Growers of herbicide-tolerant Clearfield varieties of oilseed rape now have a non-metazachlor option for weed control, following the launch of Cleravo .

The Clearfield system consists of hybrid rapeseed varieties that are tolerant of the herbicide active imazamox. These varieties have been conventionally bred with natural resistance to the herbicide active.

Therefore, applying a Clearfield herbicide to a Clearfield rape variety can successfully control problematic brassica weeds, says Basf.

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“It is also a useful management tool to allow growers to get oliseed rape back into the rotation, if charlock and runch have prevented it being grown in that particular field.”

But up to now, growers only had Cleranda (imazamox + metazachlor) and Clesima (imazamox + metazachlor + quinmerac), both of which contain metazachlor.

Because they contain metazachlor, both are affected by the stewardship advice, including cut-off dates and guidelines, which earlier cut-off dates for those in high risk areas, for example, drained fields.

To give growers more flexibility, BASF has now launched Cleravo, which contains imazamox + quinmerac. It offers the same level of weed control without metazachlor.

“We have developed a unique mixture that allows conscientious farmers to continue growing oilseed rape while still being able to adhere to the metazachlor stewardship guidelines,” says William Reyer of BASF.

“This is not just another product, but a solution to an increasing issue facing growers,” he adds.

Cleravo will also control cereal volunteers, bromes, wild oats and ryegrass present at spraying.