Published on 23/01/2023
UPL NZ central South Island regional manager Mike Goodwin says Ironmax Pro builds on the success of the Metarex Inov and Metarex Micro slug baits.
Metarex Inov was a breakthrough product when it was launched and is now well-known and widely used in New Zealand.
Ironmax Pro, Metarex Inov and Metarex Micro are all manufactured by French company DeSangosse, a global leader in slug and snail bait technology.
After rigorous NZ trials over two years, UPL NZ gained registration for Ironmax Pro along with BioGro NZ organic certification last year.
With demand for feed continuing to increase, particularly for the dairy industry, these approvals came at a good time.
Mike Goodwin 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. They thrive in this country’s temperate climate and are particularly damaging to seedlings.
They are active year-round with damage typically peaking in autumn and spring. Goodwin says slugs have the capability to wipe out an entire crop if they are present insufficient numbers.
They can live for up to 13 months and can produce as many as 300 eggs each over their lifetime.
Minimum tillage and no-till systems can also provide slugs with more trash, which creates an environment in which they flourish.
Ironmax Pro is made with fine 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.
The new product’s spreading properties are also excellent.
“The pellets’ uniformity is a key feature determining ballistic profile and spreading distance. Ironmax Pro’s unique manufacturing process and pellet size mean the bait can be spread consistently at widths up to 24 m. That saves a lot of passes, time and fuel.”
Colzactive technology is responsible for the exceptional palatability that separates Ironmax Pro from other slug baits, he adds.
Research shows slugs actively prefer feeding on Ironmax Pro to feeding on seedlings. That enjoyment, however, is very short-lived.
Ironmax Pro contains the active ingredient 24.2 g per kg ferric phosphate anhydrous, which is 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.
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.
With 60,000 baits per kg, it has are commended application rate range of five to seven kg per ha.