Nufarm develops Zetha Maxx herbicide to preserve glyphosate

Nufarm has made advances in its research and testing of the herbicide Zetha Maxx (flumioxazin + imazethapyr), which has been submitted for registration to the Brazilian regulating agencies.

According to the company, the new product represents a cutting-edge, innovative, and exclusive solution for the management of weeds among crops such as soybeans and kidney beans. The company aims to introduce Zetha Maxx to the market in the next few months.

Carlos Mella, manager of herbicides and adjuvants at Nufarm, noted that results in the field demonstrated that the use of Zetha Maxx had an extended residual effect, offering a wide spectrum of control over grasses and wide leaves. The composition of the product, he said, involved active ingredients with different mechanisms that control weeds through desiccation and pre-emergent activities.

According to Mella, this characteristic favors the management of herbicide resistance, preserving the susceptibility of weeds to the glyphosate molecule.

"Results have shown that the product acts with efficiency over monocots and dicot plants, including those that are glyphosate-resistant," said Mella. “Our goal is to facilitate production for Brazilian farmers and to help manage invasive plants. Because of its long residual period and wide spectrum, Zetha Maxx will free crops of invasive plants and easily manage them in the post-emergent period,” added the executive.

Mella stressed the importance of Zetha Maxx in managing resistance to herbicides. “With the introduction of Monsanto Intacta Roundup Ready soybean crops in Brazil, the selection of resistant and tolerant plants has increased significantly. Today, we have six species that are resistant to glyphosate. In order to avoid this problem, it is necessary for farmers to use pre-emergent herbicides with different action mechanisms,” Mella stated.