a newsletter from Bayer CropScience

crop talkVolume 16 • Issue 4

Infinity – Light years ahead of the competition Infinity’s quick and efficient control is what wheat, durum and barley growers have been waiting for.

It sure didn’t take long for Infinity™ to start making waves. But that’s not really surprising. Its active ingredient, pyrasulfotole (Group 27) controls broadleaf weeds a different way. And this makes Infinity herbicide different from all the other selective broadleaf herbicides available.

In a nutshell, here’s how Infinity works. Pyrasulfotole quickly translocates within the weed and goes directly to the plant’s growing points. It works in three different yet simultaneous ways to control broadleaf weeds.

Action one. Cuts off the energy process Pyrasulfotole stops the weed’s ability to generate an adequate supply of energy

by preventing the production of an essential component of the photosynthetic apparatus.

Action two. Cuts off the vitamin processPyrasulfotole restricts the weed’s ability to produce vitamin E, which protects

biological membranes against oxidative stresses.Action three. Cuts off the protective processPyrasulfotole prevents carotenoid production. This means the weed loses the

shield that protects chlorophyll molecules from dangerous ultraviolet rays and excess light. Since there is nothing to stop sunlight from penetrating deep into the leaves, the chlorophyll is destroyed, the weed turns white and finally dies.

Fast action cuts short the opportunity for weeds to linger under the canopy, which means your wheat and barley can fully utilize the available moisture and nutrients.

The novel molecule pyrasulfotole was discovered in Bayer CropScience labs in Frankfurt, Germany as a result of an aggressive program to discover new modes of action. It has been field tested in North America since 2000. This season over 200 federal research permit (FRP) trials were completed across Western Canada with overwhelming results.

Hit broAdleAf weeds HArdInfinity has been put to the test in fields in Western Canada where its outstanding

attributes have not gone unnoticed.“Infinity is the fastest working broadleaf chemical we’ve ever used,” says

Trevor Buchanan, who farms near Argyle, Man. “We checked the plot about 14 days after spraying and everything –dandelions, Canada thistle, buckwheat and smartweed – were white and on the ground. We’re starting to see a lot of resistant kochia, and other weeds are probably on the verge of developing resistance, too,

so Infinity’s new mode of action is going to be a very valuable tool to control broadleaf weeds.”

Derwin Massey at Stettler, Alta., says: “There is no question in our minds about whether we got a good kill with Infinity. We could see symptoms within a week of spraying, and the weeds were totally dried up a few days later. Infinity is one of the faster working herbicides we’ve ever used.”

tAnk mix effeCtiveness Effective grassy weed control is only a tank

mix away. When Infinity is partnered with grassy weed herbicides Puma®120 Super or Horizon®, both products work together with minimal antagonism or interference. The result? Better performance – and better control of broadleaf and grassy weeds as compared to other tank mixes.

Wes Orosz of Prudhomme, Sask., has experienced firsthand the weed-control power of an Infinity tank mix. “Very few tank mixes will control wild oats, cleavers and kochia at the same time, but Puma and Infinity did an excellent job on all three of these tough-to kill-weeds.”

So there you have it. Infinity is the herbicide growers have been waiting for. Put Infinity to work for you and then rest assured that you are getting broadleaf weed control that is light years ahead of anything else on the market. ct

Growers love ‘em!Say goodbye to jugs and make jug disposal a thing of the past.

Pre-order before March 5, 2008 for spring delivery and save 10 percent.*

BigBoys™ convenient bulk shuttles do away with mountains of empty jugs. Each shuttle (depending on size) holds enough herbicide to treat up to 2,000 acres. That means no more opening, handling and triple rinsing hundreds of individual herbicide jugs. And no more worries about disposing of those empty jugs and cardboard boxes. In a word, BigBoys deliver convenience. Interested? Here are a few things you should know when using BigBoys:

Q: what herbicides are available in bigboys?A: Puma120 Super, Buctril®M and Thumper® with a savings of

10%. Liberty® with no price reduction.

Q: i’ve never used a bulk shuttle before. How do i get set up to handle bigboys?

A: First, think about how you’ll move your BigBoys around the farm. The next best thing to a forklift are pallet forks mounted on a front-end loader. Another option is to loop chains through the fork slots on the bottom of the shuttle and lift it with a loader.

A BigBoy shuttle normally fits on a water truck. If it doesn’t, try putting it in the back of a pickup or on a trailer. Another option is to place it on the edge of the field that’s being sprayed.

BigBoys are bottom-fed. To unload the herbicide, attach a 2-inch female adapter with a hose. Gravity unloads the product. If you use a pump, you’ll still use the 2-inch female adapter and hose. The pump pulls out the product and sends it to your sprayer or mixing handler. Most pumps have built-in digital volume

measurement gauge. You can unload the product directly into your sprayer or into a mixing handler.

Q: what is the best way to measure how much herbicide i’ve used?

A: A pump with a digital volume meter is the easiest way to measure. A container with a volume measurements is another way to accurately measure the amount of herbicide used.

Q: what do i do with the bigboy shuttle when i’m finished with it?

A: Rinse the empty shuttle before you return it to the retailer who sold it to you. Bayer CropScience will then pick up the rinsed, empty shuttles from your retailer.

Q: do i have to pay a deposit to use the shuttle?A: Yes. We require a $100 deposit on the shuttle at the time

of purchase. The deposit is completely refundable once the shuttle is returned.

Q: Can i order bigboys anytime?A: No. BigBoys are custom filled based on your demand and

the size that you require, so be sure to pre-order before march 5, 2008 for spring delivery and to save 10 percent on Puma, Buctril and Thumper BigBoys. All sales are considered final.

Please note: After March 5, 2008, Puma120 Super, Buctril M, Thumper will be available only in smaller totes or single jug size.

*liberty does not have a price reduction in bigboys shuttles. ct

Coming Soon War of the Weeds II Look for it online

a newsletter from Bayer CropScience

Herbicide resistance

Herbicides don’t cause herbicide resistance. Nature causes herbicide resistance. And some farming practices encourage resistance and even spread it. But the good news is informed farming practices can prevent it.

www.mixitup.ca

In any weed population, some biotypes will naturally be resistant to a herbicide. Over use of a herbicide will select for these naturally resistant weeds, and over time naturally-resistant weeds will become the predominant biotype.

Relying on your favorite tried-and-true herbicides over and over again won’t help you manage herbicide resistance. You’ve got to throw weeds off balance by mixing things up a bit – in other words, confuse the daylights out of your weeds so they don’t learn to adapt.

And that’s pretty easy. In fact, managing herbicide resistance has never been easier.

Bayer CropScience is doing its part to help fight the spread of herbicide resistance

in Canada by bringing farmers simple, no nonsense rules of weed control that will help to trip up weeds in their effort to develop resistance.

In December, 2007, the company launched www.mixitup.ca and a campaign to spread the Mix it Up! message. The website is a one-stop internet resource for combating herbicide resistance – and all you need to know to fight it yourself. Here are the highlights, but check the website for the full story.

mix up your produCtion prACtiCes

Weeds thrive on routine. They love it when you repeat the same management practices over and over again. Unless you Mix it Up!, weeds will adapt culturally and chemically to whatever you are doing.

The worst thing you can do is the same thing over and over. The Mix it Up! strategy enables you to thwart a resistant weed’s inherent ability to survive control measures and keep herbicide resistance at bay.

mix up your Crop rotAtionsCrop rotations and using herbicides

What you can do to fight the spread

with different modes of action are key tactics in the Mix it Up! strategy. A well-planned crop rotation can: • Reduce the negative impact of

insects and diseases, leading to higher yields

• Lower input costs • Help manage crop residue • Provide diversified marketing options • Provide opportunities to use

different herbicides with different modes of action

• Delay or prevent herbicide resistance development

mix up your modes of ACtionManaging herbicide resistance requires

rotating modes of action. Weeds that have the inherent ability to survive an application of certain herbicides eventually multiply and spread and can create potentially severe control problems down the road.

It is not difficult to Mix it Up! by adjusting management practices, crop rotations and modes of action. Be sure to go to www.mixitup.ca before you go to the field next spring. ct

InVigor Early Book

Take advantage of the Bayer CropScience InVigor Early Book offer to get on board with the outstanding performance of InVigor canola hybrids – and save money.

Even if you have booked your InVigor hybrids, make sure you are registered in the InVigor Early Book program.

Book your InVigor hybrids before January 31, 2008 and you qualify for InVigor Early Book savings of $3/acre on Puma®120 Super, $3/ acre on Folicur®, $3/acre on Proline® or Rovral® Flo, $1/acre on Raxil® and $1/acre on Decis® or Sevin®. Based on the amount of acres of InVigor hybrid canola seed purchased. This is a whopping savings of up to $11/acre!

Registration is simple. Go to www.bayercropscience.ca, enter the MyBayer section with your findcode and password, enter the number of the bags you have early booked and you’re one step closer to amazing savings.

If you need help registering, contact your local retailer, the rebate fulfillment center at 1-888-283-6847 or your local territory sales manager.

Since their introduction, InVigor hybrids have been planted on more acres than any other canola seed. And for good reason. No matter what conditions, InVigor hybrids consistently outperform all other varieties and hybrids on the market.

The InVigor 5000 series of hybrids consistently leads in the Prairie Canola Variety Trials (PCVTs). Based on yield data from 2005, 2006 and 2007, InVigor 5020, 5030, and 5070

Even if you’ve booked, be sure to register in the Early Book program.

outperformed all others in these trials.If you are still not convinced, check

out how InVigor performed against competitors in local field-scale trials at www.invigorresults.ca. ct

Book early. Be happy!

questions or comments? please call 1-888-283-6847

Always read and follow label directions.Decis®, BigBoys™, Buctril®, Folicur®, Infinity™, Liberty®, Proline®, Puma®, Raxil®, Rovral®, Sevin®, Thumper® are trademarks of Bayer. All other products mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

01/08-6855

Online disease training puts the power of knowledge in farmers’ handsThe first step in disease management is knowledge. The second is altering you cropping practices with informed decisions. Bayer CropScience wants to put the power of knowledge in farmers’ hands.

“Disease management is complicated, and the importance of timing and good fungicide application is paramount to maximizing returns,” says Bob Reekie, Director of Marketing for Bayer CropScience. “Our mandate is to provide our customers with the best information available so that they can get the best results from our products.”

In 2007, an extensive Disease Manage-ment Manual was produced as part of the extensive training program for sales representatives and several retail partners.

“The manual provides extensive infor-mation on disease pathology, management strategies and fungicide use,” says Reekie. “We want to bring this valuable information to our customers as well as our retail partners

in an online, user-friendly format.”Online certification will consist

of three modules: 1. Diseases and their impacts 2. Management strategies 3. Application and timing of fungicides

The first module on diseases helps farmers understand, forecast, scout and control diseases in canola, cereals and pulses. All diseases of major concern for farmers are covered in detail.

The second and third modules will provide farmers with actionable information to predict and control their disease situation. The site will also link directly to the Bayer CropScience Canada website where tech sheets and application tips are available for each fungicide product: Folicur, Stratego and Proline.

The online version of our Disease Management Manual will be available at www.bayercropscience.ca at the end of February. It offers training for farmers and

retailers who want to know more about disease management so they can make better decisions to maximize returns.

Farmers who complete the online certification and submit their training quiz will receive a certificate of successful completion and small gift. In the future, CCA credits will be available for retailers who complete the online training.

If you are interested in being alerted when this section of the website is up and running, send us an email at askus@bayercropscience.ca with the subject name “disease management”. ct

Visit Bayer CropScience at trade shows this winter

Infinity is set to launch at major agricultural trade shows this winter. Plan to drop by the Bayer CropScience booth and learn about Infinity’s outstanding attributes as well as our other products.

FarmTech 2008 in Edmonton is one of the launch sites for the new Bayer CropScience Infinity herbicide with the first new mode of action in more than 20 years. The show runs January 30 to February 1.

Bayer CropScience is hosting “Innovation Fest” on FarmTech’s opening night, Wednesday, January 30. “This will be the third year we’ve hosted the FarmTech event, and each time it gets bigger and better,” says Shaun Corneillie, Bayer CropScience Regional Sales Manager for Alberta. “We’ve had over 500 farmers celebrate with us in the past. ‘Innovation Fest’ really captures the enthusiasm of our sales team and makes us and our products the talk of FarmTech. It’s also the kick-off of a new year for our customers.”

Infinity is also being launched at the Western Canadian Crop Production Show in Saskatoon (January 7-10) and Manitoba AgDays in Brandon (January 15-17). Both will provide a great opportunity to learn more about Infinity. We’re looking forwarding to talking with all our customers and our prospective customers at the trade shows.

Go ahead, plan to pepper us with questions about Bayer CropScience products. We’ll be there with plenty of staff to help you learn more about Infinity and all our products – everything from BigBoys shuttles to the BayerValue grower rewards program.

Lots of trade show activities are planned, so be sure to check with your Bayer CropScience rep to get the scoop on trade show events. See you there! ct

Infinity – All systems GO!