control and perform no useful purpose other than to take up space in the container.

Q: What type of personal protective equipment is necessary to spray the oil?
A: Wear coveralls, chemical resistant gloves, shoes and socks.

Q: If water enters the container during storage, can this effect the oil?
A: Yes. Water that enters the container has the potential to destroy the oil’s emulsifier causing the oil to turn a milky color. Growers should NEVER use Stylet-Oil if the oil has a milky color while still in the container.

Q: When Stylet-Oil is added to water in the spray tank the mixture turns a milky color. Is this normal?
A: Yes, and indicates the oil’s emulsification system is working properly. When Stylet-Oil is added to water in the spray tank the mixture should turn a milky color.

Q: What should a grower do if Stylet-Oil does not emulsify (turn a milky color) when added to spray tank water?
A: Call JMS Flower Farms, Inc. or the dealer you purchased the oil from immediately.

Q: Are there any storage conditions which might affect quality of the oil?
A: Yes.

             Store the oil where water can not enter the
             container.
           Stir the oil prior to use if it has been stored for a
             period of 1 year or more (see Storage).
           DO NOT store Stylet-Oil at temperatures below
             freezing.

Feel free to contact JMS Flower Farms, Inc. (Vero Beach, FL at 772-713-0758 or Pendleton, OR at 541-276-8566) for technical support on any phase of your oil spray program. We appreciate your interest and thank you for your support.