Corn growers now have access to a new herbicide option for their fields, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently approved Balance Flexx herbicide from Bayer CropScience.

Balance Flexx controls more than 50 grass and broadleaf weeds with the power of Recharge.

As little as a half-inch of rain during the growing season reactivates Balance Flexx, which can be applied from early pre-plant burndown through the 2-leaf collar growth stage (V2). Balance Flexx will be labeled for use in field corn production, corn grown for silage and on tolerant seed-corn inbreds.

“The new herbicide serves as a solution to protect field corn from weeds that have shown resistance to ALS-, glyphosate- and triazine-based herbicides,” says Brent Philbrook, Bayer CropScience product development manager.

“Balance Flexx is a very competitive product compared to the current choices growers have,” says Philbrook. “In our 2008 trials, we saw it take down some of the field's toughest weeds, including kochia and woolly cupgrass, while still providing excellent crop safety.”

Balance Flexx contains the new proprietary Crop Safety Innovation (CSI) Safener technology that enables the herbicide to be used on any soil type with a broad range of crop compatibility. While protecting the plant from herbicide injury, the safener has been shown to result in increased root growth and plant health.

Flexible enough to fit any tillage program, Balance Flexx works through the roots and shoots of weeds to provide excellent burndown and residual control.

“Balance Flexx will control problem weeds and grasses, such as marestail, common ragweed and barnyardgrass,” says Jeff Springsteen, Bayer CropScience product manager for selective corn and soybean herbicides. “It's also flexible enough to serve as a solid set-up product in a sequential program with Ignite, Laudis or other postemergence herbicides.”

To control tough grasses, such as woolly cupgrass, growers should apply the herbicide at a rate of 5 to 6 ounces per acre.

This new product reinforces the Bayer CropScience commitment to provide growers with the innovative tools needed to maintain healthy, clean fields, which ultimately maximizes yield potential.

“We want growers to have more options in their field management toolbox,” says Springsteen. “By bringing growers the next generation of control against tough weeds, we can ultimately help them increase their bottom line.”

For the 2009 growing season, Balance Flexx will be available with limited supply to growers in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas.

For more information about Balance Flexx, growers can log on to www.BayerCropScienceUS.com, contact their local Bayer CropScience sales representative or call 1-866-992-2937.