Herbicide application tips for superior weed control

As last year’s growing season is in the rearview mirror, it’s important to keep in mind the impact the 2019 season will have on 2020. Delayed planting and a high volume of prevent plant acres across the country required many farmers to abandon their preferred herbicide program and weed control practices. This year, it will be critical to protect against large weed-seed banks by utilizing multiple herbicides.

With multiple herbicide-tolerant trait platforms on the market, knowing what crop protection options you can leverage on your trait platform will be essential for success. New trait platforms enable more herbicide options for weed control than ever before, giving you confidence in your crop protection plan. If you’ve recently made the switch to LibertyLink^® GT27™, LibertyLink or Enlist E3™ soybeans and plan on applying Liberty^® herbicide for the first time, here are some helpful application tips to ensure superior weed control:

Start clean and stay clean

Start with a clean field prior to planting – either through tillage or by applying an effective burndown herbicide in combination with a multiple site of action residual herbicide, such as Zidua^® PRO herbicide. Preventing early weed growth reduces potential yield loss due to competition from weeds, provides additional herbicide sites of action to an acre, and enables more effective control for postemergent herbicides.

Target less than 3-inch weeds

Applying Liberty herbicide when weeds are less than 3 inches is a key to success. Smaller weeds are easier to effectively control. Weeds like waterhemp or Palmer amaranth grow and add growing points quickly, which makes it difficult to control those pesky weeds once they get bigger.

Optimize coverage

Liberty herbicide is a contact herbicide and requires proper coverage for effective weed control. When applying, you’ll want to reference the label directions for optimal rate, water volume, droplet and nozzle size.

Pair with residuals

For superior weed control results, including overlapping residual herbicides in your herbicide program is key. Apply a pre-residual herbicide with at least two modes of action, like Zidua PRO herbicide, prior to Liberty applications to provide consistent early-season control. In season, a post-residual tank-mix partner such as Outlook^® herbicide or Zidua SC herbicide provides extended protection from problem weeds and helps to carry your herbicide protection through canopy.

Knowing which herbicides you can apply on your soybeans and utilizing different chemistries/modes of action in your crop protection plan can provide better weed control and help fight against resistance. When following the label directions and the above guidelines, Liberty herbicide has proven to provide superior control of tough weeds, including glyphosate-resistant broadleaves and grasses.¹

Growers have trusted Liberty herbicide’s unique, patented formulation on millions of acres of corn, soybeans, cotton and canola for almost a quarter century. With no known resistance to Liberty herbicide in U.S. broadacre crops, you can have confidence and ease of mind when applying Liberty on the newest soybean trait platforms. For more information, talk with your local BASF representative or visit LibertyHerbicide.com.

¹Results based on five years of trials where Liberty herbicide is applied according to S.T.O.P. Weeds with Liberty herbicide guidelines and as part of a complete weed control program where an effective residual product is used followed by Liberty herbicide.

Always read and follow label directions.

Liberty, LibertyLink, Outlook and Zidua are registered trademarks of BASF. GT27 is a trademark of MS Technologies and BASF. MS Technologies is a trademark of MS Technologies, LLC. Enlist E3 is a trademark of DuPont, Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer.