Corteva expects to commercialize its new Optimum GLY canola by 2022, giving western Canadian farmers more options and flexibility to control hard-to-kill weeds.

Optimum GLY canola can tolerate higher doses of the non-selective herbicide glyphosate applied longer into the growing season, Kerry Freeman, Corteva’s canola category leader, said in an interview.

“It’s going to allow better control for a number of weeds (especially perennials including Canada thistle, sow thistle and dandelion,” he said. “One of the big things is that wider window of application. It will allow a farmer to go from cotyledon all the way up to just after first flower.”

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With conventional glyphosate canola the application cutoff is at bolting, Freeman said.

Under the Optimum GLY system 27 additional weeds will be controlled, he said.

The genetically modified trait in Optimum GLY has been approved in 11 countries, including Canada and the United States, but is still pending in Europe and China. But Corteva expects approval in time to see farmers planting Optimum GLY canola seed in 2022. In the meantime, farmers can expect to hear more about this new canola next spring and summer, Freeman said.

“You can use any type of glyphosate (on Optimum GLY canola), but we need to label Optimum GLY canola on all the glyphosates that will be used,” he said.

“We already have Optimum GLY on a number of glyphosates in the western Canadian market.”

Optimum GLY canola will be available through Corteva’s Brevant and Pioneer brands as well as from other canola seed companies through licensing agreements, Freeman said.

Corteva’s Optimum GLY canola will offer additional traits including, clubroot, pod shatter and sclerotinia resistance.

“We are very excited to be able to bring it (Optimum GLY) to the market,” Freeman said.