Callisto, a new broadleaf corn herbicide from Syngenta Crop Protection, has been registered in time for the 2001 growing season. The herbicide received fast track handling under EPA's reduced-risk pesticide program.

The broad-spectrum product offers postemergence and residual control of velvetleaf, cocklebur, smooth and redroot pigweed, waterhemp, lambsquarters, common and giant ragweed, common sunflower, Pennsylvania smartweed, black nightshade and others.

“We recommend applying Callisto early post,” advises Matt Corner, Syngenta brand manager.

The active ingredient of Callisto is mesotrione, a synthetic relative of natural herbicides produced by the Callistemon citrinus plant. It was discovered after a Syngenta researcher observed that weeds didn't grow under the bushy plants. For more information, contact Syngenta at 336/632-2191 or check out www.syngenta.com or circle 401.

Look for more news soon on a new generation of insect protection traits developed by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Herculex I has been granted full food and feed registration in the United States from EPA, FDA and USDA, and registrants are moving ahead with approval in Canada, Japan and other overseas markets.

Herculex I enhances resistance against European and southwestern corn borer, black cutworm and fall armyworm and tolerance to broad-spectrum Liberty herbicide. The trait will be contained in select elite hybrids of Mycogen Seeds and Pioneer. Until import approvals in major corn-consuming countries have been granted, U.S. corn from Herculex I hybrids will be subject to market-channeling and export restrictions, says Bob Iwig, director, worldwide product marketing for Pioneer. Iwig says its introduction will be integrated within a strict product stewardship program to keep the grain out of export sales. No Herculex hybrids were sold for the 2001 growing season. For more information, contact Dow AgroSciences at 317/337-7348 or Pioneer Hi-Bred International at 515/334-6908.

BASF announces two benefits for Harvest Partner members.

Software maker AGRIS has adapted its agribusiness software to make reporting more efficient and timely for participating retailers. With the new program, when a retailer invoices a customer, the software captures the information, creates a data file and makes it available to the Harvest Partners data collection system. In the past, retailers often had to input the data into their own accounting systems before it could be submitted to BASF.

And, through a joint effort with Univance Telecommunications, Harvest Partner members will earn three Harvest Points for each dollar spent on long-distance calls through the MCI Worldcom network.

Harvest Partners membership is available to customers of BASF, Syngenta and Aventis crop protection products.

For more information, contact BASF, Dept. Apply*, Box 13528, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919/547-2136, or AGRIS Corporation, 300 Grimes Bridge Rd., Roswell, GA 30075 800/795-7995. On the Internet, go to www.agproducts.basf.com or www.agris.com or circle 402.

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