New BASF’s OpTill PRO herbicide got U.S. EPA registration

One waterhemp plant in one acre can produce 100,000 seeds. And if one-tenth of those seeds are resistant, they can lead to more than 6.25 million resistant waterhemp plants at harvest in that same acre just two years later. To provide soybean growers a powerful new tool to control grasses and tough broadleaf weeds like resistant waterhemp, BASF announced the Environmental Protection Agency registration of new OpTill® PRO herbicide.

OpTill PRO is an effective option for an enhanced burndown and residual control that combines the power of Kixor® herbicide technology with the targeted control of the same active ingredient as Outlook® herbicide (dimethenamid-P) on grasses and small-seeded broadleaves. Field trials have demonstrated it manages even the toughest-to-control weeds, including glyphosate-resistant waterhemp, which has a continuous emergence pattern.

"With three sites of action in one product, OpTill PRO helps growers both diversify their herbicides and prevent the further spread of resistant weeds in one step,” said Bryan Perry, Kixor Marketing Manager at BASF. “In fact, our entire herbicide portfolio provides growers with more corn and soybean herbicide sites of action than any other crop protection company in the industry. It’s the reason BASF is a grower’s No. 1 partner for managing weed resistance.”

The launch of OpTill® PRO herbicide demonstrates the commitment of BASF to provide growers with new chemistries and products to maximize their yield potential and proactively manage resistant weeds.

OpTill PRO will be registered by state and available for sale in time for the 2012 growing season.