Fight Tough Weeds

Last season is firmly in the rearview mirror, but that’s not where the storyline ends. Like a good movie villain who appears vanquished before making a dramatic comeback later on, last season isn’t quite finished with growers just yet.

The consequences of last season’s less-than-ideal conditions remain and foreshadow many challenges ahead. “A lot of weeds went to seed last year and fortified the weed seed bank, especially on prevent-plant acres, while in other areas flooding carried existing seed deposits downstream into new fields,” says Brett Craigmyle, a Missouri-based agronomic service representative for Syngenta. “As a result, growers can anticipate seeing more and potentially newer yield-robbing weeds in their fields for the foreseeable future.”

“Weeds don’t care how much you spend to control them. But investing a little more upfront for a quality herbicide program with multiple effective sites of action specifically targeted to driver weeds will save time and money in the long run.”

But last year’s problems don’t have to spoil the season’s finale or lower yield expectations moving forward. With planning, preparation and execution, growers can manage this season’s weed-related challenges and emerge like conquering superheroes with the yield results to prove it.

• Planning – The best tool in any grower’s toolbox is knowledge, and a little goes a long way. “Scouting fields regularly and taking detailed notes are musts,” says Steve Gomme, herbicide product lead for Syngenta. “Then it’s a matter of identifying driver weeds — which weeds are causing the greatest problems and yield losses — and selecting the right herbicides to manage them.”

• Preparation – Herbicides will be in the spotlight this season, as growers rely on them to control added weed pressure. Any missteps in product choice and usage have the potential to be even more costly than in previous seasons.

  “Weeds don’t care how much you spend to control them,” says Craigmyle. “But investing a little more upfront for a quality herbicide program with multiple, effective sites of action specifically targeted to driver weeds will save time and money in the long run.”

  • In Corn – Growers have two industry-leading options in Acuron^® and Acuron Flexi corn herbicides. Both premixes feature multiple active ingredients (a.i.), including the unique a.i. bicyclopyrone, and multiple effective sites of action for long-lasting residual weed control with built-in resistance management.

    “When it’s applied preemergence and at full labeled rates, Acuron unlocks corn’s full yield potential and helps growers find 5 to 15 more bushels an acre than with any other herbicide*,” says Gomme. “That means even if you are investing a little more upfront for Acuron, you are going to get that back, plus some more in yield at the end of the season.”

    Syngenta has made it easy for growers to calculate their revenue potential with Acuron.

  • In Soybeans – Growers have a number of preemergence options, including Boundary^® 6.5 EC, BroadAxe^® XC and Prefix^® herbicides, that can be followed with a post-emergence application of Tavium^® Plus VaporGrip^® Technology, the market’s first premix residual dicamba herbicide. Tavium controls a broad spectrum of both preemergence and post-emergence weeds through contact and residual control for up to three weeks longer than dicamba alone.

• Execution – To maximize each herbicide’s effectiveness and keep tough weeds at bay, it’s vital for growers to read and follow all label instructions and make applications at the right time and at the right rate. “Application rates are critical,” says Gomme. “It can be tempting to save money by cutting rates, but doing so undermines the effectiveness of the herbicide and opens the door to more weed escapes and resistance issues, which can negate a grower’s planning, preparation and any intended cost-savings.”

^*Acuron yield advantage range based on 2016 Syngenta and university replicated trials comparing Acuron to Corvus^®, Resicore^®, SureStart^® II and Verdict^® applied preemergence and at full labeled rates. For more information on Acuron versus an individual product, ask your Syngenta representative.