Protect acres against relentless weeds
A clean field is a high-performing field. As 2022 comes to an end, farmers should start prioritizing their weed control objectives to protect acres from hard-to-manage weeds.
For starters, Brook Mitchell, retail product agronomist for Brevant® seeds in southeastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri, suggested farmers work with their local ag retailer to discuss rotating modes of action and start building a herbicide strategy for next year.
“Farmers rely on ag retail for decision-making information,” Mitchell said. “Retailers are out in their customers’ fields evaluating what is effective versus what is not. It is an essential role that the retailer plays in both seed and crop protection decisions.”
Utilize the whole-system approach
One of the first steps in ironing out goals for the upcoming season is to consider a whole-system approach. For instance, Joe Bolte, Corteva Agriscience market development specialist for Missouri and eastern Kansas, said pigweeds, such as Palmer amaranth and waterhemp, are troublesome weeds year over year. To overcome these pesky species, he recommends a season-long management plan utilizing multiple sites of action.
“We need to make sure that we are selecting products that are protecting yield potential from start to finish,” Bolte said. “Weed control starts with a clean field or an effective burndown. Then we must make sure that we are using a residual herbicide preemerge. Finally, farmers should be following up with a postemergence herbicide tank mixed with a postemergence or in-season residual herbicide for extended control.”
A comprehensive herbicide strategy reduces the chances of late-season escapes. Likewise, Bolte said extending the residual out into the season has proven to be effective in warding off weeds.
Manage herbicide resistance
The next move concerns modes of action. If farmers continually use the same group of herbicides or modes of action, resistance becomes a bigger concern. As weeds build up resistance to certain chemicals, it is vital to a field’s health for farmers to alternate their modes of action. This is another area where ag retail adds tremendous value with product expertise.
“Making a game plan with ag retail after harvest is time well spent,” Mitchell said. “After getting farmers’ input, retailers can visit with their seed and crop protection representatives about what’s new and what’s best for the whole acre. It gives everybody time to put a correct plan in place.”
Reduce weed pressure through seed selection
Finally, farmers should consider stronger canopy products to help manage weeds, especially in low-yielding environments. Mitchell said canopy becomes more important in 100- to 150-bushel environments because plant populations tend to be lower than in higher yielding environments. Canopy helps reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the ground and the chances of weed escapes. With the extensive portfolio of Brevant® seeds, farmers can select high-performance technology that helps reduce weed pressure.
“Farmers should look for corn hybrids that can help shade the row quicker versus a more upright leaf structure,” Mitchell said. “For soybeans, they should look for varieties that have a canopy structure of medium bushy to bushy canopy type. Brevant brand Enlist E3 soybeans deliver a new standard for weed control and yield potential for farmers while providing retailers with a new and differentiated product.”
For more information about the next generation of Brevant brand Enlist E3® soybeans and how it fits into your customers’ weed management strategies, visit Brevant.com and contact your Brevant seeds retail product agronomist or Corteva Agriscience territory manager.
™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. The transgenic soybean event in Enlist E3® soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies L.L.C. © 2022 Corteva.