Crop Oil 101: Understanding the Extras in Your Tank Mix

May 09, 2025

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This guide includes the following sections:

What Is Crop Oil?

Crop oils are oil-based adjuvants used in agricultural production to enhance crop protection spray characteristics by improving the spreading and retention of pesticides on leaf surfaces. Adding crop oil to the tank mix can enhance the absorption and uptake of herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide active ingredients, improving spray efficacy.

Learn 4 ways to minimize spray drift here.

Crop Oil Classifications

There are several types of oil-based adjuvants commonly used in agriculture, including:

Crop Oil

Crop oils are the oldest class of oil-based adjuvants and typically contain 95–98% oil plus a small percentage of surfactant or emulsifier. They are most often used with insecticides and fungicides and are rarely applied with herbicides. The typical use rate for crop oils is 1 to 2 gallons per acre.

Crop Oil Concentrate (COC)

Crop oil concentrates are emulsifiable petroleum oil-based products containing 15–20% w/w surfactant and a minimum of 80% w/w phytoblend oil. COCs are often used with herbicides to help increase the penetration and absorption of active ingredients into the leaves. Typical use rates are 1 to 3 pints per acre at 1%v/v (1 gal/100 gal); consult product labels for specific use rates.

COCs can help improve the solubility of less water-soluble herbicide active ingredients, including quizalofop p-ethyl (Assure^® II), sethoxydim (Poast^®), fluazifop-p-butyl (Fusilade^® DX), clethodim (Select^® 2EC), and atrazine* on leaf surfaces. However, COCs may increase the risk of crop injury under high temperatures or when used with sensitive crops or certain herbicides. Consult herbicide labels for adjuvant recommendations.

Farmers First™ IN-Plant™ is an example of a crop oil concentrate adjuvant. It contains paraffinic oil, emulsifiers and surfactants to provide uniform spray deposition and improved crop canopy and leaf surface penetration.

Some adjuvants, including Farmers First™ Sizzle™, can replace crop oil concentrates in the tank mix and may provide additional spray-enhancing benefits. Sizzle is a low-use-rate oil-based activator adjuvant and penetrant with a built-in water conditioning plus drift and deposition aid system designed to maximize the speed and performance of glyphosate and its tank mix partners. It works by sequestering antagonistic hard water ions, maximizing cuticle penetration and canopy penetration, and reducing evaporation of water-soluble and oil-soluble herbicides. Sizzle™ may serve as a substitute for crop oil concentrates and AMS in a wide range of glyphosate tank mixes.

High Surfactant Oil Concentrates (HSOC)

High surfactant oil concentrates (HSOCs) generally contain at least 50% w/w oil plus 25–50% w/w surfactant. HSOCs enable lower use rates than standard crop oil concentrates and may increase crop injury risk if applied at full MSO or COC rates. HSOCs are an excellent option for tank mixes containing glyphosate and an oil-loving herbicide like lactofen or fomesafen.

Vegetable Oil Concentrate (VOC)

Vegetable oil concentrates are formulated from the oil of crops, including cotton, linseed, or soybean and usually contain a small percentage of non-ionic surfactant. They have similar functions as a crop oil concentrate (COC) but may perform less consistently. Some herbicide labels allow the substitution of VOCs for COCs, while others restrict the use of VOCs.

Methylated Seed Oil (MSO)

Methylated seed oils contain 80–85% crop-derived seed oils that have been chemically modified, often through esterification. These modifications improve the performance of vegetable oils by altering their characteristics to make them more hydrophilic and water-soluble. MSOs are typically recommended at 0.25 to 1.0% v/v of spray solution and help improve pesticide penetration, similar to a traditional COC. MSOs are more effective at melting waxy cuticles than COCs, making them an excellent option when plants are stressed from drought conditions.

Farmers First™ IN-Cert™ MSO is a methylated vegetable oil and surfactant blend formulated to enhance pesticide performance through improved leaf cuticle penetration and uniform droplet coverage of target surfaces. It forms a stable emulsion in the spray tank for an even, consistent application across the field. It can be used whenever a pesticide label calls for an MSO adjuvant.

High Surfactant Methylated Seed Oil (HSMO)

High surfactant methylated seed oils include modified seed oils plus surfactants or emulsifiers that enhance spray spreading and sticking. They typically have lower use rates than conventional MSOs and pose a risk for crop injury if applied at the typical full rates of traditional MSOs.

Farmers First™ IN-Cert™ HighSurf MSO is a specialized blend of modified seed oil and surfactant designed to enhance the performance of herbicides. It may be used with insecticides, fungicides, and plant growth regulators (PGRs).

What’s the difference between a crop oil concentration and a methylated seed oil? Find out here.

How Do Crop Oils Work?

Most crop oils work by improving pesticide penetration and absorption. The main goal of any crop oil is to improve a pesticide product’s efficacy. Depending on the oil type, it does that by:

Increasing pesticide penetration through waxy leaf cuticles (weeds/crops) or chitinous exoskeletons (insects)
Improving the spreading qualities of the spray
Increasing droplet retention for more absorption
Improving the sticking characteristics to prevent runoff
Increasing pesticide solubility for more efficient uptake

When to Use a Crop Oil for Agriculture Sprays

Crop oils enhance the effectiveness of insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide spray applications to improve crop protection ROI. Although they do not contain any active ingredients, they should be used whenever the pesticide label recommends or requires them to improve spray characteristics.

Crop oils are especially beneficial for:

Spray applications during extreme conditions (hot, dry)
Spray applications to stressed plants
Penetrating hairy/waxy leaf types or plants with thick cuticles
Heavy-weed pressure areas or managing larger weeds
Contact herbicide and fungicide applications where coverage is critical

Choosing the Right Crop Oil for a Spray Application

Crop oils are most commonly used with postemergence herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Every crop oil offers different benefits and limitations, so it’s important to consult the pesticide label to ensure you choose the best option for each specific application.

Depending on the tank mix partners and environmental conditions, you may need to use a surfactant, crop oil concentrate, and methylated seed oil in the same tank. However, using the wrong oil can increase the risk of crop injury. Under favorable weather conditions, a non-ionic surfactant may be favored over a crop oil to reduce crop injury risks. It’s best to consult the pesticide label for recommendations and confirm your plan with a trusted agronomic advisor.

When comparing crop oils for a herbicide application, keep these considerations top of mind:

The concentration and type of crop oil (ingredients)
Compatibility with other tank mix partners
Use rates
The target organism's characteristics (hairy leaves, thick cuticles, etc.)
The environmental conditions
Product cost

Oil Type	Recommended Use	*FBN* Products
Crop oil	Insecticide and fungicide applications	N/A
Crop oil concentrate	Low-humidity conditions where product evaporation could limit active ingredient absorption Also beneficial for stressed plants and grass weed control	Farmers First™ InPlant™ Farmers First™ Sizzle™ (crop oil substitute)
Methylated seed oil	Dry conditions where thick, waxy plant cuticles may limit herbicide penetration Also beneficial for broadleaf weed control	Farmers First™ IN-Cert™ MSO Farmers First™ IN-Cert™ HighSurf MSO (lower use rate product)

For more information on adjuvant selection, see our Adjuvants Product Guide.

Buy Crop Oils from FBN

Many pesticide labels require an oil-based adjuvant to improve spray efficacy. FBN offers a complete portfolio of adjuvants, including methylated seed oils, crop oil concentrates, and non-ionic surfactants to meet the needs of any tank mix. With a user-friendly online platform, transparent pricing, and direct-to-farm delivery available on your schedule, FBN puts Farmers First^®.

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FBN Network

May 09, 2025

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