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    NEW MODE OF ACTION: Wimmera farmer Rob Byrne, right, in his 2019 wheat crop with son Luke. Mr Byrne is one of many Australian growers who has trialled a new BASF herbicide for controlling ryegrass.

AgLife: Ryegrass remedy for 2020

Wimmera farmers will be better able to control ryegrass for the 2020 season following the introduction of new herbicide Luximax.

International chemical giant BASF, which has a wheat and oilseed breed centre at Longerenong, has launched a world-first product based on its herbicide active ingredient Luximo for Australian farmers.

Luximax, which was only registered for use in wheat, bar durum wheat, is now registered under the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority as a mode of action for ryegrass.

BASF Australia and New Zealand head of agricultural solutions Gavin Jackson said Luximax was a ‘breakthrough’ as the first mode of action for ryegrass in Australia in 30 years.



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He said the mode of action offered more options for chemical rotation, strengthened existing integrated weed-management strategies and provided up to 12 weeks’ residual control of ryegrass, including biotypes resistant to existing herbicide modes of action such as Groups D, J and K.

“Luximax provides growers with new confidence to control their annual ryegrass problem for months after sowing and will also manage brome grass and wild oats,” he said.

“Australian growers are world leaders in agronomic practices, and we are proud to continue to support them by delivering the first new mode of action for ryegrass in 30 years.

“We are excited by this world-first registration, and what it means for growers to add another tool to their rotation toolbox.”

Mr Jackson said Luximax was the first of three new BASF herbicides being launched in Australia by 2021. He said more than 100 Australian growers had been running on-farm trials of the herbicide ahead of its launch, and growers said it was a welcome addition to their sustainable weed-management practises.

Wimmera grower Rob Byrne said Luximax was ‘doing the job’ and looking better in between the rows.

“Ryegrass is our big issue and we are seeing it become more resistant.Weeds are incredibly smart and  we have to keep them guessing,” he said. “We rely on companies to bring in new chemicals – if it was the same active it wouldn’t do a different job.

“We need a new group that will give us a few years without any resistance.”

Luximax’s launch precedes the release of post-emergent herbicide Frequency and pre-emergent herbicide Voraxor which will offer growers new tools to control problematic weeds.

The entire November 27, 2019 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire November 27, 2019 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!