Cotton farmers will now have a new preemergence herbicide and class of chemistry in the fight against resistant weeds.  On February 11th US EPA registered Brake® Herbicides for cotton.  Brake offers exceptional cotton tolerance with extended residual weed control allowing farmers to get their cotton off to a great start and maximize yield potential.

It is estimated over 9 million acres of cotton will be planted in 2016.  Many of those acres have experienced challenges with resistant weeds like Palmer amaranth (Palmer pigweed).  This is a significant threat to production when just one pigweed plant in 60 feet of cotton row has been shown to reduce yield by up to 30%.  This challenge facing growers was the stimulus for USDA seeking SePRO’s interest in developing Brake for cotton, as it represented a much needed new mode of action.  Brake has been developed over the last 4 years in conjunction with the National Cotton Council, Cotton Incorporated, over 25 university researchers, industry experts and growers.

Brake comes at a perfect time, when growers are looking for additional tools to strengthen resistant weed management programs.  It offers a strong residual herbicide that provides the foundation for comprehensive weed control programs, regardless of traits.  Brake provides very good control of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth, along with many other broad leaf weeds and grasses.  This versatile herbicide excels under wet conditions providing assurance when it is too wet to get back in the fields for timely postemergence herbicide applications.   

“Having the opportunity to develop Brake alongside the grower community has been invaluable for this new class of chemistry for cotton,” said Bill Culpepper, CEO SePRO Corporation.