New Herbicide OK’d For California Grapes
December 18, 2012 
Bayer CropScience announced today that Alion herbicide now has a supplemental label that allows for application of Alion on grapes in California. Alion is a long-lasting, pre-emergence herbicide used on grapes to control a wide range of grass and broadleaf weeds, such as marestail (Horseweed), that exhibit resistance to other herbicides.
Alion field trials across the U.S. show weed control lasting longer than six months in fields treated with just 5 ounces per acre of Alion herbicide, all without compromising crop safety. This effective weed control means Alion also helps eliminate the competition between vines and weeds for water and soil nutrients, ultimately protecting grape yield.
“Alion provides superior protection for high-value crops, such as grapes, and reduces the number of in-season sprays. It offers over six months of pre-emergence residual weed control,” says Nevada Smith, Alion product manager. “Its longer-lasting control and low use rate allow growers to focus more on profitability and less on weeds.”
Smith further explained that the excellent environmental profile of Alion should be a great fit for California. Based on the low use rate of just 5 ounces per acre, its chemical properties and research conducted during the development of Alion, there should be very little movement into the soil profile when used as directed. (A Q-and-A on herbicides in the January issue of American/Western Fruit Grower magazine includes Smith.)
The unique active ingredient in Alion is a cellulose-biosynthesis inhibitor (CBI), which is the most effective CBI herbicide discovered to date. There are no documented cases of resistance to its chemistry in the U.S. When applied alone or in combination with other herbicides, it can control ACCase-, ALS-, triazine- and glyphosate-resistant weed species. Producers who use Alion as an integral part of their weed management plan will help to prevent, manage, or delay the spread of weed resistance.
While Alion is newly approved for use on grapes, it was first approved for use in California in 2011. Since then, it has demonstrated excellent weed control in crops such as tree nuts, citrus, stone, and pome fruit.
Alion can be applied up to 14 days before harvest for all crops except citrus, and seven days for citrus. When applied with a contact herbicide, an Alion tank mix provides initial burndown of emerged weeds and extended residual control.
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