Argentina: BASF, Nidera collaborate to fight against weeds

Corn will come back to be a strong crop option during the 2016/2017 season in Argentina and, as many estimates indicate, the planting area will grow significantly. The end of export taxes on this crop improves the profitability numbers and the contribution to sustainability is good due to the crop rotation. But, like all crops, corn is threatened by the expansion of the weeds problem. Córdoba, one of the major regions for corn production and weeds in Argentina, was chosen by BASF and Nidera, two major companies, to introduce their partnership that has a goal to grow in that sector.

In a session held in the municipality of Sinsacate in the province of Córdoba, Pablo Sofanelli, a weed expert of the Río Seco Group, was in charge of describing a context. The expert explained that the “Johnson-grass is the major weed in all batches of this important region” and considered that its presence is something that should be taken into account when analyzing corn.

In some cases, if the presence of weeds is significant, Sofanelli has said that he recommends to grow soybeans. He remembered that, taking a look at the costs, the “effective control jumped from US$ 30 to US$ 87 per hectare” in the region in a short time. But the idea is not to reach this extreme point.

With this goal, the two companies presented the alliance they have sealed, which is to offer a joint technological package of the system Clearfield that includes the hybrid AX 7822 CL VT3P of Nidera and the On Duty Plus herbicide of BASF.

Aimar Penna, corn manager at BASF, highlighted that his company and Nidera have worked together for over 20 years regarding the Clearfield technology and the sunflowers that have these characteristics. And Ignacio Beltramino, commercial director of Nidera, said it was important to launch this technology at this corn production zone. The new alternative comes at a time in which companies foresee a growth of this crop, in some cases of 40% in determined regions. “Thinking on surface of five or six million hectares is not wild,” affirmed the executive.

About the new herbicide, which is sprayed on pre-planting, Penna said that the “the most interesting advantage has the incorporation of the Clearfield system of the Kixor molecule,” which has two modes of action.

And he added that “because this is a triple action herbicide, it offers competitive advantages that guarantee the extended control period and high effectiveness.”

Beltramino has indicated that the corn developed by BASF adapts to any soil. It has shown “excellent yields” in the south of Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and all of the Córdoba province, besides showing a great capacity of response in high densities. There is still time for the start of the corn planting, but it would begin strongly in the spring, but it is clear that significant growth is coming and nobody wants to be left out.