Flexibility is not something we usually have the luxury of in agriculture. Our growing seasons and conditions allow us to follow a practice of certain moves and applications at certain times. And, if it isn?t Mother Nature telling us when the right time is, the Government tells us when they think it is the proper time to do something.
BASF understands this issue, and that is why they announced a new corn herbicide with flexibility for pre- or post-emergence control of strong weeds like Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp. That product is called SURTAIN. This product will allow farmers to apply right behind the planter or up to the V3 stage. This offers flexibility in a time when weather conditions can sometimes rob us of those fixed timetables.
Dr. Doug Findley is with BASF, and he talks about the process of encapsulation of the product. It is a little different than what you may be used to in an encapsulated product because the traditional methods weren?t giving BASF the results they desired.
As we said earlier, the government will be involved in some cases to either protect the environment around us or to regulate a chemical?s effect on other sensitive areas. Group 27 HPPDs have had that issue for a while now. SURTAIN can work in replacement of those options, or in tandem if you have no restrictions. Again, coming back to flexibility.
It isn?t just the Group 27 HPPDs that you have to think about when it comes to preparing a tank mix. What about other products and chemistries that are a part of your weed control program? What about adding fertilizers? Dr. Findley talks about the added flexibility of SURTAIN to work with several application options.
SURTAIN has been submitted to the EPA review process, and BASF is hoping to have that approval by Q4. Then it is on to the states for approval. Dr. Findley expects SURTAIN to be ready by the 2024 growing season.
Learn more by visiting your local BASF retailer.
