A weed control ace in the hole Shorter supplies have shorn up the market, but increased 2018 planting

A weed control ace in the hole

RiceTec and Adama partner on limited launch of the Max-Ace herbicide-tolerant rice system.

By Vicky Boyd

Editor

This season, RiceTec and Adama plan a limited launch of the Max-Ace Rice Crop Solution system that pairs RiceTec’s herbicide-tolerant rice cultivars with Adama’s proprietary herbicide.

The introduction marks another milestone for Alvin, Texas-based RiceTec — it will include a hybrid for which the company is known as well as a variety.

The two companies plan to have 40 to 50 farm-scale demonstrations throughout the South and Mid-South this season showcasing the new production system. They will be split between the Max-Ace hybrid and variety.

RiceTec and Adama also plan to hold field tours so growers can learn first-hand about the production system. Using traditional techniques, RiceTec has developed Max-Ace cultivars that are tolerant to over-the-top applications of quizalofop herbicide.

Highcard, which contains the active ingredient quizalofop, is formulated with a patented safener for improved crop safety, said Dave Feist, Adama product strategy manager for rice.

The Environmental Protection Agency granted the herbicide a full Section 3 registration in February, and it is labeled for use only on Max-Ace rice. Highcard is not registered for use in California.

RiceTec is awaiting Canadian approval of the Max-Ace nonGMO herbicide tolerance trait. As a result, harvests from the demonstration fields will be identity preserved and channeled accordingly.

RiceTec Max-Ace offerings

RT7331 MA is a Max-Ace hybrid with comparable yield and plant characteristics to XP753, said Leandro Pasqualli, RiceTec marketing manager. It also has the strong disease package of other RiceTec hybrids.

RTv7231 MA is a Max-Ace variety that is four to five days earlier in maturity than RT7331 MA or XP753. RTv7231 MA has