BASF adds new Frequency™ Herbicide

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, July 20, 2009 – One of the most effective ways to combat resistance issues in vegetation management is to rotate or combine herbicide treatments, using products with different modes of action and a broad spectrum of control. Vegetation professionals looking for a new way to manage difficult bareground areas can now add Frequency™ herbicide from BASF Professional Vegetation Management (BetterVM) to the line-up of management tools.

Frequency has received full label approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and offers a new mode of action and a broad spectrum of control in bareground areas. This is increasingly important for managers facing weeds that have grown resistant to herbicides in the standard tank mix, resulting in the need for repeat treatments to maintain acceptable levels of bareground over the course of a season.

“The BASF R&D group was tasked with formulating a chemistry that would give vegetation managers a new tool for annual bareground management programs, spot treatments and rotational programs,” said Todd Horton, BASF Professional Vegetation Management Market Development Specialist. “By adding Frequency to the mix during the preemergence treatment cycle, users can increase the effectiveness of the tank.”

Frequency is especially effective when paired with residual products such as Journey^® herbicide, Sahara^® herbicide, Payload™, Portfolio® or diuron. By modifying the traditional tank mix to include Frequency , users can improve control of glyphosate, triazine and ALS tolerant/resistant species and decrease the need for multiple treatments in traditional bareground sites such as railroad, utility, highway and pipeline rights-of-way; highway guardrails and signposts; utility substations, petroleum tank farms, pumping installations, fence rows and storage areas.

“This is in direct response to our customers who have asked for a new tool to address bareground challenges,” said Brian Lish, BASF BetterVM Business Manager. “Frequency will help our customers meet the challenge of herbicide resistance without return trips and retreats throughout the season.”

The full bareground family of BASF products includes:

• Journey is recommended as a tank mix or foundation product for bareground sites and is an excellent choice for areas with sensitive nearby vegetation, such as road shoulders and substations. A fast-acting foliar and residual herbicide, Journey effectively helps control a broad spectrum of annual and perennial grasses, broadleaf weeds and vines. Journey can be used in combination with Frequency to widen the weed control spectrum and aid in the control of especially troublesome species.

• Sahara provides complete burndown and season-long pre- and postemergent bareground control of 150 species of annual and perennial grasses, broadleaf weeds and vines with just one application. It is recommended for guardrails, medians, shoulders, substations, barriers, delineators and signposts. Sahara is compatible with other bareground products as well as drift control agents, and, when used according to label directions, is not intended to affect nearby vegetation – even sensitive crops.

• Overdrive^® herbicide is recommended for postemergent vegetation management in guardrail, median and right-of-way areas, where cost-effective control of tough nuisance weeds is critical. Fast-acting Overdrive provides long-term, broad-spectrum control of over 90 annual and 50 biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds. It is effective for touch up or burndown treatments in industrial facilities or utility substations to maintain bareground.

• Pendulum^® AquaCap™ herbicide controls newly germinating seeds and seedlings and can be sprayed over ornamentals, making it ideal for sensitive bareground sites. The water-based microencapsulation formulation releases active ingredient, making Pendulum AquaCap the right choice for sensitive or high traffic areas.
  
  

With sales of € 3.4 billion in 2008, BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants, vegetation management, and forestry. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Crop Protection division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $17.5 billion in 2008. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals, as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has approximately 97,000 employees and posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Arsenal, Journey, Overdrive, Pendulum and Sahara are registered trademarks of BASF Corporation. AquaCap and Frequency are trademarks of BASF Corporation.

Portfolio herbicide is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences.

Payload herbicide is a trademark of Alligare, Inc.

© 2009 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.