News and Press Releases

Two new options for broad-leaved weed control

London, UK, 8 February, 2009 – Two new sulfonylurea herbicides will be launched for broad-leaved weed control in key arable crops this spring, in a double addition to Rotam’s growing UK crop protection portfolio.

The first of the two WDG formulation products, Savvy® (metsulfuron-methyl), will provide control of a range of broad-leaved weeds, including chickweeds, mayweeds and 17 other weeds and volunteers. It is a safe weed treatment option for all winter and spring varieties of wheat, barley and oats, along with triticale, linseed and land temporarily removed from production.

Sister product Ergon (metsulfuron-methyl + thifensulfuron-methyl), controls all the same weeds as Savvy and its additional active ingredient means its weed spectrum is broader still, suppressing cleavers and targeting another seven problem weeds including knotgrass, orache and fat hen. It can be used on all varieties of winter wheat, spring wheat and spring barley. 

“These newly-registered formulations are produced under strict quality specifications in our own facilities to deliver the highest standards of purity and efficacy,” says Graham Dickinson, Rotam’s Regional Manager for the UK and Northern Europe. “We’re looking forward to introducing the two products into the spring herbicide market.

“In line with all our crop protection products, Savvy and Ergon have been through extensive research to re-develop and improve trusted active ingredients – providing growers with both highly effective weed control and value-for-money.

“Additional herbicide options will be particularly useful for growers this spring, with a greater number of spring crops being planted following the late 2008 harvest,” he continues. “Spring weed populations will be emerging and the best time to remove them is when they’re small. Both Savvy and Ergon have foliar and root activity, and give the best level of control when applied to small, actively growing weeds, when they are most susceptible.

“Plus there is expected to be a higher weed burden where planting was delayed in autumn-sown crops and there has been less opportunity to spray.”

Graham adds that Savvy and Ergon may also provide useful options for growers who have yet to establish the best alternative to IPU.

Savvy and Ergon can be used in sequence or in a tank mixture with other sulfonylureas and ALS-inhibiting herbicides including Atlantis, allowing growers flexibility when planning their weed control programme. Tank mixing can be particularly useful if man hours are short and growers want to reduce the number of passages. Growers should consult Rotam distributors.

Rotam is also developing other sulfonylurea products based on tribenuron-methyl, metsulfuron-methyl and thifensulfuron-methyl.

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