BASF Crop Protection receives U.S. approval for its Zidua herbicide for use on corn; future registrations for use in soybeans, wheat anticipated in early 2013

Andrew Rogers

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina , June 22, 2012 (press release) – Corn growers battling tough-to-control, small-seeded broadleaf weeds and grasses will have a powerful new tool, as BASF Crop Protection today announced the federal registration of Zidua® herbicide. Future registrations for use in soybean and wheat are anticipated in early 2013.

According to 10 years of research and field trials, the residual weed control provided by Zidua lasts up to two weeks longer than other herbicides currently on the market – which helps protect growers’ yield potential.1 Research also shows that Zidua provides up to 10 percent better performance than other residual herbicides in controlling Palmer amaranth and waterhemp.2

Nine states in the South have already reported resistant Palmer amaranth, and herbicide options for control have become increasingly limited. Meanwhile, glyphosate-resistant waterhemp is continuing to spread across the country. Of the 10 states that have now confirmed glyphosate-resistant waterhemp, three have waterhemp populations with resistance to multiple sites of action.3, 4

“With Zidua, growers have an additional site of action that provides outstanding residual control of small seeded broadleaves and grasses resistant to ALS-inhibitors, glyphosate, ACCase and triazines,” said Bryan Perry, Zidua Marketing Manager, BASF. “Along with innovations like Kixor® herbicide technology, Zidua helps meet
the grower’s need for new herbicides with different sites of action to manage weed resistance and better protect their fields.”

New standard for flexibility
Zidua sets a new standard for use flexibility. As the only solo pyroxasulfone product on the market, Zidua affords a wide application window from fall through early preplant to early post-emergence. This provides adaptability to a wide range of weed control needs and allows for precise placement of Zidua for the most effective weed control.

Zidua can also be applied with a range of use rates, allowing growers to select the best rate for their specific needs, based on soil textures in their fields.

“Some Zidua use rates are as much as 10 times lower than those of other residual herbicides,” Perry said. “That can make a big difference to growers seeking to improve operational efficiencies.”

Zidua is currently labeled only for use in corn. Future label expansions are being developed for use in cotton, soybeans and wheat, and being evaluated for uses in sunflowers, peanuts and other crops.

Complete weed management system
Zidua joins a growing BASF herbicide portfolio that already includes products such as those powered by Kixor herbicide technology. Zidua can be tank-mixed with Kixor products to form a preplant and preemerge combination that combats tough, resistant weeds with up to three different sites of action.

“Zidua is a powerful stand-alone product, but it can also be used as a perfect complement to Kixor,” said Luke Bozeman, Technical Market Manager, BASF. “Growers will now be able to combine the fast, effective burndown and enhanced residual control benefits of Kixor with the residual control of Zidua for long-lasting weed control. That’s a very strong combination for keeping weeds at bay that emerge throughout the growing season, like pigweed.”

With innovative solutions, technical support and educational tools, BASF is a grower’s No. 1 partner for managing weed resistance by providing more corn and soybean herbicide sites of action than any other crop protection company. The registration of Zidua – as well as the 2012 launches of OpTill® PRO herbicide and Armezon™ herbicide – demonstrates the commitment of BASF to provide growers with new chemistries and products to help maximize their yield potential and proactively manage resistant weeds.

For more information on herbicide best practices, visit http://on.basf.com/weedbp.

For more information on BASF Crop Protection products, visit http://agproducts.basf.us, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About the Crop Protection division

With sales of € 4.1 billion in 2011, BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants, vegetation management, and forestry. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Crop Protection division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population.

BASF – The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20 billion in 2011.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year.

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