Herbicide resistance continues to cost producers money and yield.
BASF, the world’s largest chemical producer, recently created an initiative to defend acres in new ways and put an end to yield-robbers altogether.
Operation Weed Eradication challenges growers to reconsider the way they approach weed control on-farm.
Kate Greif, soybean residual product manager with BASF, says the new initiative embraces a holistic approach to eradicating weeds on-farm that starts with cultural and mechanical practices.
?A good example of that would be the shift to narrow-row soybeans. Soybeans can have a hard time reaching canopy mid-season, and we?re seeing weeds germinate later. (By) adopting those narrower rows, we?re going to reach canopy sooner (and) have less weed pressure later in the season,? Greif said.
Operation Weed Eradication also emphasizes chemical control. For best control, Greif suggests a residual pre-emergent herbicide followed by a residual post-emergent herbicide.
?(We need to be) thinking about what our program needs to be for 2020. It?s about using multiple, effective sites of action,? Greif said. ?In soybeans, we have a lot of new trait platforms we are able to use on our acres. Implementing those technologies, as well as using other effective sites of action in combination with that. Overlapping residual herbicides are key.?
Lastly, BASF stresses eradication diligence, as ?the last weed standing is arguably the most adaptable and likely the most resistant weed on-farm.?
?When you get to the end of the season and are doing a 55 mile per hour driveby of fields and see that one weed poking out the top of your crop, take the time to pull those last weed standing. Those are the ones that are producing seed to go into the seed bank next year,” Greif said.
For more information on Operation Weed Eradication, visit www.operationweederadication.com.
