A brand new pre-and peri-emergence herbicide has been approved in time for this autumn’s barley and wheat drilling season, offering growers a new mode of action option for tackling costly weeds like Italian ryregrass.

The Chemicals Regulation Division of the Health and Safety Executive has approved Fundatis for pre- and peri-emergence in winter wheat and pre-emergence in winter barley in Britain.

Fundatis contains the active ingredients beflubutamid and bixlozone – both of which are new to the market in Britain.

Bixlozone, which is marketed as Isoflex, is a brand new mode of action herbicide ingredient from the isoxazolidine family, discovered and developed by the FMC. It is partnered with the phenoxy herbicide beflubutamid.

See also: Grassweed control – sequencing and timing key in warmer winters

Sebastià Pons, president FMC EMEA, says the product will provide a significant new tool in growers’ armouries effectively contributing to the control of key annual grassweeds including meadowgrass, blackgrass and Italian ryegrass.

The company says it also boasts one of the largest broad-leaved weed spectrums on the label, including groundsel and speedwell.

“With its use in both wheat and barley, wide spectrum of broad-leaved weed control and good activity against key grassweed species, we believe that Fundatis will be a valuable new addition for cereal growers when used as part of an integrated weed management strategy,” said Gareth Jones, technical leader, Northern Europe.

He adds that the over reliance on a few well-established products, changes to on-farm land management practices and a complex regulatory landscape all mean that weed control challenges are evolving.

“We are excited to bring a product to market containing a new mode of action for cereals, giving growers the opportunity to diversify their approach and another option when planning their weed control strategies.”  

Fundatis has been tested over many seasons in a range of field conditions across Europe and Britain.

In trials, it has controlled some of the most challenging weed species in winter cereals.

Results demonstrate that the combination of both active ingredients can help contribute to a clean field.