Rock Island Today

WKEI AM 1450 recently issued the following announcement.

The focus on weed management appears to be just as strong as it has been over the last few years. With the continued spread of herbicide-resistant weeds, growers are looking for tools to manage a difficult and complex situation. The importance of weed management systems to control resistant weeds, and the need for new technologies, is at an all-time high.

As we approach the upcoming season, we will have our third year of utilizing dicamba-tolerant soybeans with the approved dicamba formulations Engenia, FeXapan and Xtendimax. However, this is not the newest technology available today.

Recently, Corteva’s Enlist E3 soybeans received export approval with China, but at time of this writing, the trait is still waiting on other countries to approve with all indications that this will happen during the spring of 2019.

Jeff Bunting, Ph.D., GROWMARK’s crop protection division manager, says it’s critical we continue to execute on the required dicamba label changes that maximize performance and minimize risk. 

The good news is we have options, not just one main platform as we’ve had the last 20-plus years. The bad news is the lessons learned during the last two years will be just as critical going forward – so you can say that this is now the new normal.

I will focus on the current landscape of what we have today and during the next 12 months, to help us learn and understand the future direction of soybean weed management programs. It will be critical that we continue to execute on the required dicamba label changes that maximizes performance and minimizes risk.

Since the approval of the three, labeled dicamba products back in November 2016, each year a significant label change, regulatory influence, and/or stewardship practice was implemented before the growing season. As we begin to make plans for 2019, we see several significant changes.

The products are still classified as a restricted use herbicide that requires proper license to buy and apply the product. Anyone who applies the approved dicamba product must attend the required dicamba training offered by the registrant and/or state approved instructor.

The herbicide registrants have been busy providing training across Illinois. If you have any questions on training, contact your local FS crop specialist for more information. Again, the herbicide label is the law and should always be followed.

In addition to herbicide label, each dicamba herbicide has a website that lists specific products that are approved to be used in combination with the new dicamba products. Given the complexity of this technology, it’s important to review the website of the dicamba product that you plan to use to make sure the application to be made is legal.

New for 2019, EPA is requiring all custom operators that work under a certified applicator to attend state-offered training to achieve the certified applicator status. This appears to impact retailers more due to the categories of custom applicator licenses.

GROWMARK has always had a robust training program for FS custom applicators and has spent a significant amount of time providing complementary training courses to help FS applicators become certified in their state.

The other significant change is the protection of endangered species and a new border requirement. In counties where endangered species may exist, the downwind buffer remains at 110 feet, and there is now a 57-foot buffer around the other sides. It will be important to identify the field in the county down to the township level and check the website to see if the new required buffer is needed. Your FS crop specialist has the necessary information. Keep in mind that the 110-foot downwind buffer applies to all applications, not just in counties where endangered species may exist.

The new label has tighter restrictions around wind speed and by using full rates, provides the ability to delay the post-application until weather conditions are optimized. Keep in mind that under the new requirement, post-application must be made 45 days after planting. As you have learned, weed competition starts in the first 30 days, and this should be manageable due to the focus on maximizing soybean yields by eliminating early season weed competition.

The pesticide labels also reference several “Do Nots,” such as the use of ammonium sulfate, UAN, etc. It’s important to refer to the websites for approved FS adjuvants or contact your local FS crop specialist to verify.

In addition to the Do Nots, the label also requires several “Dos,” such as making the application to labeled weed height, following wind speed restrictions, selecting of proper spray nozzles, using optimum boom height, observing required buffer zones and identifying sensitive crops. The required buffers are essential to protect sensitive areas and susceptible crops.

It’s on all of us to be stewards of the technology. As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, we have several new technologies coming that will elevate the awareness of the interaction between management practices, regulatory influence, environmental conditions and operational excellence. If continued misuse of the product continues or if the required best management practices (BMP) are not followed, there’s a strong likelihood of the product registration being canceled, or additional restrictions could be required to continue to keep the herbicide option after 2019.

Talk to your FS crop specialist about the new options for weed control in soybeans and for an expert consultation of your plans with the new technology. There’s a mix of excitement and concern with the upcoming application season. All indications appear there will be a high adoption rate of the dicamba trait in Illinois and the surrounding states. The use of the chemistry appears to be higher than last year and weed management plans are being made given the new guidelines and required BMP.

It’s important to remember the stewardship practices to maintain the integrity of the new technology. The continued availability of this new post-emerge technology depends upon everyone having good communication of sensitive areas, executing management decisions and complying with the pesticide label.

Original source can be found here.