AgroPages-Dow aims unique herbicide at US-Agricultural news

Dow AgroSciences has applied for US approval for a three-way combination herbicide that would be the "only broad-spectrum grass and broadleaf herbicide" for wheat. The product will combine the as yet unregistered graminicide, pyroxsulam, with the recently approved broadleaf herbicide, florasulam, and the established broadleaf herbicide, fluroxypyr. A US registration decision for pyroxsulam has been scheduled for the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

Florasulam was one of 12 new active ingredients approved by the US EPA in fiscal 2007. Dow sees the ai primarily as a mixing partner for other herbicides. It is looking at "several product concepts" that may include florasulam in combination with other Dow ais, the company told Agrow. No launches are expected before 2010, it added. The company has sought registrations for florasulam in combination with fluroxypyr, 2,4-D and MCPA.

Florasulam has been approved for use on wheat (including durum), barley and oats for the post-emergence control of broadleaf weeds such as chickweed (Stellaria media), cleavers (Galium aparine), wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus) and mustard (Sinapsis spp). It offers a wide application window and low use rates of 2.5-5 g ai/ha. Florasulam was first introduced in Europe in the late 1990s. It was registered in Canada in December 2001 and introduced in a number of combinations in 2002.

Syngenta will sell florasulam combinations under a 2006 deal that gave the company exclusive third-party rights to the ai in the US cereal sector. Florasulam will therefore be available through Dow, which describes itself as the leading broadleaf herbicide company in spring wheat, and Syngenta, which Dow calls the leading grass herbicide company in spring wheat.

The planned introduction of florasulam combinations reinforces Dow's commitment to the US cereal market, the company says. It has introduced three herbicide brands to the sector since 2004: WideMatch (fluroxypyr + clopyralid); Starane NXT (fluroxypyr + bromoxynil); and CleanWave (aminopyralid + fluroxypyr). The company expects to receive registrations for two new ais this year and to launch two new brands in 2008. "We have several exciting new products in field development that will be launched in 2009 and beyond," Dow adds.