Generic Pursuit coming

Here are some more interesting tidbits on Pursuit herbicide. The product is widely used on lentils, but not registered. Industry sources say data was generated for a minor use registration, but BASF, the manufacturer would not support the minor use registration. The company claims there’s too much risk of crop injury and weed control isn’t good enough. Observers believe there may have also been commercial motivations, since BASF’s Clearfield lentils are more lucrative for the company. It’s interesting to note that a product called Pursuit Plus is registered for pre-emergent use on lentils as well as chickpeas in North Dakota. Lentil acres are much smaller south of the border, but somehow BASF got a registration there. While the use of Pursuit on lentils is technically illegal in Canada, it’s not something that can ever be detected in the harvested crop, so there has never been much active enforcement. Top BASF officials will not comment on when Pursuit comes off patent in Canada, but herbicide experts say the patent has already expired and they say a company is working to come out with a generic form of Pursuit. It is not known whether or not that company will seek a registration for lentils. I’m Kevin Hursh.