Product/Label/Pipeline Updates And News Items

As in the recent past, there are no new herbicide products with unique modes of action that will be registered for use in our area anytime soon. Otherwise, here are some newer product premixes, revised formulations of existing active ingredients, and tradenames to consider:

BASF is in the process of working on two new herbicide products.  BAS 851 will be a premix of saflufenacil (Sharpen) + a new PPO (group 14) herbicide for PRE burndown and residual activity on broadleaf weeds in soybean. It is expected to be launched in 2025. In addition, they are developing a new corn premix of existing active ingredients for use PRE and early POST in corn. This product will provide residual control of annual grasses and large- and small-seeded broadleaves. It is expected to be registered by 2024.

Kyro 3.07CS (acetochlor [Warrant] + topramezone [Impact] + clopyralid [Stinger]; groups 15, 27, 4; Corteva) is an encapsulated formulation and provides foliar and some residual control of annual grasses & broadleaves when applied POST up to 24” tall field corn. Application rates range from 35-60 fl oz/A. It will likely be tank-mixed with glyphosate or atrazine to broaden the control spectrum. This product is registered but only limited quantities will be available for the 2023 growing season.

Maverick 2.04SC (pyroxasulfone [Zidua] + mesotione + clopyralid; groups 15, 27, 4; Valent) has a wide application window from pre to 18” tall corn and provides foliar and residual control of many annual grasses & broadleaves at 14-32 fl oz/A; can be tank-mixed with atrazine and other products. It is fully registered and will compete with products like Resicore XL, SureStart II, and Acuron. 

ProClova (florpyrauxifen (aka Rinskor active) + 2,4-D; group 4; Corteva) will be labeled for use in grass pastures and hayfields to control or suppress many broadleaf weeds such as: ironweed, cocklebur, wild carrot, buttercup, biennial thistles, ragweeds, plantain, poison hemlock, dandelion, marestail, horsenettle, and others. It is safe on forage grasses AND does not kill white clover. The typical rate will likely be 24 fl oz/A. It has no grazing restrictions and does not have issues with herbicide residues in manure and hay like Milestone or GrazonNext products. ProClova registration might occur in 2023, if so, product launch will happen quickly.

Resicore XL 3.26CS (Corteva) is a reformulation of Resicore (acetochlor, mesotrione, and clopyralid) and the old formulation will be phased out. Resicore XL can be used in field corn (PRE or POST). The major change is the switch to encapsulated acetochlor for better crop safety and improved handling. This allows for a wider application window up to 24” tall corn (the original Resicore label was up to 11” corn). The typical rate is 2.5 qt/A on medium soils. This product can be tank-mixed to broaden weed control spectrum.

Reviton 2.83SC (tiafenacil (aka Tergeo); group 14; Helm) can be use in a burndown program before field corn, soybean, or wheat. Corn or wheat can be planted immediately after application; wait 7 days to plant soybean if using 2-3 fl oz (0 days at 1 fl oz). and at least 4 months to plant other crops. It has a low use rate (1 to 3 fl oz/A) and can be tankmixed with other herbicides esp. glyphosate. MSO or COC plus AMS must be added to the spray solution. Reviton is similar to Sharpen and is less active on marestail but has better activity on field pansy/violet, primrose, and some grasses compared to Sharpen.

Roundup PowerMAX3 (Bayer) is a newer, high load (4.8 lb ae), unique adjuvant, glyphosate formulation. Since it is a higher load product, the rate structure has been modified. PowerMax3 at 20 fl oz = 22 fl oz of PowerMAX (0.75 lb ae/A). The original PowerMax formulation is being phased out.

Tendovo 4.14ZC (s-metolachlor [Dual Mag.] + metribuzin + cloransulam [FirstRate]; groups 15, 5, 2; Syngenta) will primarily be used as a burndown product with some residual. It can be tankmixed with other herbicides. Its use rates will be 1.5 – 2.1 qt/A on medium soils and will provide residual control of many annual grasses and broadleaves. It is registered for use in our area.

TriVolt (isoxaflutole + thiencarbazone + safener [Corvus] + flufenacet [old Define]; groups 27, 2; 15; Bayer) can be applied from PRE to V2 corn growth stage and provides residual control of many annual grasses & broadleaves. The typical use rate is 20 fl oz/A. It is currently registered for use in field corn.

Atrazine EPA review

Atrazine again is being reviewed by the US EPA. One of the main issues is the aquatic ecosystem concentration equivalent level of concern (CE-LOC). Currently, the level is at 15 parts per billion (ppb), but it has been proposed to reduce it to 3.4 ppb. If this proposal passes, atrazine product labels would be changed so the maximum use rate would be reduced, and the herbicide would not be allowed to be sprayed under certain situations. In addition, a picklist of mitigation options may have to be used. If these label changes do indeed occur, it could have serious negative impacts on corn, sorghum, and sugarcane farmers and on many acres. However, these measures likely won’t be implemented until the 2024 growing season if the changes occur. Stay tuned for further information.

Paraquat training information

Anyone handling and using products containing paraquat (i.e. Gramoxone and all other generic formulations) must now complete an EPA-mandated training before application. The training must be repeated every three years. The EPA-required video training is online (users must create an account with username and password). A non-web-based training format is also available. Refer to the EPA website for more information and frequently asked questions. In addition to the training, EPA requires that paraquat products be contained in a closed system. Over the upcoming years manufacturers will begin placing special lids on jugs and tanks that require a specific adaptor/receptacle on your sprayer tank. Stay tuned for more details about these lids/adaptors.

Newer soybean technologies

XtendFlex and Enlist E3 soybean technologies are being used often in our area and around the country. In general, while the XtendFlex soybean acres continue to have a strong base, more farmers are opting for Enlist E3 varieties for various reasons. In some parts of the Mid-Atlantic region, 70% or more of the acres will be planted to E3. Keep in mind that if you plan to use registered dicamba-based herbicides (e.g., Xtendimax, Engenia) in XtendFlex varieties, you must complete the annual dicamba training. If you plan to use Enlist One or Duo in the E3 system, currently no training is required.

Newer sorghum technologies

A few newer herbicide resistant sorghum technologies coming to the market, here is a brief overview of each. Keep in mind other herbicides will need to be included to broaden the weed control spectrum.

• Double Team from S&W Seed Company is a non-GM variety and is tolerant to FirstAct from Adama which contains quizalofop for post grass control; tankmix for other weeds.
• igrowth system from Alta Seeds and Advanta is also a non-GM variety but is tolerant to ImiFlex from UPL which contains imazamox and provides post control of annual grasses and certain broadleaves.
• Inzen sorghum from Pioneer has been available for a few years is also a non-GM variety and is tolerant to Zest WDG from Corteva which contains nicosulfuron for post control of annual grasses and certain broadleaves.

Some of these are starting to be marketed in our region so check with one of these dealers for availability.

Herbicide supplies and the 2023 growing season

Again, this year, there is a lot of speculation about potential herbicide shortages and price increases on some products for the 2023 growing season. Overall, it does not seem as grim as last year, but indications are that supplies of glyphosate (Roundup, others) and metribuzin should be adequate but likely not back to levels and costs prior to the pandemic. Products such as glufosinate (Liberty, others), metolachlor (plus other group 15 herbicides), atrazine, dicamba, and 2,4-D might be in shorter supply and with higher prices. Therefore, it is beneficial to consider alternative options if your first choice of herbicide(s) is not available. Also, some products that are packaged in smaller sizes (e.g., 2.5-gallon jugs) might be limited but other sizes such as totes should be more readily available. Furthermore, with volatile supply chain issues involving many aspects of production ag these days, some are asking if it is wise to purchase bulk inventory of herbicides and/or other pesticides. The short answer is yes, if it makes sense economically, it could be a good idea to start making purchases on some of these inputs. Begin now by working with your dealer to discuss these issues. The intent is not to stockpile products but to have a modest supply for use during the upcoming growing season. However, you must keep in mind appropriate storage parameters, namely issues regarding freezing of pesticide products during the winter months. In general, pesticides are best stored between 40-90°F.

Considerations when buying generic herbicide alternatives

There are more companies producing generic or post-patent products. In many cases, these generics can be quality products and most cost less than name brands. Many of these products can be purchased at agrochemical dealerships or online. It is best to find generic alternative by asking/searching for products by chemical name or active ingredient (e.g., glyphosate, metolachlor, dicamba, etc.). But you must READ the LABEL and be cautious of certain factors that may differ from the original product. The product formulation may not have equivalent amounts of active ingredients; therefore, rates may be different. Unlike the original, some generics may not be labeled for use on all the crops or for certain applications. The generic product’s quality with respect to mixing, spraying, and other traits may be inferior to the original. Also, be aware of “fly-by-night” companies or offers that promise too much; this might be especially true for online purchases. Furthermore, most generic brands won’t include field services or warranties if application fails. Therefore, be cautious and consider all factors when looking at generic herbicide alternatives, especially guarantees for re-sprays on product failures.

2022 Drought and Weed Management Issues

In some parts of the state/region, drought was an issue this past season. Dry weather can impact weed control in various ways. In some cases, if lack of rainfall in the spring didn’t incorporate residual herbicide into the soil or some foliar products were sprayed onto larger weeds with thicker waxy leaf surfaces during dry weather, then poor weed control occurred. On the other hand, if early rains provided good incorporation of residual herbicides and the post applications were sprayed when weeds were small, then weed control tended to be very good since not many weed seeds germinated during the droughty period. In most situations and to protect crop yield, it is always best to use 2-pass programs that include both effective residual herbicides at planting followed by timely post herbicides later in the season.

Drought can also impact herbicide degradation especially if enough moisture is not available to adequately cause soil microbe activity and chemical reactions to occur in order to breakdown herbicides. Under severe drought conditions, some herbicide residues might linger causing issues with crop establishment this spring. In most cases, these negative effects will be noticed on headlands where herbicide applications may have overlapped or on fields where herbicides were applied later in the season. In general, herbicides of concern include, atrazine, mesotrione, chlorimuron, prosulfuron, fomesafen, imazethapyr, and a few others. It is always best to refer to the product label to determine adequate crop rotation intervals.