Vibala™ – The effective solution for ragweed control in sunflower

Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a weed that poses a serious threat to agriculture and human health. A member of the Aster family (Asteraceae), ragweed is well known for its allergenic properties and causes problems such as hay fever and asthma. In North America it is a major cause of these health problems, but over the past decades it has been spreading in Europe as well, including Bulgaria. Its spread in Northwestern, Central and Northeastern Bulgaria continues to increase and it is expected to cover the entire country​.

The weed not only reduces sunflower yields, but also causes significant allergic reactions even at low concentrations of pollen in the air. Ragweed seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 40 years, which makes its control particularly difficult. Due to this long survival period and the rapid spread of the weed, many countries, including France, Germany and Hungary, have introduced mandatory control measures.

How does Viballa™ solve the ragweed problem?

Conventional herbicides for broadleaf weeds in sunflower cannot provide effective control of ragweed. This is why Corteva Agriscience has developed Viballa™, which contains the active substance Arylex™ active – a new solution from the arylpicolinate group. This new class of active substance provides effective control of weeds, even on biotypes resistant to existing herbicides.

Arylex™ active controls key weeds such as ragweed, common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), Canada fleabane (Erigeron canadensis), which until now have been difficult or impossible to control with existing herbicides in sunflower. Viballa™ not only provides high efficacy against these weeds, but also offers a fast and long-lasting effect, ensuring reliable control even in more advanced growth stages​.

Conclusion

With ragweed representing both an agricultural and a health threat, the use of effective herbicides such as Viballa™ is essential. Viballa™ provides high efficacy against this difficult-to-control weed, enabling farmers to protect their sunflower fields and reduce the risk of yield loss. With the innovative active substance Arylex™ active, Viballa™ is a powerful weapon in the fight against ragweed and a key partner for achieving higher yields and clean fields.