By Darren Hefty
While travelling around the country and speaking with farmers from nearly every state, one thing has held true: Most people don’t think weed resistance is a huge concern for their farm until it’s already there. I’m of a different mind. Why not change BEFORE you HAVE TO change? Learn the other options out there. Get really good at using new techniques and different products now, so you’re prepared when you do have to use them. I want our farm to be profitable every year and really don’t see having a bad year as an option. Here are some specifics as they relate to wheat crop management.
BURNDOWN
Roundup-resistant kochia is spreading fast across the Dakotas right now, and I suspect other states may be seeing the same thing. You’ve seen the list of Roundup-resistant weeds, and it’s growing every year.
Bottom line: You need to add another mode of action.
Solution: Pre-Pare (mode of action = ALS) is a great helper for grass control and some broadleaves. Sharpen (mode of action = PPO) is an excellent burndown product for almost all broadleaf weeds.
POST-EMERGE BROADLEAF HERBICIDE
Which herbicides do you use for broadleaf control on your farm? Chances are you’ve been using the same mix for at least a few years. It’s time to look at other options. NDSU says they’re seeing some kochia that has some level of resistance to Starane, which is the key ingredient in WideMatch for kochia control. If this is true, it’s a big deal because WideMatch is still the number one selling broadleaf herbicide for wheat. If you were forced to switch away from WideMatch, Huskie would be the next best choice for kochia control. Fortunately, it’s also a very good option.
Huskie combines the active ingredient in Buctril with an HPPD herbicide similar to Laudis that is used in corn. However, the HPPDs are seeing some weed resistance pop up in some areas of the country, so Bayer is promoting the use of Huskie Complete to replace straight Huskie. The Huskie Complete adds a third mode of action with an ALS herbicide known as thiencarbazone-methyl.
FUNGICIDES
Headline is far and away the most popular foliar fungicide used by growers in many crops. In fact, many acres are getting multiple applications of Headline each year. The problem is you are much more likely to see resistance if you keep using the same product (strobilurin family) over and over again. Adding a second family of fungicides (like the triazoles) to your program can decrease your chances of resistance.
Bottom line: Headline is too good of a product, and the strobilurins are too important, for you to risk resistance.
Solution: Alternate fungicide families or use combination products containing two fungicide families in at least every other application you make.
GRASS HERBICIDES
Let’s face it. You’re only using two different modes of action when it comes to grass control in wheat:
- An ACCase product like Axial, Discover, or Puma
- OR an ALS product like Pre-Pare, Everest 2.0, Outrider (Maverick), Olympus, or PowerFlex.
Bottom line: There really aren’t other options on the table right now, so you need to figure out how to work with two modes of action and keep both of them viable.
Solution: Use a pre-emerge treatment like Pre-Pare and a great burndown for grass like Roundup. Then, follow up post-emerge with an ACCase herbicide like Axial. Crop rotation is also a great solution if you grow more than just small grains in your area. Use completely different modes of action for grass control in your other crops whenever possible.
INSECTICIDES
On our farm, we spray for insects in wheat almost every time we go across the field during the growing season. The challenge has been that we are also spraying something with that insecticide every time, whether it’s herbicide, fungicide, or foliar fertilizer. In order to avoid or at least minimize leaf burn, we’ve been using pyrethroid insecticides like Silencer or Declare nearly every time. Obviously, that’s not a good long-term solution.
Bottom line: Use multiple modes of action in your insecticide program.
Solution: The water-based formulation of Lorsban, called Lorsban Advanced, doesn’t have the oils in it that the original Lorsban 4E and all of the generics have. This should lead to much less burn potential to your crop. Talk to your agronomist before spraying a combination of multiple products on your wheat, and look for opportunities to work in a product like Lorsban Advanced rather than just the pyrethroids.
SEED TREATMENT INSECTICIDE
You may or may not be aware that the neonicotinoids are really the only family of seed treatment insecticides being used in any crop. Cruiser, Poncho, and Gaucho are the brand names, and they’re all obviously pretty close relatives.
Bottom line: The “neonics” must be protected because they have tremendous value on your farm.
Solution: Only use the “neonics” as seed treatments to reduce the odds of resistance developing. Find alternatives to foliar products that contain neonicotinoid insecticides (like Endigo, Leverage, and Belay) whenever possible.