New Herbicide Fuels Excitement in Australia

The trial results for BAYER’s soon-to-be-released herbicide Mateno are optimistic. Along with pyroxasulfone and diflufenican, the medicine will include aclonifen, a method of action that is new to Australia. The three modes of action would target various root and shoot zones, according to Rick Horbury, Bayer Australia’s head of market development. Mr Horbury noted that in addition to eliminating a wide range of grassy and broadleaf weeds, there was long-term residual weed management. The product is approved for the control of carious grass weeds such as yearly ryegrass, barley grass, toadrush, silvergrass, annual phalaris, great brome, and wild oats, as well as broadleaf weeds such wild radish, capeweed, doublegee/spiny emex, and prickly lettuce.

Mr Horbury believes the product will be well received by growers, not mostly because of its broad range of targets, but also because of its versatility in application. It can be used as a pre-sowing, incorporated by sowing (IBS) product, or an early post emergent product in wheat. He predicted that the product would be a natural fit for southern climates, but that it would also work well in the north. In wheat, you may target the complete soil surface profile, including in-furrow, shoulder, and inter-row, with that early post-emergence spray. It means wheat growers will have more freedom in deciding when to apply it, and the inventors can see it being utilised in a variety of settings, from high-rainfall cropping to lower-input systems in dry areas.

“This is a very adaptable tool,” says the manufacturer, “since there are a range of advised user rates to match the local rainfall and target weeds.” Mr Horbury said the price was comparable to competitors in the market like Boxer Gold, Sakura, and Overwatch, and that while it was more expensive than a range of herbicides, farmers will purchase it for its good value. Mr Horbury believes that the product can be employed in knife point press wheel sowing systems or disc seeders under certain conditions. The real benefit of the herbicide is that farmers can slow the spread of herbicide resistance by using several methods of action or management measures, such as Bayer’s Mix it Up programme.

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)