Bayer Crop Sciences received good news Monday when the European Union approved XtendFlex soybeans for import. This is the first soybean on the market that has a tolerance to three major herbicides: glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate. “Farmers will see a lot of different flexibility in the herbicide program that they can put together based on the needs of their individual farm,” Lisa Streck, North America soybean launch lead said about producers using XtendFlex soybeans, which are multi-biotech traited.
This EU approval was the final piece of authorization needed for XtendFlex soybeans. Bayer plans a full commercial launch in the United States and Canada for the 2021 growing season with the expected supply for soybean farmers at 20 million acres. Streck said that growers will have access to XtendFlex technology “from a group 0 to 7 maturity group.”
Lisa Safarin, president of Crop Science North America, said that this 2021 upcoming launch “highlights the strength of the Bayer soybean pipeline, as well as the investment that Bayer continues to make in our soybean portfolio and the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System.”
This newest soybean approved by the EU is built upon Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean technology, but it has the additional tolerance to glufosinate herbicides, which is what makes it the first of its kind on the market. This will provide farmers with the flexibility they need to manage weeds that have become hard to control and resistant.
Bayer conducted a robust XtendFlex soybean field-trial plan across the country this growing season, so producers can be looking soon for harvest results. Growers can reach out to their Bayer reps to learn more about the harvest and this product in their area.
Known for their strong commitment to the soybean industry, Bayer’s release of XtendFlex soybeans is the second major trait launch in the past five years. “This really highlights Bayer’s continued commitment to soybean innovation and bringing products to the marketplace that help farmers solve the tough challenges on their farms,” Streck said.
Bayer wants producers to plant with confidence and is committed to making that happen.
Farmers are wondering if they make seed purchases that include dicamba tolerance, will they be able to apply dicamba on these fields? A decision has not been made yet by the EPA on whether or not dicamba will be approved for over-the-top use.
Alex Zenteno, Bayer dicamba product manager, said that Bayer plans to continue to support farmers who use the system and that they will receive seed unit price reductions if they purchase Xtend seed if XtendiMax isn’t available for use in 2021. The guarantee will be there for farmers if the EPA doesn’t approve XtendiMax before Feb. 20, 2021.
