The EPA announced its proposed decision to register Enlist Duo. Western corn rootworm resistance spreads, and mixing sites of action is key to fighting herbicide resistance, say experts.
Enlist Duo reaches milestone in the regulatory review process
The Enlist Weed Control System from Dow AgroSciences has reached another milestone in the regulatory review process. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposed decision to register Enlist Duo. Enlist Duo is the herbicide for use with?the Enlist system.
The EPA also opened a 30-day comment period, giving growers and others an opportunity to provide input on Enlist Duo herbicide before the agency makes its final registration decision.
Enlist Duo is a proprietary blend of new 2,4-D choline and glyphosate. By combining two modes of action, Enlist Duo will control and help prevent further development of herbicide-resistant weeds. The herbicide features Colex-D Technology, which will provide stewardship and user benefits, including minimized potential for physical drift, ultra-low volatility, reduced odor and better handling characteristics.
"In its review, the EPA acknowledged the significant scientific advancements Dow AgroSciences made with Enlist Duo herbicide as it relates to off-target movement," says Damon Palmer, U.S. commercial leader for Enlist, Dow AgroSciences. "Enlist Duo herbicide will help solve the tremendous weed control challenges that growers are facing, and it will do so with technology optimized for on-target application."
In its "Proposed Registration of Enlist Duo Herbicide" released earlier this week, EPA says it has a "full and scientifically robust data set on 2,4-D" with respect to human health. Regulatory agencies in more than 70 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.S., have authorized the use of 2,4-D since 2001 using modern regulatory requirements.
The draft label for Enlist Duo includes proposed registration for Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Dow AgroSciences is working with the EPA to expand the list of states in time for the technology's launch.
Enlist Duo herbicide tailored for modern agriculture
Grower and applicator usability was a primary consideration for Dow AgroSciences in the development of Enlist Duo herbicide. In addition to company and university testing, the first grower-led research plots for the Enlist Weed Control System were conducted in 2013.
"For Enlist to be a preferred solution on the farm, it has to be a modern solution—one that advances the farming practices of today," Palmer says. "The results from this on- farm research activity were consistent with our data, and confirmed the technology consistently performs in real-world scenarios."
The research plot participants rated Enlist Duo in the highest percentile (90 to 100 percent) for broadleaf and grass weed control across all plots. These growers were also asked to evaluate the drift and volatility potential of Enlist Duo herbicide with Colex-D Technology. Lab and in-field research has shown that using Enlist Duo with Colex-D Technology in combination with a low-drift spray nozzle can decrease physical drift by up to 90 percent when compared with a tank mix of glyphosate and traditional 2,4-D sprayed through a standard XR nozzle. The new Enlist Duo also will have up to 96 percent reduction in volatility compared with traditional 2,4-D products.
Growers participating in the research plots noted the improvements related to off-target movement that they experienced in their trials. "We had Enlist corn planted next to some soybeans. With the constant 6-mile-an-hour wind and the gusts, we could lay Enlist Duo next to the soybeans, and I see no crinkling of the leaves, I see no drift," says Doug Morrow, Indiana grower and research plot participant.
Resources for responsible use
With the launch of Enlist, growers and retailers will have access to a benefits-based management resource called Enlist Ahead. Enlist Ahead will provide best management recommendations that will complement the herbicide label requirements, including the use of a residual, soil-applied preemergence herbicide for weed resistance management.
Pending regulatory approvals, Dow AgroSciences expects to launch Enlist corn and Enlist soybeans in 2015, with Enlist E3 soybeans and Enlist cotton to follow.
