Stabilized low-concentration metsulfuron-methyl liquid composition

1. A single liquid-phase herbicide composition comprising by weight of the composition:

(a) from 0.1 to 1% of metsulfuron-methyl;

(b) from 1 to 20% of thifensulfuron-methyl;

(c) from 30 to 93% of one or more methylated seed oils of soybean, rapeseed or coconut; and

(d) from 5 to 25% of one or more surfactants having an emulsifier property; and

(f) up to 63% of one or more organically modified clays;

provided the herbicide composition excludes lignin sulfonates.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein component (c) comprises methylated soybean oil.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein component (d) comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, ethoxylated triglycerides, ethoxylated tri-styryl phenols, ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols, ethoxylated sorbitan mono- and tri-esters, ethoxylated sorbitol hexa-esters and polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers, and mixtures thereof.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein component (d) comprises at least one surfactant selected from anionic surfactants and at least one surfactant selected from nonionic surfactants.

5. The composition of claim 1 further comprising (e) up to 40% of one or more biologically active agents other than metsulfuron-methyl and thifensulfuron-methyl.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein component (e) comprises one or more fluroxypyr esters.

7. The composition of claim 5 wherein component (e) comprises one or more bromoxynil esters.

8. A process for preparing the composition of claim 1 , the process comprising milling components (a) and (b) together in a liquid carrier comprising components (c) and (d).

9. The composition of claim 2 wherein component (d) comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, ethoxylated triglycerides, ethoxylated tri-styryl phenols, ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols, ethoxylated sorbitan mono- and tri-esters, ethoxylated sorbitol hexa-esters and polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers, and mixtures thereof.

10. The composition of claim 2 wherein component (d) comprises at least one surfactant selected from anionic surfactants and at least one surfactant selected from nonionic surfactants.

11. The composition of claim 2 further comprising (e) up to 40% of one or more biologically active agents other than metsulfuron-methyl and thifensulfuron-methyl.

12. The composition of claim 3 further comprising (e) up to 40% of one or more biologically active agents other than metsulfuron-methyl and thifensulfuron-methyl.

13. The composition of claim 2 wherein component (f) of the single liquid-phase herbicide composition comprises 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition of one or more organically modified clays.

14. The composition of claim 3 wherein component (f) of the single liquid-phase herbicide composition comprises 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition of one or more organically modified clays.

15. The composition of claim 1 wherein component (f) of the single liquid-phase herbicide composition comprises 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition of one or more organically modified phyllosilicate clays having particles of less than 2 μm size selected from kaolinite and smectites and bentonites.

16. A single liquid-phase herbicide composition comprising by weight of the composition:

(a) from 0.1 to 1% of metsulfuron-methyl;

(b) from 1 to not more than 10% of thifensulfuron-methyl;

(c) from 30 to 93% of one or more methylated seed oils of soybean, rapeseed or coconut;

(d) from 5 to 25% of one or more surfactants having an emulsifier property; and

(f) up to 63% of one or more organically modified clays;

provided the herbicide composition excludes lignin sulfonates.