BioVax

Tank-mix cost based on 7 fl oz per acre added to a standard fungicide pass. Standalone cost based on 14 fl oz per acre. Both from a 2 × 2.5 gallon case.

The cheapest disease protection is the plant’s own.

BioVax is a purified polysaccharide molecule extracted from Laminaria digitata, a brown seaweed. Applied to an actively growing plant, it triggers an immune response — the same defense system the plant would fire on its own if it recognized a pathogen early enough.

At 7 fl oz per acre added to a fungicide pass, it costs about $4.10 an acre. That is the number that matters: it is cheap enough to ride along on a trip you were already making.

What’s working for you

Laminarin is the active molecule, at 3.51%. It is a natural, nontoxic sugar — not a pesticide sitting on the leaf surface waiting for contact.

BioVax is fully systemic with two modes of action. It activates Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) and Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR), stimulating both the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways. Most elicitor products work one pathway. Working both gets a broader response across a wider range of pathogens.

Because the response is the plant’s own, there is no resistance pressure being added to the field and no new mode of action to rotate. It stacks on top of whatever chemistry you are already running.

Why growers choose it

• Economical tank-mix partner — about $4.10 per acre at 7 fl oz added to a fungicide pass
• Fully systemic — whole-plant response, not a surface residue
• Two defense pathways — SAR and ISR, salicylic and jasmonic acid both stimulated
• Broad pathogen protection — the plant responds to a wide range of pressure, not one target
• Natural and nontoxic — not harmful to beneficial organisms
• No phytotoxicity — no stunting, safe on actively growing crop
• Exempt from residue tolerances — no residue management to work around
• Extended shelf life observed — documented in certain crops
• Works across the rotation — corn, soybeans, cereal grains, cotton, legume vegetables, peanuts, sugar beets and more

Coverage

Sold in 2 × 2.5 gallon jugs (5 gallons, or 640 fluid ounces per case) or 264-gallon totes.

Standalone at 14 fl oz per acre: one case covers about 44 acres at roughly $8.44 per acre.

Tank-mixed at 7 fl oz per acre: one case covers about 91 acres at roughly $4.10 per acre.

How to apply

Mixing: Shake the container and pour the required amount into a sprayer tank partially filled with water while continuing to fill with the appropriate amount of water. Maintain good agitation. Do not store the mixture overnight.

Carrier volume: apply by ground in a minimum of 10 GPA, by air in a minimum of 2 GPA, or through chemigation. For white mold or Asian soybean rust, use 5 GPA for best results.

Timing: start applications preventatively, or when conditions for disease development become favorable. In corn, apply prior to tassel to optimize disease control and maximize yield.

Specifications

Active ingredient

Always read and follow label directions.