Cereal and maize growers are set to gain another tool in tackling broad-leaved weeds with the return of an active first launched in the 1960s.

See also: Tips to help decimate weeds in your spring cropping

Bayer CropScience has relaunched Buctril (bromoxynil), which first appeared in 1963 and is still used throughout the world due to its low resistance risk against certain key broad-leaved weeds.

It replaces the company’s Oxytril CM, which is being withdrawn because its active substance, ioxynil, will no longer be approved in the EU.

“Oxytril CM is still on sale until August, so we expect most cereal growers won’t switch to Buctril until 2016,” says Tim Holt of Bayer CropScience.

“Bromoxynil is a similar type of active to ioxynil so farmers using Buctril will still get good control of poppy and mayweed, which are some of the most common broad-leaved weeds to develop herbicide resistance.”

“The big difference is that Buctril is approved for use in maize, so we think maize growers will be interested in trying it this season.”