Weed Control Programs in

Roundup Ready® Maize

Dr Norbert Muelleder

24 March 2010

Monsanto International SA

Global Importance of Maize

Plantings(million ha)

Production(million tons)

Maize (global) 157.0 787

http://www.maiskomitee.de/ (June 2009)

Maize (global)

Wheat (global) 224.0 684

Rice (global) 155.0 441

Grain maize (EU 27) 8.9 61

Silage maize (EU27) 5.1 209

Role of Maize in the EU 27 Crop Rotation

Member StateMaize area

(1.000 ha)

% area

corn after corn

France 3127.6 31%

Romania 2819.6 41%

Germany 1738.9 19%

Italy 1411.7 43%

Hungary 1308.5 14%

Poland 656.7 30%

Analysis of the economic, social and environmental impacts of options for the longterm EU strategy against Diabrotica virgifera (Western Corn Rootworm), a regulated harmful organism ofmaize, to support the drafting of the Commission Impact Assessment. (Final report). European Commission, DG SANCO, Rue de la Loi 200, 1049 Brussels, 04.06.2009

Poland 656.7 30%

Spain 507.4 29%

Bulgaria 380.9 35%

Czech Rep. 281.3 11%

Austria 252.5 21%

Netherlands 249.1 66%

Slovakia 245.1 11%

Belgium 215.0 32%

Greece 200.0 29%

Portugal 162.0 29%

Major Weeds in European Maize Production

(Bi)Annual dicots Annual grasses Perennial dicots Perennial grasses

Amaranthus retroflexus Alopecurus myosuroides Cirsium arvense Agropyron repens

Capsella bursa-pastoris Digitaria sp. Convolvulus arvensis Cynodon dactylon

Chenopodium album Echinochloa crus-galli Cyperus rotundus

Datura stramonium Poa annua Sorghum halepense

Galium aparine Setaria sp.

Lamium sp.

Matricaria sp.

Polygonum sp.

Solanum nigrum

Stellaria media

Veronica sp.

Xanthium sp.

Geranium sp.

Major weed control strategies in European maize production:

• Around 50 maize selective active substances on Annex 1 of EU Directive

91/414. General trend goes to less compounds in the future.

• Between 14 and 33 active substances registered per member state

• Herbicides are usually mixed to control the local weed flora

• 1 or 2 (seldom 3) herbicide applications per maize crop

• Application timings differ widely. There is a tendency towards pre-

emergence applications in Southern Europe and to post emergence

treatements in Northern Europe.

Weed Competition in Maize

6 8 corn leaf stage3

weed sensitive period

RR Maize Weed Control Concept 1

1. residual herbicide

pre-emergence

2. Roundup(max. 1080 g ae)

6

3 6 8 corn leaf stage

1. Apply any registered residual maize herbicide at reduced rate before emergence of

corn

2. Control later emerging weeds with Roundup (max 1080 g ae) by respecting

a) weed height: less than 10 cm

b) corn growth stage: latest at 3 leaf stage

1. tank mix Roundup (max. 1080

g ae) and residual herbicide

2. Roundup (max. 1080 g ae)

only if neccessary

RR Maize Weed Control Concept 2

7

3 6 8 corn leaf stage

2. In case of high weed pressure apply Roundup again

1. Apply a tank mix of Roundup and a compatible residual maize herbicide (at reduced

rate) at 3 leaf stage of corn

� In both cases the application timing is triggered like in concept 1 by weed height (less

than 10 cm) and crop growth stage

RR Maize Weed Control Concept 3

1. Roundup(max. 1080 g ae)

2. Roundup(max. 1080 g ae)

8

3 6 8 corn leaf stage

2. Depending on weed pressure apply Roundup a second time latest at 8 leaf stage

of corn

1. Apply Roundup at 3 leaf stage of corn

� In both cases the application timing is triggered by weed height (less than 10 cm) and

crop growth stage

(the pure Roundup concept is a prerequisite to register Roundup over the top in Roundup Ready maize)

Roundup(max. 1440 g ae)

RR Maize Weed Control Concept 4

9

Especially in warmer climates the late control of perennial weeds like Convolvulus arvensis is

a major concern in maize production

8 corn leaf stage

The Roundup Ready system in maize offers a new solution for this problem

� Start with concept 1 to 3 at max 720 g ae of Roundup at the 1st application

� Apply 1440 g ae of Roundup latest at 8 leaf stage of corn when perennial weeds have

sufficient leaf area for take up of glyphosate

Tested Partner Herbicides for RR corn

Brand name(s) Active ingredient HRAC / Herbicide class Company

Harness, Guardian Acetochlor K3 / Chloroacetamides Monsanto / Dow

Dual Gold s-Metolachlor K3 / Chloroacetamides Syngenta

Spectrum, Frontier Dimethenamid-p K3 / Chloroacetamides BASF

10

Spectrum, Frontier Dimethenamid-p K3 / Chloroacetamides BASF

Successor Pethoxamid K3 / Chloroacetamides Staehler Int.

Click, Chac,…. Terbuthylazine C1 / PS II Inhibitor several

Clio Topramezone F2 / Inh. of 4-HPPD BASF

Merlin / Emerode Isoxaflutol F2 / Inh. of 4-HPPD Bayer

Banvel Dicamba O / Benzoic acid Syngenta

Stomp SC Pendimethalin K1 / Dinitroaniline BASF

UK

DK

PL

UA

RUS

NL

IRL

D

S

EU 27 RR Maize Field Trial Activities (stripes)

11

HF RO

CZ

CH

BG

A

ES

I

GR

SK

P

Weed control in RR Maize in Northern Europecomparison of pre-emergence versus full post program (5 trials, CZ 2009)

control

t /ha

% control

t /ha

Weed control in RR Maize in Southern Europecomparison of pre-emergence and post program (3 trials, Spain 2009)

control

t /ha

% control

t /ha

Agropyron repens

Alopecurus myosuroides

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Chenopodium album

Cirsium arvense

Convolvulus arvensis

Amaranthus palmeri

Amaranthus rudis

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Ambrosia trifida

Conyza bonariensis

Conyza canadensis

Digitaria insularis

Glyphosate ResistantWeed Biotypes

Major Weeds in European Maize Production

Polygonum sp.

Setaria sp.

Solanum nigrum

Stellaria media

Veronica sp.

Xanthium sp.

Amaranthus retroflexus

Sorghum halepense

Cynodon dactylon

Cyperus rotundus

Datura stramonium

Digitaria ssp.

Echinochloa crus-galli

Galium aparine

Geranium sp.

Lamium sp.

Matricaria sp.

Poa annua

Echinochloa colona

Eleusine indica

Euphorbia heterophylla

Kochia scoparia

Lolium multiflorum

Lolium rigidum

Parthenium hysterophorus

Plantago lanceolata

Urochloa panicoides

Sorghum halepense

Risks for the Sustainability of Integrated WeedManagement

Risk Level

Management Option LOW MODERATE HIGH

Herbicide use in cropping system> 2 modes of

action2 modes of

action1 mode of

action

Weed control in cropping systemCultural,

mechanical and chemical

Cultural and chemical

Chemical only

15

Same mode of action per season Once More than once Many times

Cropping system Full rotation Limited rotation No rotation

Resistance status to mode of action Unknown Limited Common

Weed infestation Low Moderate High

Control in last 3 years Good Declining Poor

Proper usage (rate / timing) Yes Unsure No

Sustainability of Integrated Weed Management in current European Maize Production ( ) compared to RR system ( )

Risk Level

Management Option LOW MODERATE HIGH

Herbicide use in cropping system> 2 modes of

action2 modes of

action1 mode of

action

Weed control in cropping systemCultural,

mechanical and chemical

Cultural and chemical

Chemical only

16

Same mode of action per season Once More than once Many times

Cropping system Full rotation Limited rotation No rotation

Resistance status to mode of action Unknown Limited Common

Weed infestation Low Moderate High

Control in last 3 years Good Declining Poor

Proper usage (rate / timing) Yes Unsure No

Summary

• Maize production is of increasing importance for food and feed supply from a worldwide and a European perspective.

• A major threat to maize productivity is weed competition for water, nutrients and light in early growth stages. – Best possible weed control is necessary to protect the yield potential of the

crop irrespective of the production system.

• The Roundup Ready maize system offers 4 additional weed control strategies to the maize production in Europe.strategies to the maize production in Europe.

• Roundup Ready maize is a flexible tool for consistent and selective weed control in Europe that protects the yield potential of the crop.

• Roundup Ready maize will increase in a cost effective way the sustainability of integrated weed management in European farming by adding a mode of action for weed control

• The combination of Roundup Ready maize with other traits (insect protection, drought tolerance,..) will address further challenges in European agriculture.

NK 603 launch in Europe – June 2008 - NMin case you are curious: this is just a white whole