Effective and broad spectrum herbicides that control and suppress weeds have become a necessity in modern agriculture. The process that is required by USDA to register herbicides can be quite arduous, requiring support from the chemical manufacture, university and agricultural community. The registration process requires 2 years of test data, which evaluates plant injury at a recommend rate, 2x rate and 4x rate. Based upon results, the chemical manufacturer can submit data at the state or federal level for new product registration.
In 2005, Yulex had two such registrations. These are effective herbicides but limited in longevity and weed specificity. The requirement for additional broad spectrum and long term herbicides was necessary in order to reduce mechanical and hand labor costs. In the fall of 2005 and in conjunction with chemical manufactures and the University of Arizona, Yulex began extensive efficacy trials necessary to register additional broad spectrum herbicides for guayule.
The chart below indicates current registration.
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| Prowl 3.3 | |||
| Aim | Carfentrazone-Ethyl | 2006 | |
| Fusilade | Fluazifop-P-Butyl | 2007 | |
| Gramoxone Inteon | Paraquat Dichloride | 2007 | |
| ET | Pyraflufen Ethyl | 2007 | |
| Aim (Aerial Label) | Carfentrazone-Ethyl | 2008 | |
| Prowl H2O | Pendamethalin | 2008 | |
Due to limited herbicide chemistry prior to 2008, hand weeding and mechanical cultivation were the only alternative to control the weed spectrum faced in Arizona. With the addition of our current herbicide registrations as well as expanded registrations moving forward, Guayule will have a very effective full spectrum herbicide portfolio. This program designed to address full spectrum weed control will greatly reduce expensive alternatives and move towards a no till / low till agronomic program for growers.
