The Scoop’s 2021 New Product of the Year
What are the tools being most sought out by ag retailers? Well, one way to measure for 15 years has been our brand’s New Product of the Year Contest. In the readers’ choice online voting, our audience has named Syngenta’s Acuron GT herbicide as the 2021 New Product of the Year.
New Play in the Playbook
It’s not surprising weed pressures for the year ahead are top of mind for retailers. Weed control is in the crosshairs with much of the Corn Belt having a mild early winter, and the persistent march of resistance continues. Herbicide manufacturers are researching new ways to manage the spread of resistance. One method companies are using is formulating and packaging a combination of active ingredients and sites of action. That’s a strategy Syngenta is employing with its latest innovation, Acuron GT postemergence corn herbicide.
The herbicide offers four active ingredients: bicyclopyrone (Group 27), mesotrione (Group 27), s-metolachlor (Group 15) and glyphosate (Group 9).
The herbicide works through three sites of action and offers a fortified front against broadleaf weeds and grasses.
- Bicyclopyrone and mesotrione are HPPD inhibitors—often referred to as “bleacher” herbicides.
- S-metolachlor works by inhibiting the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids.
- Glyphosate inhibits a plant enzyme—EPSP—that plays a role in the synthesis of three amino acids: phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan.
“We’ve said Acuron GT is the ultimate postemergent herbicide,” says Shawn Hock, product lead for corn herbicides at Syngenta. “Retailers and farmers need more residual control in the post application versus just killing the weed after it emerges.”
Acuron GT has more than 20 different formulation components along with the latest in encapsulation technology. That makes it one of the most effective yet challenging herbicides the company has developed.
Hock says the faster knockdown, enhanced weed control and longer-lasting residual from the start helps drive yield and productivity.
Acuron GT averages greater than 90% postemergence control on large-seeded broadleaves and small-seeded broadleaves. In some scenarios, the herbicide approaches 99% postemergence control.
“We are challenging the status quo of how post herbicides are being used. We wanted farmers and retailers to be able to apply the product at least seven days earlier than normal, which helps with water and nutrient inputs to the crop and sprayer demands. This adds value to the retailer and the grower.”
Hock adds because of the earlier application, Syngenta can claim an 8-bu.-per-acre yield advantage over other herbicides.
“We are the only company who talks about yield outcomes with herbicides,” he says.
The company has produced supply of Acuron GT for use across the 47 states where the product is labeled for 2022.
