News

Cautiously optimistic about dicamba products

A soybean researcher says while farmers will have more options for controlling herbicide resistant weeds this growing season, there is potential for off-target application with dicamba-resistant soybeans.

Mark Seamon with the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee tells Brownfield farmers and applicators need to be especially mindful during herbicide applications which have the potential to negatively impact specialty crops.  “In Michigan we’re concerned more than some other states because we have a diversity of crops and those crops in some cases are really sensitive to growth regulator-type herbicides like dicamba.”  He says if there is pesticide drift, it could mean specialty crops are not marketable.

AUDIO: Interview with Mark Seamon

 

Terry Nash with Helena Chemical Company tells Brownfield if dicamba herbicides are used on the wrong soybean field, it will cause injury and could kill the crop. He recommends mapping out what seed is planted in each field and open communication with all service providers to help prevent any issues.  “You probably should mark them or put them in different areas, saying this seed is going to go here, this seed is going to go there, just so you can keep it all straight because you don’t want to have one of those moments when you say uh-oh.”

The applicator is responsible for any pesticide drift issues with dicamba herbicides.

AUDIO: Interview with Terry Nash