Butyrics
Butyrics are a group of herbicides which are selective in a number of leguminous crops such as peas and clover.
Nufarm markets butyric formulations under the tradename Butoxone.
The phenoxy butyric acids (DB and MCPB) were discovered to be active herbicides in 1947.
The Wyke site started the manufacture of DB and MCPB in the 1960’s in a dedicated production plant. Since that time many modifications have been introduced to the original process designed to improve quality and output, to reduce waste production significantly and to improve the environmental impact of the process.
Both products are selective herbicides for the control of many common annual and perennial broad leaved weeds in a variety of crop situations. They exhibit excellent environmental profiles and have been shown to pose no threat to the aquatic or terrestial environment under normal use and quickly breakdown in soil and water to harmless metabolites.
Today Nufarm produces many hundreds of tons of each product annually in order to satisfy customer demand from around the world. DB and MCPB are available as both the technical acid and as formulations – supplied in a range of bag and pack sizes. Strict quality control procedures are implemented on all product produced before being despatched by Nufarm Supply Chain team.
Registrations for use have been achieved in key markets throughout Europe, Scandinavia and N.America for MCPB and likewise Europe, Australasia and N & S America for DB; in most markets being sold by Nufarm under the tradename Butoxone.
Looking to the future, Nufarm remains fully committed to maintaining and expanding the production, marketing and sales of Butyric products worldwide. To demonstrate this commitment, Nufarm’s registration department acheived DB Annex I listing in 2004 and MCPB in 2006 within the EU registration system.
Propionics
CMPP-p and DP-p
Optica is our brand name for Propionic phenoxy herbicides.
The Propionic phenoxy herbicides (CMPP and DP) have been used in Europe since the 1950’s for the control of broad leaved weeds in intensive cereal farming. During the 1980’s these molecules were launched as a single isomer version of both molecules (CMPP-P and DP-P). These are identical to the original molecule except they provide the same degree of herbicide activity at half the dose rate by isolating the biologically active isomer. This provides environmental benefits by reducing the quantity of chemical released by 50%, reducing the ‘food miles’ associated with the transport of crop input, and lowering the overall load of chemical in the distribution chain by 50%.
Through research and development the use of the products has spread and intensified over the years. About a third of all world production goes into the American turf market, another third into the key cereals markets of UK, France, Germany and Scandanavia and the remaining third is split into niche markets including the New Zealand pasture market, Canadian wheat market and even used as an industrial weed inhibitor in roofing. The products leave our site in many forms ranging from 1 metric tonne pallets of high purity technical grade, up to 5% solutions in drums.
Nufarm plays a leading role in the development of product defence and extension data. To date over USD10m has been spent on investigating the safety profile of the products in the key trading areas – USA, Canada and the EU. Both products have acheived EU re-registration, CMPP-p in 2004 and DP-p in 2007.
The propionics business is based on established molecules with strong activity against widespread weeds. We market the products under our own brand – OPTICA – in many markets and hold our own end use product registrations in the key markets. The business is back integrated into the key intermediates, including the production of the optical isomer, giving a unique competitive advantage. We will continue to expand the use of our products and derive value from the business.
2,4-D
MATON
The Brand name for 2,4-D Ester formulations
HERBOXONE
The Brand name for 2,4-D Amine formulations
Discovered in 1942 and commercialised in the 1950’s, 2,4-D is the biggest and most widely used of the phenoxy herbicides, having established markets in every continent of the world.
A full range of 2,4-D based products are available:
- Technical Acid Flake
- Technical Esters
- Ester Formulations
- Amine Formulations
These products are available in a range of pack sizes, and are produced to the strict quality assured requirements of ISO 9001:2000.
Nufarm is a member of the 2,4-D Task Force, together with other major world producers, and 2,4-D was the 1st of the phenoxy herbicides to gain EU Annex I listing in 2001, ensuring continued access to all markets within the EU. Our products are registered for use around the world either alone, or in combination with other herbicides, for a wide variety of applications including cereals, rice, sugar cane, pasture and amenity turf.
Our 2,4-D Business is supported by a fully committed team of Production, Technical, Customer Service and Sales professionals. Our focus is to continue to develop and improve our range of 2,4-D based products, and to provide excellent customer service and technical support to customers around the world.
MCPA
We market MCPA formulations under our own brand name of Agroxone.
MCPA is a selective hormone-type herbicide, which is absorbed by the leaves and to some degree the roots. Its properties as a herbicide were first discovered in 1945 and it has been sold in various forms commercially since the 1950’s.
It is used post-emergence to control annual and perennial broad leaved weeds, including Poppy, Thistles and Docks, in crops such as cereals, rice, linseed, flax, grassland and turf. MCPA is also used in mixture with many other products as it offers a wider spectrum of control.
The Wyke site has been established in the manufacture of MCPA for over 50 years and have developed the market worldwide. MCPA is available as technical acid flake, technical ester and as dimeythlamine and potassium solutions and can be purchased in various combinations including 750 Kg bags to 25 Kg bags (flake), tankers, IBC’s, drums or filled on site into 1, 5 10 or 20 litre containers.
A team of skilled, experienced personnel dedicated to the development, registration, production, quality, sale and supply of MCPA support our site at Wyke, England. An area of particular focus, as regulations for the manufacture, sale and supply of agrochemicals become ever tighter, is registration and Nufarm has ensured that the data package for MCPA remains current through membership of USA and EU Task Forces. This has enabled Nufarm to actively support MCPA in the EU Review process with Annex 1 listing obtained in 2006 securing continued supply to our customers.