Ironmax Pro,
the innovative new slug protection tool from UPL NZ Ltd, combines efficacy and
serious spreading performance with impeccable green credentials.
Gentle on the environment, you, and your gear. Tough on slugs.
Ironmax Pro, the innovative new slug protection tool from UPL NZ Ltd, combines efficacy and serious spreading performance with impeccable green credentials.
Mike Goodwin, Central South Island Regional Manager UPL NZ Ltd, says the unique product builds on the success of slug baits Metarex® Inov and Metarex Micro. Metarex Inov, itself a breakthrough product when it was launched, is very well known and widely used by New Zealand contractors. Ironmax Pro along with Metarex Inov and Metarex Micro are manufactured by French company DeSangosse, a global leader in slug and snail bait technology.
Mike says the BioGro NZ organic certification takes Ironmax Pro up an extra notch. “It’s huge. It’s great news for the contracting industry which has been crying out for ‘softer’ options that take care of the environment while still getting the job done. In this case, Ironmax Pro is actually doing a better job than other ironphosphate products.”
After rigorous New Zealand trials over two years, UPL NZ was delighted to gain registration for Ironmax Pro along with the BioGro NZ organic certification last year. With demand for feed, particularly for the burgeoning dairy industry, continuing to increase the approvals came at a good time.
Slugs - mayor pest in lucrative forage crops
Mike says slugs continue to be a major pest in lucrative forage crops, including brassicas, cereals and pasture. “There is a lot on the line. No-one can afford to have a spring or autumn sowing fail. Slugs are right up there in their potential to cause damage - just behind grass grub. Unchecked, they could cost the economy millions of dollars.”
Extreme generalists in terms of their feeding, grey field slugs (Deroceras reticulatum) are significant pests across a very broad range of crops. Thriving in this country’s temperate climate, and particularly damaging to seedlings, they are active year-round with damage typically peaking in autumn and spring. Mike says the pests have the capability to wipe out an entire crop if they are present in sufficient numbers. Slugs can live for up to 13 months and can produce as many as 300 eggs each over their lifetime. Mike says popular low and minimum tillage systems can also provide slugs with more “trash”; an environment in which they flourish.
Manufactured from finest wheat with unique process
Ironmax Pro is manufactured with the finest durum wheat using a unique manufacturing process. This makes it very rainfast, so it will not disintegrate in the first shower. And, importantly for those at the business end of application, there is no dust, and it is much easier on the gear.
Mike says the product’s spreading properties are also excellent. “The pellets’ uniformity is a key feature determining ballistic profile and effective spreading distance. The unique Ironmax Pro manufacturing process and pellet size mean the bait can be spread consistently at widths of up to 24 m. That saves a lot of passes, time, and fuel.”
The product’s breakthrough Colzactive® technology is responsible for the exceptional palatability that further separates Ironmax Pro from other slug baits. Created by the DeSangosse research and development team, Colzactive is made up of specially selected oil seed rape extracts. Mike says the DeSangosse R&D team evaluated 20 different plant species and identified 50 potential molecules for their attractiveness to slugs.
“They ultimately selected two molecules from oil seed rape for their extraordinarily attractive and palatable characteristics to slugs. These are the basis of the Colzactive technology, which enhances the Ironmax Pro bait attractiveness, its taste and, importantly, the speed at which the baits work compared to other slug baits.”
Slugs prefer feeding on Ironmax Pro to seedlings
Research shows slugs actively prefer feeding on Ironmax Pro to feeding on seedlings. That enjoyment, however, is very short-lived. Ironmax Pro contains the optimized active ingredient 24.2 g/kg ferric phosphate anhydrous, referred to as IPMax. Iron phosphate is a natural component of soil. It works as a stomach poison on slugs and snails and is fatal once ingested. A vital organ (the digestive gland) becomes overloaded with iron which impairs the digestion process and ultimately the ability to process food. Feeding stops almost immediately. Mike says as slugs retreat underground to die, positive signs of crop protection rather than dead slugs should be looked for to indicate that Ironmax Pro is doing its job.
Ironmax Pro is IPM friendly and does not impact beneficials including earthworms and the slug predator carabid beetle which can contribute to the natural suppression of slugs. This makes Ironmax Pro an exceptionally low hazard environmental solution. With 60,000 baits per kilogram, Ironmax Pro has a recommended application rate range of 5 to 7 kg/ha.
Talk to your local technical representative for more details on Ironmax Pro or read more online here.
