In the world of herbicide classification, there are 10 known Modes of
Action that have been identified. One of those modes is the Pigment
Inhibitor. In the pigment inhibitors are the Group 27 HPPD Inhibitors.
This includes products such as Balance Flexx, Armezon, Impact, Callisto,
Laudis, and now a newly registered product from BASF called Alite 27
(27 stands for the Group 27 Herbicide). Alite 27 is the first and only
EPA registered HPPD available for use in soybeans on the Liberty Link
GT27 beans in select counties for 2020.
“Today’s management practices of relying on a single mode of action are
not sustainable for long-term control of problem weeds,” said Scott Kay,
Vice President of U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions. “BASF
continues to bring new innovations, like Alite 27 herbicide, to market
to give growers more operational control over their crops and to help
eliminate troublesome weeds in their fields.”
Alite 27 first received Federal EPA registration on March 20, and the State registration in Ohio earlier this month.
While the registration does not cover the entire country, it has been
approved for use in 23 counties in Ohio. Those on the label include:
Allen, Auglaize, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Crawford, Darke,
Guernsey, Hancock, Harrison, Lake, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow,
Muskingum, Nobel, Preble, Richland, Shelby, Van Wert, Washington, and
Wyandot.
“This is a limited list approved for 2020, and it will primarily be used
in demonstration showcase plots and on seed partner plots.
The hope is to have full registration in the state and availability for
the 2021 growing season,” said Kate Greif, Product Manager for BASF. “We
see this as yet another tool in the soybean grower’s toolbox for weed
control. This is a product that can help Ohio growers battle those tough
weeds like waterhemp, marestail, and giant ragweed.”
Grief suggests that Alite 27 has a nice fit in a Liberty herbicide
burndown program, or in a pre-program combined with a Group 15 herbicide
with some residual.
“One nice feature to Alite 27 is that it will recharge after a rain
event to go after newly emerged weeds,” Grief said. “There has been a
lot of excitement since the registration was announced, especially as
more growers look to incorporating trait enabled soybeans on their
farms.”
Compared with traditional preemergent programs, Alite 27 herbicide
offers unique benefits for farmers as a part of the LibertyLink GT27
soybean system. Alite 27 herbicide provides residual control of
early-season grasses and broadleaf weeds and can reactivate and take
down weeds, even after they have emerged. When insufficient rainfall
occurs, many residual herbicides are not fully activated and weeds can
break through. By having this unique characteristic, Alite 27 herbicide
is reactivated when as little as half an inch of rainfall occurs.
Alite 27 herbicide provides more consistent, safe, broad-spectrum
control of broadleaves and grasses when used as a tank-mix partner with
other residual herbicides. Based on company field trials across multiple
geographies, the herbicide provides residual control up to two weeks
longer on tough large- and small-seeded broadleaves, including Palmer
amaranth, waterhemp, marestail, and kochia.
“One of the biggest challenges growers face is resistant weeds, and the
soybean market needed a new residual active ingredient to help fight
against them,” said Darren Unland, Technical Marketing Manager, BASF
Agricultural Solutions. “Alite 27 herbicide will provide growers with
another preemergent herbicide option to layer into their herbicide
program for effective, season-long control.” Alite 27 herbicide provides
a new tank-mix partner to enhance resistance management programs and
can be used with other preemergent programs due to its low use rate
(1.5–3 ounces per acre) and tank compatibility.