Have you noticed how in the last few years there has been lots of talk about cover crops, soil health, autonomous tractors, down pressure and other planter-related topics, all the new fungicides, new insects like soybean gall midge – and as always, a non-stop focus on weather, grain markets, and farm news?

SURE, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS EASY TO TAKE OUR EYE OFF ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO PRODUCING MORE BUSHELS AND EARNING MORE MONEY – WEED CONTROL.

Chances are, you are fighting waterhemp, Palmer pigweed, kochia, marestail, common or giant ragweed, or Italian ryegrass on your farm. Unfortunately, all of these weeds not only have biotypes resistant to Roundup, they have resistance to other herbicides, too. Let’s just say, for example, there are six chemical families that will control a certain weed. Eventually, the weed becomes resistant to three. Which is the best way to stop that weed from becoming resistant to the remaining three? To use all three of those at once? Or to apply each of them separately?

RESOUNDINGLY,
THE ANSWER IS TO USE ALL THREE AT ONCE.

Here’s the most important thing to understand when it comes to resistant weeds: A dead weed can never become a resistant weed. In all likelihood, there is a biotype out there already resistant to each herbicide on the market today. If you get unlucky and end up with that weed and that particular strain of the weed in your field, you only use one mode of action, and that one weed tolerates it, now you’ve got a massive problem, and our entire country does, as well.

HERE ARE THE TWO REASONS WHY NOT CONTROLLING THAT ONE WEED IS SUCH A BIG DEAL.

FIRST, MOST WEEDS PUT ON A LOT OF SEEDS.
Waterhemp and Palmer pigweed plants have been found with over
1 million seeds. Even if the germination percentage is horrible, there will still be hundreds of thousands of now-resistant weeds in your field.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS CROSS-POLLINATION.
If a weed ends up with resistance and cross-pollinates with other plants, that resistance could potentially be passed on.

If you raise corn and soybeans, you know exactly which crop gives you more weed issues: soybeans. Here’s how you can solve the problem. USE 3 EFFECTIVE MODES OF ACTION PRE-EMERGE IN WHAT WE CALL THE “3 PRE’S”. While I can’t promise you this will always pay incredibly well, I’d be absolutely shocked if you used this program and weren’t super-impressed with the weed control.

1. PPO (GROUP 14)
Authority or Valor, not Sharpen – $5 to $8

2. YELLOW (GROUP 3)
Prowl (no-till) or Trifluralin – $5 (Trifluralin) to $15 (Prowl)

3. TRIAZINE (GROUP 5)
Metribuzin (Metricor/Sencor):

  • If soil pH < 7.4, use 1/3 pound/acre – About $4
  • If soil pH > = 7.4, use 1/6 pound/acre – About $2
  • Do not use metribuzin in extreme sand or pH situations, and of course, always follow label directions above all else.

 

HERE’S WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO FOR COST:

  • TOTAL COST CONVENTIONAL-TILL HIGH pH = $12
    This is so inexpensive because you can a) use the low rate of metribuzin and still get great results, and b) you can spray Trifluralin, which is much cheaper than the no-till yellow, Prowl.
  • TOTAL COST CONVENTIONAL-TILL LOW pH = $14
  • TOTAL COST NO-TILL/STRIP-TILL HIGH pH = $22
  • TOTAL COST NO-TILL/STRIP-TILL LOW pH = $24

Perhaps the biggest question we get about the 3 Pre’s is, “Why shouldn’t I use a Group 15 like Warrant, Outlook, or Dual instead of a yellow?”

Yellows are better on grass and almost all broadleaves compared to Group 15 products. Plus, you don’t use yellows in corn, so they’re great for reducing resistance issues.

If you want the very best weed control and to stop almost all the Roundup-resistant weeds, use these three modes of action pre-emerge this spring in your soybeans. By using the 3 Pre’s, it may save you a post-emerge trip, and it will definitely give you fantastic weed control without breaking the bank. Keep in mind, the conventional-till program we suggest costs you the equivalent of one bushel of soybeans, and the no-till/strip-till program is less than two bushels.

We don’t care what soybean trait you are using, if any. Applying the 3 Pre’s will give you some of the cleanest soybean fields you’ve ever had. If you don’t believe that, split three different fields, and you’ll see the difference right to the row.

MORE QUESTIONS?

To learn more about the best ways to fight and control weeds in your crops or the importance of using effective modes of action, get in contact with your local Hefty Agronomist.