Horizon Ag and BASF have reached a formal agreement to launch the Provisia Rice System in 2018, providing a new tool for post-emergence control of a broad range of grasses, including weedy rice.
Like the Clearfield Production System for rice, the Provisia system was developed by BASF through traditional breeding techniques.
In a joint news release, Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager, called Provisia an “important new technology that will enable rice growers to achieve better control of costly weeds that have the potential to impact yield and quality.”
The sentiment was echoed by Nick Fassler, manager, BASF Technical Marketing Group.
“We see the Provisia Rice System as an excellent complement to the Clearfield Production System for rice, providing growers with multiple solutions to control red rice, volunteer rice and challenging grass weeds,” he said. “Growers will have three unique offers in the rice market: conventional rice, the Clearfield system and then Provisia. We can rotate between those to control different types of red rice and off-types of rice. Provisia will provide the rice market a new active ingredient that will help with those difficult-to-control grasses as well.”
The new system is composed of Provisia seed containing the Provisia trait, which is resistant to Provisia herbicide.
Provisia herbicide itself contains the active ingredient, quizalofop, an ACCase or Weed Science Society of America Group 1 herbicide. Although the herbicide will initially control grass weeds, BASF is working on combinations with other herbicides that will also provide broadleaf and sedge control.
The first Provisia rice lines have been developed through an agreement between BASF and the LSU AgCenter, where Dr. Steve Linscombe and his team have been working with the new technology.
“Provisia rice will be an excellent addition to the tool box of southern U.S. rice producers,” Linscombe said. “It will provide very good control of red rice and other grassy weeds. It will be especially beneficial in those fields where weedy rice can no longer be controlled with the Clearfield system.
Walker agreed. “We believe Provisia rice will help extend the life of the Clearfield system where it continues to have efficacy on grass and weedy rice, while also improving control options in areas where the Clearfield system is not as effective today.”
During the past five years, the LSU AgCenter has put a significant effort into developing the first Provisia variety, PVL01, Linscombe said. It will have very good yield and quality.
Horizon Ag will work with LSU to evaluate and bring other Provisia rice varieties to market for future commercial planting.