Corn and soybean farmers test-drove several new herbicides over the rugged proving ground of the 2013 growing season. The new active ingredient pyroxasulfone appears in three new products: Zidua, Anthem and Fierce. 

New options for the weed control tool kit

“Pyroxasulfone is the first active in a new class of Group 15 herbicides, the same group as s-metolachlor (Dual products) and acetochlor (Harness, Degree, Warrant),” says George Watters of Noblesville, Ind., regional agronomist for WinField in Indiana.

“The new products are exciting because they combine the best attributes of s-metolachlor – long-lasting grass control – and acetochlor – activity against small-seeded broadleaf weeds – but with longer residual control and lower use rates,” Watters says.

In 2013, Tegtmeier applied a spring burndown of glyphosate and 2,4-D followed by a preemergence application of Instigate and either Cinch ATZ or Access ATZ. 

“The Instigate helped provide season-long control where other products might be fading out,” Tegtmeier says, “and held back weeds to improve yields, especially where stands were not as strong as other areas.”

 Dicamba- and 2,4-D-tolerant systems delayed

 In May, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it would create Environmental Impact statements (EIS) for Monsanto’s new dicamba-tolerant Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans and Dow AgroSciences’ new 2,4-D-tolerant Enlist Weed Control System.

Although it's not known exactly how long the EISes will require, Monsanto is working toward a 2015 launch for soybeans, pending regulatory approvals.

Dow AgroSciences  expects to launch Enlist corn and soybeans in 2015, with cotton to follow, pending label approvals.