THE Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has approved a new pre-emergent herbicide, Luximax, which is Australia’s first new mode of action for ryegrass control in 30 years.

Developed by BASF, Luximax will offer control of all known annual ryegrass populations, including those with resistance to other herbicides.

It is currently registered for use in wheat (excluding durum wheat) and will be available to growers in time for the 2020 season.

BASF Australia and New Zealand head of agricultural solutions, Gavin Jackson, said Luximax was a breakthrough in annual ryegrass control as it would equip Australian growers with the first unique mode of action in a generation.

“This mode of action offers more options for chemical rotation, strengthens existing integrated weed management strategies and provides up to 12 weeks’ residual control of ryegrass, including biotypes resistant to existing herbicide modes of action such as Groups D, J and K,” he said.

“Luximax provides growers with new confidence to control their annual ryegrass problem for months after sowing and will also manage brome grass and wild oats.”

More than 100 Australian growers have been running on-farm demonstrations of Luximax ahead of the launch.

“Ryegrass is our big issue and we are seeing it become more resistant. Weeds are incredibly smart, we have to keep them guessing,” said Rob Byrne, a grower from the Wimmera region of Victoria.

“We rely on companies to bring in new chemicals – if it was the same active it wouldn’t do a different job. We need a new group that will give us a few years without any resistance.”

Powered by BASF’s new active ingredient, Luximo, the registration of Luximax, marks an important milestone in expanding BASF’s global herbicide portfolio. Registrations in other countries are expected to follow, pending approval by the respective authorities.

Luximax is the first of three new BASF herbicides being launched in Australia by 2021. The post-emergent herbicide Frequency® and the pre-emergent herbicide Voraxor® will offer new tools for the control of problematic weeds.

Source: BASF