New Gorse Killer Mustangr Gives Farmers More Deadly Choice
Tried And True Formulation Gets Even More (Cost) Effective
AUCKLAND, N.Z. Ian Porteous of New Zealand agricultural chemical company Orion Crop Protection, has this month launched
MustangR. MustangR is a new herbicide option for New Zealand farmers who need to control
gorse and other noxious pasture weeds such as blackberry or ragwort.
MustangR is a concentrated 600 WG formulation based on the tried and true herbicide metsulfuron-methyl, a substance that
New Zealand farmers have been relying on in varying different guises for the past two decades.
This herbicide is now off-patent internationally allowing Orion, an established local supplier of quality crop
protection products, to enter the market and add value to this product category, much as the generic drug suppliers have
been able to do in the prescription medicine sector.
“We have been planning this expansion for some time,” says Ian Porteous, Orion’s Business Manager. “Orion has been
working closely with an overseas supplier on Mustang for over a year. I’m confident that our water dispersable
concentrated herbicide Mustang, is a product that farmers will willingly adopt both for its efficacy and for its cost
efficiency.”
Key spraying contractors and farmers are embracing the product. Already, large contract spraying has taken place on
lowland, hill and high country properties with significant brushweed problems.
“It’s been good to have the opportunity to deal with a local company and get the level of service we have,” said Roger
Boese, Spraying Contractor. “The property we used Mustang on, is already getting results, and at a more cost effective
price than we have been able to provide in the past. Mustang is real value for money, it’s very accessible, easy to use
and a breeze to apply.”
“Initially, Mustang will be available through a limited number of rural resellers via Free Phone 0800 NO GORSE (0800 664
6773) and will be supported by our field force,” says Porteous, “but we are working closely with the established channel
to ensure we will have more extensive nation-wide distribution for Mustang by the spring spraying season kick-off.”
Orion’s field sales force can be contacted via their New Zealand Sales Manager, Murray Fulcher, on 027 493 2738. All
MustangR orders made via the 0800 NOGORSE number or the field force will be delivered free, nation-wide, within 24 hours
and are invoiced for payment the following month.
“Our aim is to make Mustang widely available to the New Zealand farmer,” says Porteous. “If Mustang is not available
through a farmers normal merchant, we can facilitate an alternative within 24 hours”. At launch, Mustang’s early users
are being rewarded by Orion’s delivering the product in a free reusable Chiller Bag.”
“Orion is a kiwi company through and through,” says Porteous, “and the agricultural sector can only benefit from an
increased choice of quality product from local suppliers. Initial demand for Mustang from contractors, local bodies and
farmers alike gives us good reason to believe we are on to a winner.”
MustangR was released in early April. It is distinctively branded in yellow and red packaging, and is being promoted in
the key rural newspapers from this week.
ENDS