30 March 2023
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New herbicide trials show promise.
NEW product trials by FMC that are being run across the country are demonstrating strong performance of the herbicide active Isoflex, in what the business hopes will be the final year of testing prior to its authorisation.
FMC UK Technical Leader Gareth Jones said: “Following a relatively easy autumn trial season in which residual products have generally worked well, Isoflex is showing good levels of efficacy.”
Working with biological systems is complicated and there is inherent variability in field trials depending on a range of factors including weed germination and application timings, but he said the active has been giving good levels of control on both grass and broadleaf weeds.
Trial sites will continue to be monitored throughout the season as crops develop.
“We’ll continue to evaluate our trials and look forward to demonstrating them, particularly around heading time in blackgrass trials when the weeds are easily visible above the crop. This will allow us to make informed decisions about the programmes and tank mixes we’ve tested so far this year,” said Gareth.
Part of the isoxazolidinone family, the new herbicide is aimed at offering growers operational flexibility and lasting control of weeds, even those with reduced sensitivity to other herbicides.
Once available, it will need to be used as part of an integrated weed management approach, and in combination with other chemistry.
“Based on the results we’ve generated on a range of key broadleaf and grass weed species, we believe that Isoflex has the potential to be a significant contributor in the autumn residual programme across a wide range of typical agronomic strategies,” said Gareth.
