Corteva: Pasture Herbicide Meets Long-Standing Needs

Corteva Agriscience announced that the EPA has registered NovaGraz herbicide. Cattle producers now have access, what the company calls the only pasture herbicide that provides broad-spectrum weed control while still preserving white clover and annual lespedeza.  Morgan Bohlander, U.S. Range and Pasture portfolio marketing lead for Corteva Agriscience, said NovaGraz herbicide meets a long-standing need.

“Many producers rely on white clover and annual lespedeza in their pastures," he said.  "These legumes can improve forage quality for grazing and haying and offer nitrogen-fixing capability that enhances soil fertility and health. Without effective broadleaf weed control, the harm that weeds cause to forage production and quality can outweigh the benefits that these legumes provide.”

In research trials where NovaGraz controlled broadleaf weeds and preserved white clover, pastures produced 21% more total forage, compared with untreated sites.  Dr. Sam Ingram, field scientist for Corteva Agriscience, said NovaGraz contributes to high-quality, diverse grazing, which can increase per-acre beef production.

“NovaGraz herbicide allows producers to eliminate undesirable, low-value weeds without also removing white clover," Ingram noted.  "Multiple years of testing show that NovaGraz herbicide provides broad-spectrum control of key broadleaf weed species, such as ironweed, cocklebur, wild carrot, buttercup, biennial thistles, ragweeds, plantain, poison hemlock and many others.”

Extensive research shows that by preserving white clover and annual lespedeza in tall fescue pastures, producers can mitigate fescue toxicosis, which can increase stocker cattle average gains by up to 50%.

"Anytime those gains come from grazed forages, it benefits the livestock producer’s bottom line because grazing is the lowest-cost feed source,” he noted.

NovaGraz herbicide controls a broad spectrum of weeds in pastures, rangeland, hayfields and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres.  The herbicide carries no grazing restrictions for beef cattle and only minimal haying and manure restrictions after application.

"In addition to that, NovaGraz herbicide provides effective weed control where a non-residual option is desired for maximum flexibility in hay marketing and crop rotation.”

For more information, connect with your Corteva Range and Pasture Specialist at by visiting Corteva Agriscience's Website.

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