FMC’s Anthem Flex Herbicide Now Offers Potato Growers Long Residual Control of Over 30 Weed Species, Enhancing Weed Management and Sustainable Farming Practices
Philadelphia, PA – The EPA has approved a nationwide label expansion for Anthem Flex herbicide from FMC, now available for use in potatoes. This expansion provides potato growers with a powerful tool for long residual control of more than 30 broadleaf and grass weed species, including barnyard grass, foxtail, nightshade, pigweed, and waterhemp.
Key Features of Anthem Flex Herbicide
Anthem Flex herbicide is recognized for its long-lasting residual activity and low use rate. It utilizes two of the most effective modes of action available for potatoes: carfentrazone-ethyl (Group 14 herbicide) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15 herbicide). These active ingredients enable the herbicide to offer extended control of a wide weed spectrum and maintain a 30 percent longer half-life in soil compared to other Group 15 herbicides.
This prolonged residual control ensures cleaner fields throughout the summer months, reducing the need for postemergent herbicides to manage late-season weeds like Johnsongrass, pigweed, nightshade, and green and yellow foxtail.
Advantages for Growers
“Growers are looking for consistent season-long weed control without complications, especially for increasingly difficult weeds,” says Kirk Sager, technical service manager for FMC. “By shifting the weed control application to a preemergence timing, Anthem Flex herbicide allows growers to be more upfront with their weed control and minimizes many of their worries, like weather, that are typically associated with postemergent herbicides.”
Application Guidelines
Anthem Flex herbicide should be applied when at least two inches of soil cover the emerging potato sprouts and paired with a tank-mix partner herbicide. It can be applied as a broadcast spray to the soil’s surface after planting or at drag-off of potatoes prior to weed emergence. When tank-mixed with strong burndown treatments, Anthem Flex herbicide achieves broader control of emerged weeds.
Tank-Mix Partners
“Tank-mix partners with Anthem Flex herbicide help broaden our weed spectrum to better control all weeds,” Sager says. “Metribuzin is a tank-mix option under normal weed pressure conditions. When facing heavy weed pressure, flumioxazin is a good tank-mix partner to pair with Anthem Flex herbicide.”
“There’s also rimsulfuron, another excellent tank-mix partner, and we can move this kind of chemistry into the preemergence timing with Anthem Flex herbicide rather than use it as a rescue treatment postemergent. Anthem Flex herbicide can help take the pressure off our postemergent technology and refocus our efforts on starting and staying weed-free.”
Conclusion
For a complete list of weeds controlled and suppressed by Anthem Flex herbicide, to view the label or learn more about this solution for use in potatoes, visit AnthemFlex.Ag.FMC.com.
