Bayer CropScience introduced new post-emergence corn herbicide

Corn growers now have access to a new herbicide option for their fields, as Bayer CropScience recently announced the availability of new Capreno post-emergence corn herbicide.

Capreno is primarily available in Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. Its also available with limited supply in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio, and will be available for use in most other states in 2011.

"Growers in these geographies are already familiar with Laudis herbicide, which launched nationally in 2008," said Jeff Springsteen, Bayer CropScience marketing manager for selective corn and soybean herbicides. "This year, we wanted to introduce these growers to a new mode of action that will help them eliminate weed pressure and increase yields."

Although an increasing number of weeds have become resistant to several herbicide chemistry classes, growers can be assured that even the toughest weeds have shown no tolerance to Capreno — thanks to its combined grass and broadleaf specialists that deliver complete control all season long.

According to a 2008 field trial conducted by the University of Wisconsin (UW), treatments containing Capreno smoked, and kept down, common lambsquarters, velvetleaf and crabgrass throughout the season.

"Capreno features multiple modes of action to control more than 65 grass and broadleaf weeds in corn," Springsteen said. "It combines HPPD and ALS-inhibitor modes of action to control harsh weeds like those in studied in the University of Wisconsin trial. Additionally, it controls fall panicum, foxtails, pigweeds and waterhemp."

With multiple modes of action, Capreno is strong enough to achieve one-pass postemergence weed control, yet flexible enough to fit into a two-pass program.

"We tested Capreno as a component of both one-pass post and two-pass herbicide programs," said Dan Heider, UW integrated pest management outreach specialist. "Although I recommend growers use a two-pass program to minimize early-season weed competition, Capreno demonstrated effectiveness as a component of both one- and two-pass programs."

Capreno goes to work within hours after application. Growers will begin seeing its reliable weed control power within days versus the weeks it may take other postemergence products.

Generally, growers should apply a herbicide treatment "within 2 to 5 weeks after weed emergence to prevent a yield loss due to weed competition," according to an article posted on the University of Minnesota Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics Web site.

Because Capreno can be applied from the V1 through the V5 growth stages, it can fit into any post-emergence herbicide program, said Jim Bloomberg, Bayer CropScience product development manager for corn and soybean herbicides.

"Even if weather causes herbicide application delay, a tankmix of Capreno with glyphosate or Ignite herbicide is powerful enough to kill tall weeds and still provide residual through the end of the season," he said.

According to a 2008 field trial conducted by Michigan State University (MSU), a tankmix of Capreno with glyphosate and AMS applied to V5 corn controlled annual grasses, redroot pigweed, common ragweed and velvetleaf throughout the season.

"If you have more than 90 percent weed control in August, you’re not going to have a whole lot of yield reduction," said Wesley Everman, Michigan State University assistant professor. "And most growers are happy with that level of control."

For maximum corn yield, the herbicide should be applied at 3 fl oz/A with atrazine, Crop Oil Concentrate and a nitrogen source, such as UAN or AMS, when weeds are less than 4 inches tall.