More active ingredient SYNGENTA HAS announced that a new formulation of its popular Gramoxone herbicide, Gramoxone Max, will be available to farmers nationwide for the 2001 growing season.

Each gallon of Gramoxone Max contains 3 pounds of active ingredient, while its well-known predecessor, Gramoxone Extra, contained 2.5 pounds per gallon.

"Farmers won't be applying more pounds of active ingredient per acre with the more concentrated formulation," says Bill Beutke, Gramoxone brand manager at Syngenta.

"However, the new formulation does allow growers to treat the same number of acres with fewer containers. That will help growers save time, be more efficient and cut down on container disposal."

Gramoxone Max replaces Gramoxone Extra in all states except California, where registration for Gramoxone Max is still pending.

It can be used in every situation where its predecessor was applied. Growers can use it as a burndown material for conservation tillage or stale seedbed situations.

It can also be used as a post-crop-emergence herbicide treatment under a hooded sprayer or as a directed spray.

Like Gramoxone Extra, Gramoxone Max is extremely fast-acting, with results seen in as little as 24 hours.

It is also effective on a broad spectrum of tough early-season weeds and grasses.

It is rainfast in as little as 30 minutes. And it can be tank-mixed with many other herbicides for weed-control program flexibility and economy.

Gramoxone Max also replaces Starfire herbicide (a 1.5-pound formulation) as a harvest aid for cotton and soybeans in the South, and as an early postemergence herbicide for peanut crops.

Gramoxone Max will not be available in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Cyclone Max, another formulation (without dye) with the same active ingredient, will be sold to growers in those three states.

Cyclone Max is a more-concentrated formulation of Cyclone herbicide, offering 3 pounds of active ingredient per gallon versus the 2-pound formulation of Cyclone.

Growers should refer to the Gramoxone Max label for more information on application timings, uses and rates.

Syngenta is the new agribusiness company formed by the merger of Novartis Agribusiness and Zeneca Agrochemicals in November.