November, 2003 - Monsanto has pledged its commitment to ongoing dialogue and transparency, respect for people worldwide, and for the sharing of knowledge and benefits with all interested parties. It is with this in mind that I welcome you to the first Latitude newsletter. In it we will share with you Latitude related information and keep you updated on progress through the sales season. Included in this first edition is a brief review of Latitude and Take-all, the susceptibility of our South Africa markets to the pathogen and a brief review of Monsanto’s ongoing efforts at building and sustaining a mutually beneficial relationship between farmers, seed treatment units and Monsanto.

The past season was characterized by low grain prices and it became very clear that it would be fatal to plant maize if the true potential of the soil and the hybrid can't be reached. Weed control and management are becoming more vital because high input costs and low profit margins do not allow for risk-taking. Therefore crop safety together with efficacy became key words in any weed control programme. The seedbed has to be kept clean with an effective, but safe, residual herbicide because the potential of the maize plant is determined in the first eight weeks after emergence.

Guardian S® EC from Monsanto contains a proven safener and can thus be used without doubt on maize - it is actually perceived as the safest acetochlor herbicide for maize. Independent research by the Agricultural Research Council in Potchefstroom indicated that Guardian S is the safest acetochlor based herbicide on the market today.

What makes Guardian S so different is the efficacy of the product and the long residual activity. The active ingredient, acetochlor, has a low leaching index resulting in the fact that the herbicide is still present in the germination zone of the weeds even after heavy rains. If this herbicide is applied according to the label, it can provide control for up to 12 weeks.

Guardian S controls 8 of the most common grass weeds, including crab finger grass, goose grass, herringbone grass and sweet buffalo grass. It also controls 13 broad leave weeds. This includes common pigweed, wandering jew, white and green goosefoot and early germinating khaki weed.

Guardian S is definitely the frontrunner on the market when it comes to multi-purpose herbicides. It has no carry over effect and is therefore extremely suitable for crop rotation practices.

GUARDIAN S® EC, herbicide group HRAC K3, reg no L 4862, Act 36/1947, contains Acetochlor (harmful) and is a registered brand of Monsanto SA (Edms) Bpk, PO Box 69933, Bryanston, 2021, tel (011) 7908200.