March 17, 2014

Media

Sharpen® herbicide receives federal registration for pre and post-emergence applications on rice

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, March 17, 2014 – BASF announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal registration of Sharpen ® herbicide for pre and post-emergence applications on rice. Sharpen herbicide offers rice growers flexible control of broadleaf weeds.

Previously available to rice growers as a preplant herbicide, Sharpen herbicide can now also be added to current preemergence and post-emergence herbicide programs. Sharpen herbicide targets tough to control weeds such as Palmer amaranth, morningglory, Texasweed and hemp sesbania with an additional site of action.

Eric Webster, Ph.D., of Louisiana State University has studied Sharpen herbicide for several years, testing application rates and timing of this unique herbicide.

“This is a herbicide that offers growers broad-spectrum control on broadleaf weeds,” said Webster. “Mainly, we have seen Sharpen herbicide control hemp sesbania, Texasweed and jointvetch very well.”

Sharpen herbicide provides growers with early residual control of broadleaf weeds in preemergence applications, and broad spectrum control of broadleaf weeds in early post-emergence applications. Sharpen herbicide is also easily incorporated into the Clearfield®Production System for rice from BASF.

“The Clearfield Production System is where Sharpen herbicide has a good fit,” explained Webster. “It is an additional chemistry that can be incorporated into that system.”

Sharpen herbicide is powered by Kixor® herbicide technology, a unique chemistry that triggers fast action against tough broadleaf weeds.

Clearfield, Kixor and Sharpen are registered trademarks of BASF.

About BASF’s Crop Protection division

With sales of around €5.2 billion in 2013, BASF’s Crop Protection division provides innovative solutions in crop protection, seed treatment and biological control as well as solutions to manage water, nutrients and plant stress. Its portfolio also includes products for turf and ornamental plants, pest control and public health. BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leading innovator that supports growers to optimize agricultural production, improve their business efficiency and enhance the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com or through our social media channels.

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.3 billion in 2013. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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Sandi Wilson

BASF Corporation

Tel: (919) 547-2767

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Last UpdateMarch 17, 2014