Effective weed control for dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton fields

The science behind BAPMA dicamba

It’s no secret that 2019 was a difficult season for growers across the U.S. Delayed planting due to wet weather led to a series of interruptions throughout the year, compromising the success and timing of herbicide applications and harvest for many.

Resistance continues to rise

Over the last several years, the number and extent of glyphosate-resistant weeds has increased. They have been growing at an average rate of 15% per year since 2010.¹ Additionally, more than 70% of growers nationwide have reported glyphosate resistance on their farms.¹

As every grower knows, weed pressure can result in significant yield losses and if left unchecked, it will only get worse

Weed resistance can begin with a few missed escapes and quickly spread across the entire field, and eventually across your farm. Consequences of an ineffective weed control program include:

• Increasing seed bank for more problems in the future
• Additional trips across the field for resprays that cost time and money
• Yield loss: only achieving 90% Palmer amaranth control has been shown to reduce soybean yields by up to 27%²

As you begin planning for 2020, it’s important to take a look back at the past year to understand the state of weeds in your fields. Were you able to get your herbicide applications in on time? If not, it’s possible the weed seed banks in your soil will have increased and assessing your weed control program will be crucial to preserve yield potential for your next harvest.

Below are considerations for an effective weed management plan:

• Identify the target weeds to select the herbicides with the most defense against them.
• Implement a preemergent residual herbicide for soybeans. Doing so can help to preserve yield potential, reduce weed pressure for better control with postemerge herbicides, and give you more time to select the proper conditions for postemerge applications.
• Include multiple, effective sites of action (SOA) to reduce the potential for developing weed resistance.

1. In conjunction with the dicamba-tolerant system, it provided a solution that gives control back to growers by handling the toughest broadleaf weeds, including many resistant species like Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and giant ragweed.
2. It created a new formulation that lowers the risk of volatility by up to 90% compared with previous DGA dicambas.

This new formulation is called N,N-Bis-(3-aminopropyl)methylamine, or BAPMA and its chemistry helps lower volatility risk. BAPMA is a cation that combines with the dicamba anion to form an ionic compound, otherwise known as a salt. What makes BAPMA dicamba unique is the strength of this ionic bond. This stronger bond, combined with a higher molecular weight, results in the reduced volatility potential.

The concentrated formulation of BAPMA requires a lower use rate than other dicamba products. At 12.8 fl. oz./A, Engenia herbicide has the lowest use rate of any dicamba product on the market, making it well suited for direct injection, which can save applicators time and money and help maintain stewardship in buffer zones.

When using Engenia herbicide in your field, be sure to:

Spray early, with a 4” maximum weed height

Target postemerge applications within 3 to 5 weeks after planting for soybeans or sooner for cotton

Add a residual herbicide for extended weed control

No one product is the answer to weed resistance. Herbicides are an integral part of a weed control program on any farm, and using multiple effective sites of action, paired with cultural and chemical practices, is a step in the right direction to help prevent the rise of weed resistance.

Always read and follow label directions.

_{1. Stratus Ag Research. Weed resistance tracking: glyphosate & PPO inhibitors. 2018.}

_{2. Klingaman TE, Oliver LR. Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) interference in soybeans (Glycine max). Weed Sci. 42(4):523–527. 1994.}

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