By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Drought conditions these past two years have tested crop herbicides more than ever with a representative of Syngenta stating farmers need to look long-term when facing such adverse weather conditions.
Technical product lead for corn herbicide in the United States, Mark Kit, says dry conditions don’t change the need for weed control.
“The biggest thing facing a lot of farmers, and you hear this from a lot of university weed scientists, including Dr. Kevin Bradley (University of Missouri), is still managing weed resistance, right? And thinking about an integrated weed management plan,” Kit tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Kit says Syngenta’s Storen has four active ingredients designed to keep weeds from emerging in corn.
“And it is really imperative, too, to think about weed management not only in the corn crop, but think about how it has implications for rotational crops like soybeans,” Kit says.
Kit understands a key component to a corn herbicide is activation, which he acknowledges has its challenges during dry weather.
“Most residual herbicides, including Storen, need a half inch of rainfall for activation,” according to Kit. “And I know in the marketplace there may be some frustration about activating residual herbicides.”
Still, Kit insists that if you want to successfully fight weeds, get them before they emerge.
“By investing in a good residual herbicide in corn, you’re not having as many weed seeds going into the soil seed bank which you’ll fight in the next year’s rotational crop like soybeans.”
Kit advises farmers to think long-term during dry conditions, sticking to their plan to control weeds.
The US Drought Monitor has much of the listening area in moderate drought conditions with sections considered to be in severe drought.