View from the Cab: Resistance Concerns

Weed resistance is a real concern as we move into the next growing season here in Central Illinois.

I don’t mean to scare anyone but waterhemp is likely the biggest problem and will continue to be the biggest for almost every farmer reading this. Chris Peters of Syngenta was among the speakers at a winter chemical meeting hosted by BCS at Arrowsmith.

“You are 83 times less likely to develop resistance if you use two different modes of application per application,” Peters told the crowd. “As many modes as we can attack that plant with the better off we’ll be.”

Acuron corn herbicide is a new product which was launched last year. It seems to be effective, based on what those in the industry have seen the past couple of years. This can be applied from pre-emergence through 12-inch corn. Halex GT is another option which includes three modes of action.

Peters said from a waterhemp and marestail perspective, these chemical options provide an active “one-two punch.” Waterhemp should be targeted when it is only two to three inches tall. Weeds at four inches are getting too high and an eight inch weed can be a big problem. Spraying on time is imperative, according to Peters.

There is a new fungicide available with the benefit of additional residual effectiveness. This was used for the first time on a large commercial scale and did well. Peters considers these new traits as extra “tools” for farmers.

Also at the recent meeting, Eric Ifft of Bayer Crop Science promoted the combined use of insecticide and fungicide on soybeans. An example would be using Stratego Yield and Leverage 360.

“Fungicide on soybeans is more about stress relief,” Ifft said.

Soybeans have been shown to have much higher yield potential than once thought. The key is keeping those beans happy during the season.