Nufarm to launch new herbicides formulations in 2012

Chemical manufacturer Nufarm Limited will release three new herbicides early next year.

One is a faster action formulation of Roundup, jointly developed by Nufarm and Monsanto.

Another is a 2,4-D herbicide 2.3 times stronger than other formulations while the third is a fast-action weedkiller made under licence from German manufacturer BASF.

Nufarm launched the products in front of about 80 rural merchants at its Laverton manufacturing and distribution plant last week.

The company's national sales manager, Warren Ramsay, said research work on the new products began nine years ago.

"The three products on show represent a $10-million investment by Nufarm to develop new formulations, including testing, field trials, user reliability trials and finally, delivery to market," Mr Ramsay said.

"It is a tangible example of our commitment to innovation and a testament to the company's vision to bring new products to market, despite the difficult times in our business recently."

The three new products were deigned to meet Australian farming conditions. The new glyphosate formulation is Roundup Attack with IQ Inside.

It will replace Roundup PowerMax in February.

Nufarm national business manager for Roundup and glyphosate Damian Deckert said Roundup Attack had a quicker brown-out, better final kill of weeds and was more robust on difficult-to-control weeds.

Mr Deckert said it was rain-fast in 20 minutes, meaning growers could spray when storms were approaching and still get a good kill of weeds.

It also had lower foaming and viscosity, resulting in "less time filling up and more time in the paddock for growers".

Mr Deckert said the "IQ Inside" was a patented penetrator that broke down the waxy coating of a plant leaf to allow the herbicide to enter the plant quicker.

"It pushes the glyphosate molecule to the site of action much quicker," he said.

Nufarm's new 2,4-D chemical is Amicide Advance 700, the world's first 700g/litre amine dual salt formulation.

Nufarm business manager for phenoxy and pre-emergent herbicides Gerard Bardell said it was a replacement for Amicide 625 and Surpass 475.

It was developed by Nufarm to replace the in-crop uses of Amicide 625 and the fallow applications of Surpass 475.

Mr Bardell said its stronger formulation meant greater efficiencies in storage, handling and transport.

Roundup Attack and Amicide Advance 700 will be available in Nufarm's QuikPour packs.