A new herbicide tolerant system for soybean growers is facing further delays.
Balance GT soybeans recently received import approval from China, which was the last key importer to approve the trait.
However, the system can’t be introduced until the Balance Bean herbicide receives regulatory approval in the United States.
The original goal was to launch the new system in 2015, but delays in obtaining approval for the trait and the herbicide in importing countries has pushed the target to 2018.
The system is a collaboration between MS Technologies, which developed the trait and owns the germplasm, and Bayer, the developer of the Balance Bean herbicide.
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Balance Bean is a Group 27 herbicide that is new to soybean growers, but the isoxaflutole active ingredient is found in herbicides used in corn and other crops. The system is also tolerant to glyphosate.
David Kikkert, crop and campaign marketing manager for soybeans and pulses with Bayer, said Balance Bean provides great broad spectrum control of weeds and provides long residual control.
“It also can help with some of the glyphosate resistant weeds,” he said.
The partners are working on a triple-stack version of the system that will also be tolerant to Liberty herbicide.
The target region for the launch of the new soybean system is the U.S. Midwest, Ontario and Quebec.
“Currently there are not short enough season varieties to launch into Western Canada,” he said. “I would say it’s more of a longer-term thing.”
