This season, look at all available herbicides, including some “new kids on the block” to develop an effective weed management strategy in soybeans. Don’t let resistant weeds manage you.
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ultiple species of herbicide-resistant weeds have rapidly become an issue in all Southern soybean-producing areas – so much so that Nufarm Americas is rolling out a line of products specifically designed to battle herbicide-resistant weed problems that have crept – or in some cases exploded – into the industry over the past decade.
According to a 2011 study by Larry Steckel, assistant professor and row crop weed specialist with the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences, soybean growers in Tennessee were spending an additional $35/acre to control herbicide- resistant weeds that year, adding up to an estimated $56 million in additional chemical cost statewide. Steckel combined that with an estimated increase in application costs of $8 million plus an estimated $40 million in yield loss, for a staggering total estimated loss of $104 million in Tennessee soybean production alone.
Nufarm’s CATS (Combatting Troublesome Weeds) solutions platform will help growers curb these losses with a portfolio of pre-mixed herbicides formulated specifically to address unique situations on a field-by-field basis year round. Researchers agree that herbicide resistance issues are so complex and persistent now that a year-round approach is necessary to stay ahead of problems. The CATS herbicide portfolio covers pre-plant, in-season production and post-harvest application windows.
According to Bob Bruss, technical services manager with Nufarm, “The key to managing resistant weeds is to use multiple modes of herbicide action at different times. The CATS lineup will help growers do that.”
Limit economic injury
For 2014, the CATS roster will include Cheetah Max and Panther brand herbicides. “Cheetah Max provides an effective combination of fast knockdown and residual control that makes it a great fit in a wide variety of weed management strategies,” says Jerome Kovar, row crop marketing manager for Nufarm.
Bruss adds that extensive university testing proves that Cheetah Max controls waterhemp and Palmer amaranth populations resistant to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO), p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) and acetolactatesynthase (ALS) herbicides.
“Of all the broadleaf summer annual weed species in the entire country, these are the most widespread and cause the most economic injury to crops,” Bruss says. Panther was launched on a limited basis for the 2013 growing season and will be more broadly available this year. It’s a preemerge/ early post residual herbicide that can be used on a number of crops including soybeans, cotton, corn and peanuts. “Panther is an excellent choice as a base herbicide to enhance burndown of existing weeds, as well as provide residual control well into the season,” says Kovar. “The fact that it’s registered on many Southern crops makes it a flexible choice as well.”
“Spitfire combines two systemic herbicides that provide below-ground burndown, killing weed roots and providing aboveground burndown of foliage,” Bruss adds. “Spitfire is particularly well-suited for pre-plant burndown in fields that have pressure from marestail, cutleaf evening primrose and early emerging summer annual broadleaf species.” Cheetah Max is expected to be available in April; Panther and Spitfire can be ordered from retailers across the South.
To learn more, visit nufarm.com/US. Nufarm Americas provided information for this article.
New Class Of Chemistry Helps Fight Resistant Weeds
Last March, soybean farmers gained access to a new class of chemistry, marketed by BASF Crop Protection under the brand name Zidua herbicide, to control tough, small-seeded broadleaf weeds and grasses.
According to the company, 10 years of research and field trials show that it provides outstanding Palmer amaranth (pigweed) and waterhemp residual weed control, which helps protect growers’ yield potential.
“Zidua herbicide provides producers with a new class of chemistry and is an excellent product on its own, but can also be used effectively with Kixor herbicide technology,” says Greg Armel, Ph.D., Technical Market Manager, BASF. “Soybean growers can now combine the fast, effective burndown and enhanced residual control benefits of Kixor with the residual control of Zidua herbicide for long-lasting weed control.”
Zidua can be tankmixed with Kixor herbicide technology products to form a preplant and pre-emerge combination that combats tough, resistant weeds with up to three different sites of action, BASF says. It can also be applied with a range of use rates, allowing soybean growers to select the best rate for their specific needs, based on soil textures in their fields.
The company also points out that Zidua sets a new standard for flexibility. Zidua affords a wide application window from fall through early preplant to early post-emergence. This window provides adaptability to a wide range of weed control needs and allows for precise placement of Zidua herbicide for the most effective weed control.
For more information on herbicide best practices, visit the following website: http://on.basf.com/weedbp. BASF Crop Protection provided information for this article.