Monsanto's launch of a new encapsulated formulation of acetochlor designed for cotton and soybean acres in 2010 has proven successful. The new product was introduced as MON 63410 Herbicide by farmers this season and will be available widely for 2011 as Warrant Herbicide.
"Farmers and our retail customers in the Cotton Belt and the Midwest have provided great feedback on Warrant's control of tough weeds like Palmer amaranth and tall waterhemp, as well as crop safety," says Kerry Overton, selective chemistry marketing lead for Monsanto.
Tim Jamerson has 2,600 acres of cotton and faces tough-to-control pigweed on his farm in the Missouri Bootheel. He says "I needed a product to spray over the top; this fits. I'm very happy with no crop response versus a competitive product and the spray window it has on early cotton. And I've mixed it with various combinations or other products and haven't seen any injury."
The market's familiarity with the efficacy of other acetochlor products, like Harness and Degree herbicide brands used in corn, drove high farmer and retailer demand for the new product designed for cotton and soybeans during the launch, Overton says.
"We sold out of MON 63410 Herbicide this year and based on the current buzz in the market place around performance and crop safety we anticipate strong demand for Warrant Herbicide in 2011," he says.