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Weed technology issues frustrate scientist

A well-known Arkansas weed scientist says Upper Midwest crop producers will see many of the same herbicide issues that have happened in the Mid-South.

Weed consultant Ford Baldwin says dicamba drift issues are more frequent in the Mid-South because more of it is applied to both Xtend soybeans and Xtend cotton.  It’s likely, according to Baldwin, that a growing number of Xtend soybean acres will be planted in the Midwest.

“And my prediction would be, if that happens, you’re going to see the same thing that we’ve had,” Baldwin told Brownfield Ag News at a Balance GT soybean event in Indianapolis Tuesday.  “You’re going to see even more off-target issues, and there’s off-target issues in the Midwest now with dicamba, but I think you’ll see those go up tremendously in 2018 versus 2017.”

Arkansas has imposed a 120-day ban on dicamba-based herbicides, while Missouri has replaced its short ban with use restrictions, and there are use restrictions in Tennessee.

Weed management technologies have been overused, have lost efficacy, or as in the latest case, have resulted in drift injury issues, said Baldwin, adding that it’s frustrating to weed scientists.

“I don’t know what the answer is,” said Baldwin, “I wake up every morning wondering what the answer is.”

AUDIO: Ford Baldwin (8 min. MP3)

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