FMC collaborates with Kumiai and Ihara for new herbicide

FMC has entered into a development and distribution agreement with Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., for access to the new herbicide pyroxasulfone for use in combination with FMC's fluthiacet-methyl herbicide. FMC acquired fluthiacet-methyl from Kumiai earlier this year. Both herbicides are effective on glyphosate-resistant weeds.

pyroxasulfone is a new molecule that provides broad-spectrum control of most grass and broadleaf weeds when applied preemergence and early postemergence. Under the agreement, FMC has the exclusive right to develop and sell premixes of pyroxasulfone with FMCs fluthiacet-methyl herbicide for use in corn, soybeans and wheat in the United States, Canada and Mexico. FMC can also evaluate this premix on all crops except tree fruit, nuts and vines in North America. FMC sells fluthiacet-methyl in the United States under the brand-name Cadet(R) herbicide. FMC hopes to receive U.S. registration for the first pyroxasulfone and fluthiacet-methyl combination product for corn and soybeans in time for the 2012 season.

"We see a great fit of this combination initially in corn and soybeans in North America with other crops to follow," said Bob Trogele, North America area director, FMC Agricultural products Group. "This new combination will provide corn and soybean growers with an excellent new choice for most of their problem grasses and weeds in one product."