It is Time for Growers to Fight Back When it Comes to Herbicide Resistance

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - (AgWatch) -- With the Weed Science Society of America now reporting nine weeds confirmed resistant to glyphosate in the United States, growers cannot afford to continue down the same herbicide path. This leaves researchers focused on finding new solutions.

Bayer CropScience has answered with new LibertyLink^® soybeans and Ignite^® herbicide, the onlynonselective alternative to the Roundup Ready^® system. Along with other coming innovations, LibertyLink soybeans and Ignite herbicide will be on display at the LinkUp Tour at the Mid-South LinkUp Field Day in Clarkedale, Ark., on July 16. The day starts with registration at 8:30 a.m. and ends with a lunch presentation.

Hosted by Bayer CropScience and the University of Arkansas, this event offers growers, retailers and consultants a chance to witness trials first-hand and see how products perform in their region. Plus, the day includes lunch and a chance at door prizes. Featured LinkUp Tour speakers include Bob Scott, Ken Smith and Dick Oliver, all of the University of Arkansas Extension, Ronnie Helms with G&H Associates, and Ford Baldwin with Practical Weed Consultants LLC.

“Glyphosate-resistant weeds have taken hold in 19 states across the country, stretching from Minnesota to Mississippi and California to New Jersey,” says Bob Scott, weed specialist, the University of Arkansas Extension. “Add that to a long history of ALS resistance in many areas, including Arkansas, and growers are beginning to look for a new option.”

Expected to be available in 2009, LibertyLink soybeans and new Ignite herbicide is the only nonselective alternative to the Roundup Readysoybean system. The LibertyLink trait provides built-in tolerance to the powerful, postemergent weed control of Ignite. Plus, the LibertyLink trait is available in high-yielding soybean varieties with no yield drag or lag.

“Smart soybean growers know it is time to blaze a new trail,” says Alan Hopkins, Bayer CropScience technical service representative. “Roundup Readymade it easier to grow soybeans, and LibertyLink soybeans and Ignite herbicide keep it that way.”

Ignite herbicide is the only nonselective alternative to glyphosate, providing outstanding control of more than 120 broadleaf weeds and grasses, including woolly cupgrass, velvetleaf, cocklebur, foxtails, marestail, ragweeds and waterhemp, along with ALS- and glyphosate-resistant weeds.

Ignite herbicide provides weed control in days vs. weeks and, with its unique mode of action, it is an effective tool to manage all herbicide-resistance issues. Globally, there is no documented weed resistance to Ignite.

“Uncontrolled weeds can really burn a hole in a grower’s pocket,” Hopkins says. “With Ignite herbicide on LibertyLink varieties, growers can take control of resistance and torch weeds while still farming the way they want to farm.”

Ignite also will be registered for use on all LibertyLink crops, which includes FiberMax^® cotton, InVigor^® canola and LibertyLink corn, including all Herculex^® and Agrisure^® CB/LL hybrids.

In addition, Bayer CropScience expects to provide all corn growers with two additional herbicides in 2009, Balance^®FLEXX and Corvus^™.

Balance FLEXX herbicide will provide corn growers with fast, flexible control of grasses and broadleaf weeds, from burndown and up through canopy, with the strength of Recharge^™ and new Crop Safety Innovation (CSI) Safener^™ technology. Research shows that Balance FLEXX controls glyphosate-, triazine- and ALS-resistant weeds, including resistant marestail, giant ragweed, waterhemp and Palmer amaranth. At the 4-6 oz/A rate, Balance FLEXX will control even tough grasses, such as woolly cupgrass.

Corvus is a new soil-applied herbicide that, upon approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will provide season-long control of important grass and broadleaf weeds in field corn grown for grain or silage. A low-use-rate product, Corvus will be easy to measure, handle and apply. It is formulated as a suspension concentrate with 2.6 pounds of active ingredient per gallon.

“These new innovations for 2009 complement each other and the broad, trusted Bayer CropScience portfolio,” Hopkins says. “Our continued goal is to provide growers the tools they need to control pests, manage resistance and boost their bottom line.”

To learn more about how these new innovations can fit into your management plans, join the LinkUp Tour on July 16 at the Mid-South LinkUp Field Day, one mile north of Routes 50 and 77, in Clarkedale, Ark., or contact your local Bayer CropScience field representative.