New herbicide Kochia gets new enemy

Kochia, a problem weed for growers of spring wheat, durum, and barely growers, will find a new enemy this season when Syngenta Crop Protection Canada releases Pulsar, will co-pack the Group 4 herbicides dicamba (also used in products such as Banvel and Target) and fluroxypyr (used in Attain, Altitude FX and others) for use in "all varieties" of these three crops. Pulsar is expected to offer "dual-action management for the increasingly problematic form of Group 2-resistant kochia, as well as non-resistant kochia," Syngenta said in a release Tuesday.

Jason Pickering, an agronomic brand manager for Syngenta, explains: "Kochia spreads incredibly quickly and can have devastating impact if is not controlled effectively. Group 2-resistant kochia is even more challenging." Pulsar offers a "customizable" rate range and an MCPA tank mix option, as well as a tank mix with Horizon, says Syngenta. The addition of MCPA helps to control or suppress kochia, stinkweed, flixweed, lamb's-quarters, shepherd's purse, volunteer canola, wild buckwheat, wild mustard, cleavers, and volunteer flax, reports Syngenta.