Sulfentrazone. FMC Press Release on Spartan ¨ herbicide. Undated.

FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK PESTICIDE PROJECT

Sulfentrazone. FMC Corporation Press Release on Spartan® herbicide. Undated.

http://ag.fmc.com/ag/pressreleases/4frelease.html

Press Release from FMC Corporation:

NEW, EASY-TO-USE FORMULATION OF SPARTAN® HERBICIDE GAINS APPROVAL FOR USE IN TOBACCO

Tobacco growers now have a new, easy-to-use 4F liquid formulation of Spartan® herbicide to battle the toughest broadleaf weeds and sedges. Until now, Spartan herbicide has only been available in a 75 percent active water dispersible granule formulation. Spartan 4F was developed by FMC in response to requests from tobacco growers.

"Research has shown that accurately measuring small amounts of Spartan in a 4F liquid formulation is easier for tobacco growers than measuring the extremely small amounts of the dry flowable formulation," says Mike Steffeck, Spartan Product Manager. The 4F formulation will be equally as effective as the dry flowable for weed control. The difference is that Spartan 4F will be slightly less expensive. This means tobacco producers will have an easier to use formulation at a lower cost per acre.

Depending on soil texture and organic matter content, Spartan 4F should be applied at a rate of 8-12 ounces per acre as compared to the Spartan dry flowable, which has a rate range of 5.3-8 ounces per acre. "Tobacco producers must remember to use a liquid measuring device for Spartan 4F. They definitely cannot use the old measuring tool designed for the dry flowable product," says Steffeck.

Spartan controls a wide-spectrum of weeds. It is particularly effective against morningglories and nutsedge, for which tobacco producers have few herbicide choices.

Spartan is a preemergence, soil applied herbicide. When tankmixed with Command® 3ME preemergence grass herbicide, the result is a total tobacco weed control program, Steffeck notes.

The EPA granted registration of Spartan in 1997, after several years of toxicology studies and environmental testing of Spartan's active ingredient, sulfentrazone. Weeds die as they emerge because sulfentrazone is a protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitor - meaning that when taken up by the roots and shoots of susceptible plants, it blocks the enzymes needed for the production of chlorophyll.

FMC is one of the world's leading producers of chemicals and machinery for industry and agriculture. FMC employs approximately 16,000 people at more than 100 manufacturing facilities and mines in 25 countries. The company divides its businesses into five segments: Energy Systems, Food and Transportation Systems, Agricultural Products, Specialty Chemicals and Industrial Chemicals.