EngeniaTM Herbicide: Maximizing On-Target Spray Deposition.

New weed control options are needed to manage a growing weed resistance problem that is limiting control tactics and in some areas cropping options.  Dicamba tolerant soybean and cotton will enable the use of dicamba to manage these problematic weeds with an additional herbicide mode-of-action.  In addition to being a new control tactic, these dicamba tolerant cropping systems will allow for application of dicamba as a preplant burndown without a planting interval and postemergence over the top of the crop.  Engenia herbicide, currently not registered by the US EPA, is an advanced formulation based on the proprietary BAPMA (N, N-Bis-(aminopropyl) methylamine) dicamba that reduces potential volatility more than the improvement achieved with Clarity^® herbicide.  In addition to addressing volatility through formulation innovation, a comprehensive stewardship strategy will be implemented to focus on weed management and effective control, weed resistance management, and maximizing on-target application. 

In order to maximize on-target deposition, many parameters related to equipment setup and environmental conditions should be considered.  Nozzle selection offers the opportunity to dramatically reduce the potential for spray drift.  Research shows that venturi-type nozzle technology can significantly reduce drift potential.  Other application parameters that should be considered include travel speed, boom height, application volume, use of a deposition aid, and proximity to sensitive crops.  BASF has initiated the ‘On Target Spray Academy’ training series to educate applicators on best application practices.  Drift potential is also strongly influenced by environmental conditions such as wind speed and temperature inversions.  The combination of Engenia and dicamba tolerant crops plus a stewardship strategy will provide growers with an effective system to control increasingly difficult and herbicide-resistant broadleaf weeds.  We anticipate registration of Engenia herbicide in 2013.