FirstStep Herbicide Approved, outperforms glyphosate

Wheat and barley growers will have a new burndown option ahead of seeding this season, one that delivers longer-lasting weed control and greater flexibility.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently accepted the registration for FirstStep herbicide from Dow AgroSciences. FirstStep combines preplant burndown with SoilActive technology, providing up to three weeks of lasting control of winter annual and early spring-germinating broadleaves, such as wild buckwheat, tansymustard, wild mustard, shepherdspurse, pennycress, chickweed, flixweed, bedstraw, seedling dandelion and Roundup Ready canola.

"FirstStep keeps weeds at bay while growers get the rest of their crops in the ground," said Ben Cicora, Dow AgroSciences marketing specialist for FirstStep. "They can manage their time more effectively by controlling early weed flushes and optimizing the timing of their initial in-crop herbicide applications."

FirstStep outperforms glyphosate alone or glyphosate tank-mixed with 2,4-D. It provides producers with everything they need in a single application prior to seeding, Cicora says. FirstStep also offers excellent rotational flexibility to several crops, including sorghum, soybeans and sunflowers.

FirstStep herbicide is the seventh herbicide that Dow AgroSciences has introduced to the small grains market since 2004.

"Dow AgroSciences is committed to bringing innovative solutions — from pre-seed to harvest — to small grains growers," said Jim Parker, senior marketing specialist for the U.S. Cereals business at Dow AgroSciences. "FirstStep will give wheat and barley the best possible start, and then growers can turn to GoldSky herbicide for effective in-season control.