Australia approved world-first use of a product based on BASF’s herbicide Luximax

Australian farmers will be the first in the world to experience Luximax® (cinmethylin), the breakthrough pre-emergent herbicide by BASF, which has received registration from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Currently registered for use in wheat (excluding durum wheat), Luximax will be available to growers in time for the 2020 season.
 

“Australian growers are world leaders in agronomic practices, and we are proud to continue to support them by delivering the first new mode of action for ryegrass in 30 years. We are excited by this world-first registration, and what it means for growers to add another tool to their rotation toolbox,” said Gavin Jackson, Head of Agricultural Solutions at BASF Australia and New Zealand.
 

Luximax is a breakthrough in annual ryegrass control as it will equip Australian growers with the first unique mode of action in a generation. This mode of action offers more options for chemical rotation, strengthens existing integrated weed management strategies and provides up to 12 weeks’ residual control of ryegrass, including biotypes resistant to existing herbicide modes of action such as Groups D, J and K.
 

“Luximax provides growers with new confidence to control their annual ryegrass problem for months after sowing and will also manage brome grass and wild oats,” Jackson added.
 

More than 100 Australian growers have been running on-farm demonstrations of Luximax ahead of the launch and said it is a welcome addition to helping their sustainable weed management practices.
 

“Ryegrass is our big issue and we are seeing it become more resistant. Weeds are incredibly smart, we have to keep them guessing,” said Rob Byrne, a grower from the Wimmera region of Victoria. “We rely on companies to bring in new chemicals – if it was the same active it wouldn’t do a different job. We need a new group that will give us a few years without any resistance,” Byrne said.
 

Trial sites have shown strong results over the recent season. “Luximax is doing the job and looking better in between the rows,” Byrne added.
 

Powered by BASF’s new active ingredient, Luximo, the registration of Luximax, marks an important milestone in expanding BASF’s global herbicide portfolio. Registrations in other countries are expected to follow, pending approval by the respective authorities.
 

Luximax is the first of three new BASF herbicides being launched in Australia by 2021. The post-emergent herbicide Frequency® and the pre-emergent herbicide Voraxor® will offer new tools for the control of problematic weeds.