Advanced insecticide available in new low-odor formulation

Dow AgroSciences recently received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for new LORSBAN Advanced insecticide. LORSBAN Advanced offers the same benefits of LORSBAN-4E but uses innovative technology to produce a low-odor, water-based formulation.

"Dow AgroSciences is excited to offer an improvement on a trusted solution that growers have come to rely on," said Brian Timmerman, product manager for LORSBAN Advanced.

"LORSBAN Advanced represents the end of a multi-year research and development process by Dow AgroSciences resulting in an innovative agricultural product," Timmerman said.

LORSBAN Advanced contains the active ingredient chlorpyrifos--the same as in LORSBAN-4E, one of the most widely used insecticides in agriculture. The new product will replace LORSBAN-4E in the marketplace.

"Growers can use LORSBAN Advanced to control damaging crop pests in the same way they used LORSBAN-4E, with the added benefit of a lower odor," said Sam Ferguson, field scientist for Dow AgroSciences.

LORSBAN Advanced is formulated as an emulsion in water (EW). This water-based formulation differs from LORSBAN-4E, which is an emulsifiable concentrate. It is the only chlorpyrifos-containing insecticide available as an EW in the United States.

LORSBAN Advanced offers growers superb versatility to control insects in soybeans, corn, wheat, pome fruit, tree nuts, grapes, citrus, vegetables and other crops. The insecticide provides superior control of all cutworm species as well as broad-spectrum control of aphids, scale, spider mites, citrus psylla, lepidopterous insects and other pests.

Tank-mix flexibility is another attribute of LORSBAN Advanced. The new product is compatible with miticides, fungicides, nonpressure fertilizer solutions and other insecticides. The use rate and application characteristics remain the same as LORSBAN-4E, making for an easy transition to the new formulation.

For more information, call a local Dow AgroSciences sales representative, or visit www.dowagro.com.

Researchers study new levels of resistance to fight soybean diseases

Recent research from Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is improving levels of resistance to sudden death syndrome (SDS) and soybean cyst nematode (SCN), providing growers more effective protection to help maximize yield for their soybean investment.

Research efforts at Pioneer are providing new levels of tolerance to SDS. Through Pioneer characterization ratings, a grower can view levels of resistance to specific diseases for each variety. The Pioneer rating system is based on a one to nine scale, with nine being outstanding.

"Over time, our average SDS ratings for varieties in key impacted geographies have moved significantly higher," said John Soper, director of soybean research at Pioneer.

SDS is a complex trait, causing yield losses in soybeans of 20 percent or more a year. A single gene alone does not provide high levels of resistance to SDS. Pioneer scientists stack multiple genes for stronger and more effective resistance. Molecular markers are being developed to aid the breeding in making these complex genetic stacks.

"Pioneer is putting the right combination together to maximize tolerance to the disease," said Soper. "Pioneer has a new Y Series variety, 93Y11, that has a rating of eight. There are several Y Series and M Series beans that have ratings of seven."

In recent years, SDS has had a more profound impact in the U.S., moving into high-producing soybean regions.

Soybean cyst nematode, another key yield threat, creates losses of more than $1 billion per year. While SCN cannot be eradicated once it is present in a field, growers can select varieties with higher levels of resistance.

Pioneer is bringing products to the marketplace for Group 0 through Group VII planting regions, and it continues to look for additional sources of resistance.

SCN is a difficult pest with several races adding to the complexity of providing resistance for growers. Pioneer researchers are looking for alternative sources beyond PI88788 and Peking.

"PI88788 is the most common source of SCN resistance today and provides resistance to races 3 and 14," said Soper. "Peking offers resistance to a different race spectrum and has been effective in controlling emerging races 1 and 5, not covered by the PI88788 source. The general mechanism of Peking resistance, disrupting a 'feeding cell' established by nematodes in the soybean root, is the same as PI88788, however Peking provides a different spectrum of race resistance."

Even broader resistance is provided by a source known as PI437654. Pioneer is one of a very few companies to have a high-yielding variety with PI437654-type resistance with 95M60.

"We were able to develop 95M60 by using our proprietary molecular markers for SCN resistance. Our proprietary molecular marker technologies are key to developing multi-race SCN resistant varieties across all maturities," said Jeff Thompson, research scientist for Pioneer.

Growers looking for resistance to SCN can review Pioneer product characterization charts in its product catalogues. The characterization defines the source of resistance--PI88788, Peking or PI437654--then provides a one to nine rating for all races of nematodes. Growers can compare varieties by scores or sources, based on the races for which that variety will provide protection.

"We will continue to identify and deploy new sources of SCN resistance across all maturities," said Thompson. "Growers will need soybean varieties that possess new sources of resistance to stay ahead of SCN."

For more information, call a local Pioneer sales professional, or visit www.pioneer.com.

Corn herbicide knocks out tough weeds

Corn growers now have access to a new herbicide option for their fields, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently approved Balance Flexx herbicide from Bayer CropScience. Balance Flexx controls more than 50 grass and broadleaf weeds with the power of Recharge.

As little as a half-inch of rain during the growing season reactivates Balance Flexx, which can be applied from early pre-plant burndown through the 2-leaf collar growth stage (V2). Balance Flexx will be labeled for use in field corn production, corn grown for silage and on tolerant seed-corn inbreds.

"The new herbicide serves as a solution to protect field corn from weeds that have shown resistance to ALS-, glyphosate- and triazine-based herbicides," said Brent Philbrook, Bayer CropScience product development manager.

"Balance Flexx is a very competitive product compared to the current choices growers have," said Philbrook. "In our 2008 trials, we saw it take down some of the field's toughest weeds, including kochia and woolly cupgrass, while still providing excellent crop safety."

Balance Flexx contains the new proprietary Crop Safety Innovation (CSI) Safener technology that enables the herbicide to be used on any soil type with a broad range of crop compatibility. While protecting the plant from herbicide injury, the safener has been shown to result in increased root growth and plant health.

Flexible enough to fit any tillage program, Balance Flexx works through the roots and shoots of weeds to provide excellent burndown and residual control.

"Balance Flexx will control problem weeds and grasses, such as marestail, common ragweed and barnyardgrass," said Jeff Springsteen, Bayer CropScience product manager for selective corn and soybean herbicides. "It's also flexible enough to serve as a solid set-up product in a sequential program with Ignite, Laudis or other postemergence herbicides."

To control tough grasses, such as woolly cupgrass, growers should apply the herbicide at a rate of 5 to 6 oz/A. For the 2009 growing season, Balance Flexx will be available with limited supply to growers in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas.

For more information, call a local Bayer CropScience sales representative or 866-99-BAYER (866-992-2937), or visit www.BayerCropScienceUS.com.

Company lists new vehicle kits for GPS system

AutoFarm, Fremont, Calif., released an extensive list of new tractors now supported by both hydraulic steering and steer-by-wire kits for its FarmPRO GPS System.

Tractors that can now interface with the FarmPRO GPS System include: John Deere AutoTrac Ready Front Wheel Steered Tractors; John Deere Tracked Tractors; John Deere AutoTrac Ready Articulated Tractors; Challenger MT Tracked Tractors; and CNH AccuGuide/IntelliSteer Ready Front Wheel Steered Tractors.

Installation Kits for the FarmPRO GPS Steering & Application Control System are now qualified on over 220 makes and models of tractors, sprayers, spreaders and combines.

Designed for professional growers and custom applicators, the FarmPRO system combines sub-inch accurate RTK AutoSteer from AutoFarm with the Viper PRO state-of-the-art display and control system from Raven Industries. FarmPRO offers a feature-rich steering and application control system that is all right at the operator's finger tip through a single large screen display.

Other releases for FarmPRO in 2008 included: AutoFarm Reflex Technology; convenient remote engage feature; Satel Radio capability; and ability to run on OmniSTAR HP/XP with short convergence times.

For more information, call 877-947-7327, or visit www.gpsfarm.com.

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