Corteva Agriscience has introduced Enclosa herbicide, a premix the company calls the first-ever combination of a proprietary encapsulated acetochlor and cloransulam, delivering up to four weeks of residual weed control in corn and soybean systems.

Eric Scherder, Corteva's U.S. agronomy leader, told Brownfield the product brings a new level of flexibility to growers battling resistant broadleaf weeds and grasses.

"Farmers will appreciate the systemic control of tough broadleaf weeds and grasses in pre- and post-emergence applications," Scherder said.

What does the encapsulation change?

The formulation story centers on the encapsulated acetochlor. Encapsulation technology coats the active ingredient in a polymer shell, which governs how the chemistry releases into the soil solution after application. Corteva holds the encapsulated acetochlor in Enclosa as proprietary, distinguishing the new product from generic acetochlor formulations already competing in the pre-emergence grass control market.

For growers, the practical question is how the encapsulation interacts with the cloransulam component. Cloransulam-methyl chemistry is a systemic sulfonylurea-family mode of action that moves through broadleaf weeds to control established escapes. Pairing a soil-residual grass herbicide with a systemic broadleaf material gives Enclosa a dual role: laying down a residual barrier while cleaning up weeds that have already emerged.

How long does the residual window last?

Corteva puts the residual activity at up to four weeks. That figure matters for planting-time planning. A four-week window covers typical crop emergence and early canopy closure, the period when weeds compete most aggressively with young corn and soybeans for moisture and nutrients.

Scherder emphasized the breadth of the control spectrum. "Enclosa herbicide provides the first-ever combination of a proprietary encapsulated acetochlor and cloransulam to deliver exceptional weed control," he told Brownfield.

What does this mean for weed management programs?

The pre- and post-emergence flexibility Scherder highlighted positions Enclosa as a tool growers can slot into either a burndown-plus-residual pass or an early post application. Acetochlor products are foundational to U.S. corn and soybean weed control programs, and cloransulam chemistry has a long track record in soybeans against broadleaf species.

Growers weighing Enclosa against stand-alone acetochlor or dicamba- and glufosinate-based programs will want to compare:

• cost per acre against their current residual foundation;
• the four-week residual claim against their typical replant or overlay timing;
• fit with their trait platforms and planned post-emergence tank mixes.

What comes next?

Corteva has not yet detailed pricing, labeled crops, or use-rate specifics in the announcement. As launch-season details roll out, growers and retailers will be watching how the encapsulated acetochlor premix is positioned against entrenched residual herbicide options and whether the four-week residual window holds up across soil types and weather conditions.