The CoAXium Barley Production System combines a patented, non-Genetically Modified herbicide-tolerance trait with Australian barley varieties and a unique Group 1 grass herbicide that is especially formulated to optimise efficacy and crop safety in CoAXium barley varieties.

The system is the result of a collaboration between Australian Grain Technologies (AGT), Sipcam and Albaugh.

Sipcam business manager, Richard Branson, said this year's seed allocation has already been exhausted. Sipcam is a crop protection company that markets Aggressor herbicide and conducts the CoAXium stewardship program in Australia.

"As expected, there has been rapid adoption of this system in known bromegrass and barley grass ‘hotspots', such as the Eyre Peninsula, Wimmera/Mallee and southern New South Wales," Branson said.

"With only one barley variety available the moment, it's still early days but we expect more elite barley varieties will come online."

The first CoAXium barley variety to be released is Titan AX.

"Titan AX is one of the highest-yielding herbicide-tolerant barley varieties available. It is derived from the widely-adapted and popular variety, Compass and has a similar plant type and maturity," he said.

"Titan AX is particularly suited to low-medium rainfall or Mallee-style environments where early vigour and longer straw is preferred and where lodging is less of an issue."

Branson said a key feature of Titan AX is its competitiveness with weeds.

"In many instances, weeds escaping herbicide application will be controlled by crop competition," he said.

Aggressor herbicide is the other key component in the CoAXium Production System. Aggressor contains 185 g/L of quizalofop-p-ethyl in a specific formulation to optimise efficacy and crop safety when applied to CoAXium barley varieties.

"As a Group 1 herbicide, Aggressor offers an alternative mode of action for the control of annual grass weeds during the barley phase of crop rotation programs," Branson said.

"Previously, effective control of Annual ryegrass, Barley grass, Brome grass, Wild oats, volunteer cereals and other grass weeds could only be achieved in non-cereal crops, such as pulses and canola."

The CoAXium Barley Production System must be utilised in accordance with a stewardship program to safeguard the long-term viability of this important technology.
"CoAXium is not a stand-alone or ‘quick fix' solution for weed control or managing herbicide resistance," Branson said.

"It must used as part of an integrated weed management program that incorporates a range of chemical, mechanical and management tactics to help control weeds and prevent herbicide resistance, such as the Weedsmart Big 6 program."