Bayer introduces new Rely 280 herbicide

Date:05-20-2010

Potato growers looking for higher potato yields and more sacks per acre have a new, highly effective and reliable solution with Rely® 280 herbicide from Bayer CropScience. Rely 280, an advanced and more concentrated formulation of Rely herbicide, is now registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in the U.S.

"Now a more powerful formulation, Rely 280 provides effective desiccation while allowing tubers more time to add bulk prior to digging,” says Andy Hurst, Bayer CropScience product manager. “It’s a simple, proven and economical way to gain higher yields regardless of variety or geography.”

Some chemical desiccants kill vines quickly, stopping tuber bulking prematurely, explains Hurst. Rely 280 works more slowly, mimicking the natural senescence process and allowing tubers 7 to 14 days of extra bulking time.

"Rely 280 offers an unbeatable combination of benefits and economic value, making it an excellent return on your investment,” says Hurst. ”Once senescence starts, every day in the ground means more sacks per acre. It’s easy to calculate the return for a grower.”

In fact, University experts and leading growers agree that later season growth and bulking can contribute 2 to 5 hundred-weight per acre every day. In a total of 13 university trials comparing potato yield, Rely 280 added an average of 6.6 percent to 9.5 percent more tonnage per acre of potatoes treated with sulfuric acid and diquat, respectively.

In addition to potato vine desiccation, Rely 280 is labeled for several crop and non-crop uses, including apples, tree nuts, grapes, bushberries and other berries, plus farmsteads. The label also includes uses for LibertyLink® canola, corn, cotton and soybean crops.

Rely 280 is an easy-to-use liquid formulation with lower use rates and fewer containers to handle, rinse and dispose. Rainfast within four hours after application, Rely 280 has a reentry period of 12 hours and a pre-harvest interval of 9 days in potatoes.