ICL’s Gemini Granular herbicide now registered for use in California

Global specialty minerals company ICL has announced its Gemini Granular herbicide with R-50 Optimizer is now registered for use in California, giving ornamental growers there another tool to control grass and broadleaf weeds

"ICL’s Gemini Granular herbicide with R-50 Optimizer allows for 50% less active ingredient without compromising efficacy," said ICL Growing Solutions Western Region Sales Manager Robbie Abillama. "With application rates similar to competing products, growers get the same efficacy with less chemicals and better environmental friendliness."

Exclusive to Gemini Granular, ICL’s R-50 Optimizer improves both the release and distribution of the time-proven, active ingredients in this selective pre-emergent: prodiamine and isoxaben. As a result, more active ingredient moves off the carrier when watered in, creating a wider barrier of superior weed protection, with less active ingredient applied per acre.

"The chemistry of Gemini Granular’s actives is not new, but the combination of the two in a granular form is new for California," Abillama added. "It gives the growers one more tool to fight weeds and an additional product to slot into their rotation of pre-emergent herbicides."

As noted on the label, growers have the option of three application rates for low, medium and high weed pressure. Gemini Granular delivers effective pre-emergent control of listed weeds for up to 60 to 90 days when applied at low rates and up to four months when applied at high rates, as designated on the product label.

"With R-50, we’ve been able to reduce the amount of active ingredient enough that, at the application rates shown on the label, growers can potentially make an extra application during the season if needed and still stay below maximum allowable rates," said Keith Santner, ICL new markets and field technical service manager for ornamental and turf.

Gemini Granular is tolerated by more than 500 ornamental plants, while it controls more than 120 listed weeds, both grass and broadleaf.

"It's a really good chemistry," Abillama said. "It's a product with coverage that controls both grasses and broadleaf weeds, so one product basically targets all of the grower’s weed issues. It’s got very good longevity; it's got very good safety; and the label has a long list of weeds it controls and plants where it's safe to use. For California growers, it’s another tool in their arsenal to combat weeds, with a safe, unique product with tried and proven chemistry."

"We’ve been working hard on California approval for years. Gemini launched several years ago, and it’s been a huge success," said Matt Gladden, ICL Growing Solutions turf and ornamental marketing and business development lead. "We’re excited that our distributors now have the opportunity to offer it to our California growers."

For more information, contact an ICL Growing Solutions territory manager.