Archive Article: 1997/10/18
HARD on target pests but soft on the environment is among the claims made for Fury, a new pyrethroid insecticide from PBI Agrochemicals for use on cereals, oilseed rape and legumes.
Based on zeta-cypermethrin, and said to be two-and-a-half times more active than cypermethrin against some pests, Fury is an emulsion-in-water formulation, free of solvents, and therefore eminently tank-mixable, according to the manufacturers.
Main uses are expected to be for BYDV control in winter cereals; cabbage stem flea beetle, pollen beetle, pod midge and seed weevil in rape; summer cereal aphids; and pea moth, pea aphid and weevil in peas and beans.
ANNUAL meadow grass is the target of a bacteria-based herbicide now on sale in Japan at a whopping £3,120/litre. Camperico, a joint product of Japan Tobacco and US biotechnology company Microgen, contains a common bacteria which reproduces in and blocks the weeds water-carrying tissues.
Because the bacteria lives only in annual meadow grass and dies with the weeds, the new herbicide is expected to be in most demand for use on golf courses and similar public areas.
BOTH blackgrass and cleavers in wheat will be tackled by a new pre-emergence herbicide expected by 2000 from a joint venture between Bayer and Monsanto. JV485 is a Monsanto discovery in a new chemical class, and will be the first agrochemical to reach the market as a result of the research and marketing co-operation announced between the two companies in 1994.
AGROCHEMICAL companies continue their renewed interest in seed companies. AgrEvos stake in the seeds world has stepped up a gear with its subsidiary Nunhems becoming the fourth largest world producer of vegetable seeds. Nunhems, which is based in California, has bought Sunseed Corporation, also based in California.
Monsanto has issued a profit growth forecast for 1997 of 10 to 15% which it says allows for increased interest charges from its acquisition of Calgene, Asgrow, Holdens Foundation Seed, and a Brazilian soya bean seed company.