A NEW HERBICIDE for pea and bean growers is now available from Makhteshim Agan, following Pesticides Safety Directorate approval last week (w/e May 8).

Blois (linuron + trifluralin) is suitable for the control of a range of broadleaved and grass weeds in vining and combining peas, plus field and broad beans, the firm said.

The product will provide a natural successor to the firm’s Batallion (terbuthylazine + terbutryn), which is to be revoked at the end of 2007, said Makhteshim’s technical services manager, Jackie Passey.

“With growers standing to loose Batallion in two years time, pea crop weed control options are increasingly limited.”

Blois has been developed as an alternative to existing products and the firm is also working on a number of other post-emergence herbicides, Mrs Passey said.

“We expect to have at least two further products registered prior to spring 2008,” she added.