A new kind of glyphosate is being tested in research plots across
Canada this summer and could be in farmers’ tanks as early as next year.
Touchdown iQ uses a different type of salt and a tailor-made delivery
system that Syngenta Crop Protection Canada says differentiates it from
products such as Roundup, Vantage and previous versions of Touchdown.
The manufacturer said its diammonium salt-of-glyphosate and corn-based,
balanced adjuvant system gets the active ingredient inside weed leaves
more efficiently than the competition.
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“This delivery system that we’ve designed is able to help the
glyphosate perform in some of the toughest conditions that the farmer
might face – whether it be hard water, dusty leaves, rain right
immediately within an hour of application – that sort of thing,” said
Colin Steen, Syngenta Canada’s oilseeds manager.
Touchdown iQ is being tested by farmers in federal research permit
trials and by Syngenta in its own research plots this year as part of
the Pest Management Regulatory Agency approval process. Steen
anticipates input providers will be stocking it in 2003.
It is already registered in the United States, where it is primarily
used on Roundup Ready soybeans.
Saskatchewan Agriculture weed specialist Clark Brenzil said that was
the main reason Syngenta developed the new product based on a different
salt.
“They had some problems with injury on Roundup Ready soybeans in the
U.S.”
Steen said the new Touchdown iQ works well on Roundup Ready crops.
Sales south of the border have exceeded expectations.
But there are other benefits as well. Five years of trials in Canada
have shown that Touchdown iQ performs “at the very least” the same as
other glyphosates and “is definitely outperforming the competition”
under less than desirable conditions, Steen said.
“We’re excited about the possibility of having a glyphosate that’s
going to perform well in tough and adverse conditions that guys are
facing out on the farm on a year like this year.”
He said Touchdown iQ will be used mainly for pre-season burnoff, but
the company is also seeking registration for use on Roundup Ready
canola, chemical fallow and pre- and post-harvest control of perennial
weeds.
For a discussion of various glyphosate products by Bob Hartzler, a weed
scientist at Iowa State University, go to www.producer.com and click on
news links.
