Soybean growers who cringe at Cobra’s crop injury tendencies but love its weed control will welcome Phoenix. This herbicide, a Valent product, retains Cobra’s weed control as it nixes Cobra’s tendency to damage soybeans.

Federal regulators approved Phoenix last year. But the approval came too late for the postemergence contact herbicide to be used on many acres, says Jeff Smith, a Valent technical representative. Smith and other Valent officials briefed agronomists, crop consultants and weed scientists who attended the December North Central Weed Science Society meeting in Milwaukee.

Phoenix is a new formulation that contains lactofen, Cobra’s active ingredient. Phoenix contains a built-in adjuvant that helps to neutralize lactofen’s tendency to damage soybeans. Like Cobra, Phoenix carries a white mold suppression claim on its label.

Valent plans to concentrate on marketing the product in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and other Midwestern areas where waterhemp infests soybeans. Phoenix also controls members of the pigweed family, black nightshade and common ragweed.

Because Phoenix does not control grass, Valent officials recommend tank mixing it with another Valent grass herbicide, Select. Phoenix also can be tank mixed with glyphosate for application on glyphosate-resistant soybeans.