It’s always a race. Against time, against the weather and most importantly – against weeds. Using the correct corn herbicide with a crop safener can help pave the way to clean, healthy and profitable fields.
Weeds continue to outsmart the most effective herbicides in the market today. In fact, 40 percent of corn growers say Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are difficult to control with current preemergence corn herbicides.*
To combat these tough-to-control weeds, many growers turn to corn herbicides that contain pyroxasulfone, a Group 15 herbicide. However, several of these formulations lack a crop safener, which could put your crop at risk.
Some pyroxasulfone-containing corn herbicides can cause crop injury, leading to:
- Buggy Whipping
- Shepherd’s Crook
- Stunted Corn
Safeners Help Protect Corn from Crop Injury
Growers choose herbicides with crop safeners to ensure the herbicide is tough on weeds but gentle on the corn. But herbicide safeners are not all the same, and they work in many different ways. How do you make sure that your herbicide is effective and safe? Understanding which corn herbicide formulations contain a crop safener and which ones don’t is the first step. While other companies offer pyroxasulfone-containing herbicides for use in corn – Zidua®, Anthem® brands, Maverick® and Surtain™ – none of these formulations contain a crop safener.
MetaSafe Formulation Technology
Storen® corn herbicide from Syngenta® is the first and only pyroxasulfone-containing corn herbicide that contains a crop safener. MetaSafe™ is a patented crop safening technology designed to safen pyroxasulfone for use in corn. MetaSafe technology works by enhancing a naturally produced enzyme in the corn plant called Glutathione-s-Transferase (GST). The enhancement of the GST enzyme helps break down and metabolize pyroxasulfone.
Mark Kitt, corn herbicide technical product lead at Syngenta, said, “we understood growers were looking for more robust preemergent residual corn herbicide formulations to help them manage ever-evolving weed species.” He continued stating, “when we saw an opportunity to bring pyroxasulfone to the corn market, we wanted to ensure the best potential outcome for the American corn grower, which meant finding a way for it to be used to maximize crop safety.”
Under cool and wet environmental conditions, MetaSafe increases the GST enzyme by 10,000,000x to help the corn plant metabolize pyroxasulfone. Simply put, MetaSafe works by increasing the number of enzymes in the corn plant that break down pyroxasulfone, which reduces the potential for crop injury.
Storen has four active ingredients – bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone – that work together, resulting in fewer weed escapes, less weed interference and reduced weed seed production. Storen delivers the longest-lasting residual weed control by providing consistently clean rows up to three weeks longer than other leading corn herbicides.**
Growers and retailers who have used Storen during its first two seasons on the market can attest to its performance. Over 1,100 people tried Storen and gave it a 4.5 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating.
“Storen is safe on my corn crop and works great,” says Ronald Dozler, a grower from Albion, Nebraska, who used Storen this season.
Dan West, a grower and retailer from Sherrill, Iowa, who also used Storen this season agreed. “I love that you can go pre or post with great crop safety,” he says.
So, remember, when you’re looking for a corn herbicide that is tough on weeds but safe on corn, you can manage your risk by choosing Storen corn herbicide with MetaSafe formulation technology. Together, Storen and MetaSafe will help ensure maximum residual control performance and excellent crop safety.
*Syngenta market research, 2022. n=302.
**Storen length-of-control advantage based on 2022 Syngenta and university replicated trials comparing Storen to Resicore® and TriVolt®.
All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.
Performance assessments are based upon results or analysis of public information, field observations and/or internal Syngenta evaluations. Trials reflect treatment rates and mixing partners commonly recommended in the marketplace.
© 2025 Syngenta
Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration. AAtrex 4L is a Restricted Use Pesticide.
AAtrex®, Grow More™, MetaSafe™, Storen®, the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Anthem® is a trademark of FMC Corporation. Maverick® is a registered trademark of Valent U.S.A. LLC. Surtain™ and Zidua® are registered trademarks of BASF. All other trademarks are the property of their respective third-party owners.
