Wednesday August 13 Ag News

IRRIGATED PASTURES BEAT HIGH RENT AND LOW CROP PRICES
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist
High pasture rents, risk of drought, and little profit from irrigated crops make irrigated pasture an attractive option.

When pasture rent approaches or even exceeds three hundred dollars per cow-calf pair for the season, it may be time to look at other options.  One attractive option might be to grow your own irrigated pasture, especially when corn prices are below four dollars a bushel.  Well-managed irrigated pasture can support about one and one-half cow-calf pairs per acre.  This could save you over four hundred dollars per acre at rental pasture rates.

Of course, you will gross a whole lot more per acre by continuing to grow irrigated corn.  But, cash costs to raise corn are way more for corn than for irrigated pasture so might actually be losing money with corn.           

And this doesn’t take into account other advantages of irrigated pasture.  Things like the convenience of having so many animals together close to home, better early spring grass, and improved bull power when breeding in such small areas.  Only you can determine what these are worth to you.

Irrigated pastures can be highly productive and profitable, but your best management effort is needed.  For details on seeding and managing irrigated pastures, several extension NebGuides are available on-line and at local extension offices.

Do you get the most out of your irrigated acres?  Is corn at four dollars per bushel making you money?  If not, irrigated pasture might be better.  Think about it.



Local Food Production to Tour Nebraska, Iowa SARE Projects

Local food production is alive and well in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa in and around Metro Omaha/Council Bluffs. Nebraska SARE is sponsoring a tour to five farms/sites where visitors wiill have an opportunity to see diverse farming operations. The tour will leave Lincoln from UNL East Campus at 35th and Fair St. (just east of the auto pool) at 7 a.m. on Aug. 18. The group will travel in a chartered Arrow air-conditioned coach bus.

From Lincoln the group will travel to SAPP Brothers at I-80 and Highway 50 near Omaha for a second pickup point at 8 a.m.

From there it travels to Big Muddy Urban Farm. This is a group of 6 young producers who got together in the winter of 2011 and started growing produce on 5 sites in Omaha. They market their produce through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), at farmers markets and to local restaurants. For more information about Big Muddy Urban Farm go to their blog at bigmuddyfarm.blogspot.com/.

The second stop will be across the Missouri River near Missouri Valley, Iowa. Rhizosphere Farm is owned and operated by Matt and Terra Hall. They previously rented land near Waterloo, Neb., since 2009, but found this permanent location about a year ago. They grow vegetables for a CSA, farmers markets and restaurants as well, but at this new location plan to expand to include chickens, bee hives, fruit trees and more. To learn more about their farm, go to rhizospherefarm.org/.

The third stop on the tour will be Honey Creek Creamery, located near Honey Creek, Iowa. Honey Creek Creamery is a goat dairy in the Loess Hills of southwest Iowa. Sharon Oamek, artisan cheese maker and her family operate the dairy. There will be a $5 charge for the tour of the dairy. For more information about Honey Creek Creamery, go to honeycreekcreamery.com/.

The fourth stop of the day is at Blooms Organic, near Crescent, Iowa. Rebecca Bloom has been producing local organic vegetables and herbs for several years. She has a CSA and sells to some local restaurants. Rebecca lives in Omaha and is on our Nebraska SARE Advisory Committee. he group will eat lunch at the farm and then have a tour. See more about her farm on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/bloomsorganic.

The final stop of the day will be at King Science Magnet Middle School in Omaha. Greg Fripp is the founder and executive director of Whispering Roots. He is dedicated on teaching youth how to grow their own food and works with several schools teaching youth about aquaponics, growing vegetables and fish (Tilapia). He also teaches other people about aquaponics. To find out more about this project go to whisperingroots.org/.

From there the group will travel to SAPP Brothers and drop off people there around 5 p.m. and then travel back to Lincoln, hoping to arrive around 6 p.m.

The cost of the tour, which includes transportation and lunch is $25. This does not include the $5 for the Honey Creek Creamery Farm Tour. Please register by Aug. 14 for an accurate lunch count. Register by calling the Nebraska SARE office at (402) 274-4755 or emailing Gary Lesoing, Nebraska State SARE coordinator, at glesoing2@unl.edu.



Transitioning to Organic: ISU Online Course Begins Aug. 26

Transitioning to successful organic production requires rapid acquisition of production, marketing and financial management skills. On Aug. 26 Iowa State University is beginning a 16-week online course on organic agriculture for producers who are interested in learning about the latest techniques for transitioning into organic farming, or improving their existing organic operations.

“Organic Agriculture Theory and Practice” begins Aug. 26, 6-9 p.m. and continues on Tuesday evenings through Dec. 9. It’s available online via Adobe Connect.

Classes will include lessons on weed management, nutrient management, pest management and markets for organic grain, vegetable and fruit crops. Programs and policies from USDA, NRCS and other groups to assist in the transition will be presented.

Course instructors are Kathleen Delate, professor in agronomy and horticulture, and Craig Chase, ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist. In addition, organic farmers and other ISU Extension and Outreach specialists will serve as guest lecturers, sharing their experiences related to developing a pest-protective farm and growing alternative crops.

A fee of $10 per session or $50 for the course will be charged to participants to cover costs of technology and managing the program. A specific url will be given to those who sign up and will be logging-on for the course. For more information or to sign up, please contact the Organic Agriculture Program at Iowa State at 515-294-7069 or contact Kathleen Delate at kdelate@iastate.edu. 

Attendance at all 16 sessions will not be required unless an individual wishes to take the course as a three-credit ISU campus course, for which he or she will need to register through ISU at http://agonline.iastate.edu/courses/f2014susag584-xw.

“Increasing the domestic supply of organic food and feed grains, such as corn and soybeans, is needed to meet escalating U.S. demand, which presents a viable economic opportunity to Iowa row crop farmers. In addition, the demand for locally sourced organic produce has increased in recent years,” Delate said.



Act Now! Urge EPA to Revise Proposed WOTUS Rule

The National Corn Growers Association reminds all farmers that they are urged to contact EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy advocating for a revision of the proposed Waters of the U.S. rulemaking. 

As proposed, this rule would significantly expand the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act and would only further muddy the waters for farmers seeking clarity as to what is and what is not subject to federal regulation.

NCGA has many serious concerns regarding the impact the proposed rule could have on U.S. farmers.  NCGA's concerns fall into four main areas:
-    Farmers will face tremendous uncertainty because of the way the rule defines what is a tributary and what is an adjacent water subject to the Clean Water Act.
-    The proposed rule represents a significant expansion of federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction relative to anything that has ever been covered in a previous rulemaking and contradicts two U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
-    The vast numbers of ditches that would be subject to federal jurisdiction.
-    Farmers will be required to obtain NPDES permits or face the threat of citizen action suits challenging the use of fertilizers and pesticides on or near drainage features that are made jurisdictional. 

Take action today and make sure the EPA hears the voice of America's farmers.  Click here for more information... http://capwiz.com/ncga/issues/alert/?alertid=63290556.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 8/08/2014

According to EIA data, ethanol production averaged 931,000 barrels per day (b/d)—or 39.10 million gallons daily. That is up 29,000 b/d from the week before. The four-week average for ethanol production stood at 937,000 b/d for an annualized rate of 14.36 billion gallons. Since the beginning of June, the annualized run rate has averaged 14.45 billion gallons.

Stocks of ethanol stood at 17.8 million barrels. That is a sizable 2.7% decrease from last week. and the lowest in 11 weeks. Stocks dropped back to the implied 20-day supply level for the first time since the week ending 5/23/2014.

Imports of ethanol were non-existent for the second straight week.

Gasoline demand for the week averaged 374.7 million gallons daily.

Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production was 10.43%.

On the co-products side, ethanol producers were using 14.116 million bushels of corn to produce ethanol and 103,275 metric tons of livestock feed, 92,003 metric tons of which were distillers grains. The rest is comprised of corn gluten feed and corn gluten meal. Additionally, ethanol producers were providing 5.48 million pounds of corn distillers oil daily.



China Corn Reserves Swell

China's state-owned corn reserves have reached burdensome levels, especially when faced with the prospect of another good corn harvest this fall.  "Corn production in China is expected to be 230 million metric tons (9.1 billion bushels) this year, an increase of 4 mmt from last year," said Qiangmin Shang, the director of China National Grain and Oil Information Center.

The cash price in northeast China, the largest corn-producing region of the country, is $9.24 per bushel. Yet the price in Shandong province, the largest livestock-producing area located on China's east coast, is $11.47 per bushel.

The Chinese government would like to clear out its supplies from the 2011 and 2012 reserve programs as soon as possible, he said. It needs to make space for the new crop since a new government purchase program will begin after harvest.

"Rejecting imported U.S. corn supported the price," Wang said, adding that "some companies were expecting to import more from the U.S. later last year as the international price was cheaper." Those companies were forced to increase domestic purchases after the Chinese government started rejecting shipments of U.S. corn that contained traces of MIR 162, also known as Syngenta's Agrisure Viptera, a biotech trait not yet approved in China.  Since October, China's rejected more than 1.25 mmt of U.S. corn as well as shipments of DDG and soybeans that contained traces of the trait.

According to recent futures prices, imported U.S. corn would cost $6.68 per bushel at port in China, 42% less than the market price in Shandong.



AVMA Approves Sow Housing Piece

The American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates passed an amendment to its policy on pregnant sow housing. Although it does not entirely oppose the use of gestation stalls, the approved resolution makes language changes to address the quantity of space provided and advises against conditions that could generate stress or fear in the animals.

A discussion on sow housing within the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee prompted the decision to revise the organization's policy based on comments and decision by pork processors, distributors and retailers, as well as actions taken by state and international governments and agencies.

During its fall 2013 meeting, the committee formed a "perspective-balanced topical subcommittee" - made up of representatives from the Animal Welfare Committee and led by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians -to review the current policy.

The revised language approved by the delegates included inserting the words "distress and fear" into the current statement on the reduce exposure hazard policy in the guidelines for sow housing and management systems.



New law is a historic triumph for veterinarians, animal care
In a major victory for the veterinary profession and the healthcare of our nation’s animals, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) would like to thank President Barack Obama for signing into law a crucial bill that makes it legal for veterinarians to provide complete medical care to their animal patients beyond their clinics and across state lines. The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (H.R. 1528) amends a restrictive provision within the Controlled Substances Act, which previously barred veterinarians from carrying and using controlled substances—necessary for pain management, anesthesia and euthanasia— beyond their registered locations, often their clinics.

“By passing and signing this legislation, the president and our legislators recognize the critical role veterinarians play in treating sick animals and relieving their pain and suffering. The health and welfare of our nation’s wildlife, food animals, and even our companion animals depend on veterinarians being allowed to do their jobs wherever the need arises,” said Dr. Ted Cohn, president of the AVMA. “As veterinarians, we promise to use our medical expertise for the protection of animal health and welfare and the prevention and relief of animal suffering. On behalf of our members, I would like to thank the president and Congress for allowing us complete access to the medications we need to fulfill our oath to society."

For more than two years, the AVMA has been diligently working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Congress in search of a statutory clarification to the Controlled Substances Act so that its member veterinarians would not be subject to repercussions should they transport, administer or dispense controlled substances while providing care outside of the locations where those substances are registered. Closing the loophole on this regulation has been particularly important for veterinarians who provide care in rural areas, respond to emergencies in the field, provide “house call” services for their clients, remove dangerous wild animals or rescue them from traps, conduct research and disease control efforts in the field, and provide routine medical care across state lines when they live on a state’s border. AVMA’s advocacy efforts led to more than 27,000 letters sent to members of Congress in support of this bill and the endorsement by over 130 veterinary medical and other organizations.

The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (H.R. 1528) was sponsored by the only two veterinarians serving in Congress—Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) and Ted Yoho (R-Fla.)—and passed in the U.S. House on July 8. The bill mirrored a version (S. 1171) that passed in the Senate earlier this year, sponsored by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Angus King (I-Maine). Due to congressional procedure, the Senate chose to pass the House version through unanimous consent on July 16 in order to send the bill to the president for signature.



Deere Takes Hit on Weaker Sales, Plans to Cut Production
(AP) -- Deere's profit slumped 15% in the third quarter and the farming equipment maker, seeing weak sales ahead, trimmed its outlook and will cut production.

Chairman and CEO Samuel Allen said Wednesday that the cuts will bring production "in line with demand for our agricultural products."

With commodity prices falling, the U.S. Department of Agriculture in February predicted that farm income in 2014 would sink to levels not seen in four years.

That is cutting into the spending power of farmers and hitting companies like Deere, the world's biggest farm equipment supplier.

Deere is now forecasting equipment sales will fall about 6% for fiscal 2014. Its prior guidance was for a 4% decline. For the fourth quarter, the company estimates equipment sales will drop approximately 8%.

In the U.S. and Canada, agriculture and turf sales are expected to fall approximately 10% in fiscal 2014. Sales of tractors and combines in South America are expected to fall about 15%, compared with a prior outlook for an approximately 10% decline.

Deere now anticipates sales of worldwide agriculture and turf equipment will drop about 10% in 2014, lower than a prior forecast for an approximately 7% decline. In the third quarter, agriculture and turf sales fell 11%.

For the three months ended July 31, Deere earned $850.7 million, or $2.33 per share. That topped expectations of $2.20 per share, according to a poll by FactSet. But that's still down significantly from last year, when the Moline company earned $996.5 million, or $2.56 per share.

Revenue from equipment sales fell to $8.72 billion from $9.32 billion, with equipment sales for the U.S. and Canada dropping 8%. Revenue declined to $9.5 billion from $10.01 billion.

"Deere's third-quarter performance reflected moderating conditions in the global farm sector, which have negatively affected demand for farm machinery and contributed to lower sales and profits for our agricultural-equipment business," Allen said. "At the same time, our construction and forestry and financial services divisions had higher profit, showing the benefit of a broad-based business lineup."

Construction and forestry sales rose 19% during the quarter.

Ryan Connors of Janney Capital Markets believes that strength in the company's construction and forestry division limited damage to margins.

Yet sluggish global conditions and geopolitical events may continue to pressure sales.

Susan Karlix, manager of the company's investor relations, pointed to declining economic growth near Russia.

"Notably, Western equipment manufacturers are being impacted by the uncertainty from geopolitical issues in the region," Karlix said.

Economic growth is expected to slow in China during the second half of the year, Karlix said.

There are signs, however, of a rebound in domestic markets, with housing sales improving and construction hiring on the rise.

Deere & Co. now anticipates a 2014 profit of $3.1 billion, down slightly from its prior forecast of $3.3 billion.



Mycogen Seeds Introduces New Corn Hybrids for 2015
Mycogen Seeds is adding 19 new corn hybrids to the lineup for the 2015 growing season.

“Many of these new hybrids feature our SmartStax® Refuge Advanced®  technology for maximum protection of the genetic potential and planting convenience,” says Hank King, U.S. corn marketing leader for Mycogen Seeds.

“We pressure-test our corn hybrids in more than 1 million research plots across 300 U.S. testing environments to better understand the challenges growers have on their local farm and give them the genetic and trait solutions they need,” says King. “With our extensive testing program and continued investments in research and development, we are delivering top-performing products such as these.”

Featured new corn hybrids
2R042 is a 77-day hybrid with strong stalks, good late-season intactness, husk coverage and grain drydown. With above average emergence in cold, wet soils, this hybrid is a strong choice for no-till fields.

2D144 is an 83-day hybrid with very good husk coverage, grain quality and test weight. This hybrid has great stress tolerance and late-season intactness, making it a strong choice for higher yields on tougher soils and growing environments.

2P198 is an 85-day SmartStax Refuge Advanced hybrid with good husk coverage and tip fill. 2P198 features consistent ear fill and yield performance across a wide variety of environments.

2T277 is an 87-day SmartStax Refuge Advanced hybrid and a good candidate for reduced tillage systems. Featuring good stress-tolerance, this hybrid emerges early and maintains strong roots and delivers very sable yields.  

2V489 is a 99-day SmartStax Refuge Advanced hybrid with strong emergence and early vigor for all reduced tillage applications. The consistent and semi-determinate ears provide top-end yields across different soil types. The strong stalks and roots also are suited for poorly drained soils.

2T619 is a 106-day SmartStax Refuge Advanced hybrid with very good late-season intactness for delayed harvest situations. 2T619 features consistent ear development, semi-flexible ear style and good grain quality for top-end yields.

2A627 is a 107-day SmartStax® Refuge Advanced® hybrid for high yields and yield stability. This attractive, medium-tall plant features strong stalks and roots. 2A627 has a good disease package with tolerance to gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight and Goss’s wilt.

2J638 is a 107-day SmartStax Refuge Advanced hybrid with strong early season emergence, vigor and grain quality for the central Corn Belt. This hybrid responds well to management in high-yield environments.

2Y669 is a 108-day SmartStax Refuge Advanced hybrid with a very good disease package, including tolerance to gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight and Goss’s wilt. With consistent ear development, this hybrid has excellent eye appeal, good grain quality and very attractive top-end yield potential.

2Y744 is a 113-day hybrid with excellent emergence and early vigor. 2Y744 features solid stalks, excellent roots and large ear flex for top-end yield performance. This new hybrid responds best to high management practices.

For more information about these or other Mycogen® brand products, contact your local Mycogen Seeds dealer or sales representative or visit www.mycogen.com.



Sunflower Unveils New 48-foot Vertical Tillage Tool and Two Larger Split-Wing Disc Harrows

Sunflower®, the leading tillage line from AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO), is expanding its tillage offering to include the new 6650-48 vertical tillage tool as part of the 6600 Series, along with two larger split-wing disc harrows for the 1436 Series. The 6650-48 provides farmers with a class-leading, true working width of 47 feet, 11 inches. The new split-wing 1436SW models provide 600 pounds-per-foot of residue-cutting weight for tough residue management operations.

Sunflower 6650-48 Vertical Tillage Tool
The Sunflower 6650-48 is the new vertical tillage tool with a class-leading true working width of 47 feet, 11 inches, helping farmers cover more than 38 acres an hour.

"Sunflower is excited to offer the 6650-48 vertical tillage tool to today's conservation-minded farmers," says Larry Kuster, AGCO senior marketing specialist for tillage. "It provides a significant boost in productivity by harnessing the potential of high-horsepower tractors with the ability to cover more than 38 acres an hour."

Sunflower Saber Blades™, combined with proven staggered offset gang design in a large-width, five-section 6x6-inch frame, empower the 6650-48 to provide superior performance in the field, all while folding to transport dimensions of 18 feet, 2 inches wide and 13 feet, 11 inches high.

The blade design and 18-degree offset gang angle of Sunflower vertical tillage tools provide optimum performance in cutting and sizing crop residue. The residue left behind by these tools creates a surface that is resistant to wind and water erosion.

"Vertical tillage, while necessary in the fall, is also an excellent management practice in the spring," Kuster explains. "It helps open cold, wet soils to warming and drying sunlight to encourage optimum conditions for planting. Our vertical tillage tools offer consistent soil conditioning across entire working widths to provide farmers with consistent emergence and healthy crop stands."

The 6650-48 frame features thicker-wall 6x6-inch tubing (3/8-inch thick in high-stress areas) for a stronger, heavier frame, and is cross-braced and gusseted for added strength and maintenance-free service.

A hydraulic cylinder locks the hinge in the in-field working position. This permits the hinge to pivot only on the lower pivot point located close to the disc gang, which provides for a greater range of negative flex of the wing so the tool can closely follow changes in terrain.

The 6650-48 rides on a patented walking triple design, which uses two walking-beam pivot points to create a series of walking tandem wheels.

"The wheels work as a team, sharing the burden of obstacles as a pair," adds Kuster. "When encountering an obstacle, the lead tire couples with the second tire to complete the first walking tandem. As the tool progresses over the obstacle, the second tire becomes the lead tire for the second walking tandem. As the tire is elevated, a weight transfer removes the first tire from the sequence, and pivoting is then shared between the second and third tires."

As with the 6631 vertical tillage tool family, the 6650-48 is engineered for long life and minimal service with high-strength, 1 3/4-inch round stress-proof gang shafts; triple-sealed, greasable trunnion-style gang bearings; offset C-Flex® bearing standards; and a maintenance-free lift system with a 5 1/2-inch lift axle on all hydraulic lifts. The walking triples feature greasable tapered roller bearings, and heavy-duty gauge wheels pivot on service-free ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) material that provides lifetime lubrication.

A long, narrow tongue permits tight turns and good field maneuverability. Convertible Category 4 and 5 hitches enable the 6650-48 to match any high-horsepower tractor.

New Split-Wing 1436SW Disc Harrows
The Sunflower split-wing 1436SW disc harrows have true cutting widths up to 38 feet and provide up to 600 pounds per foot of cutting-and-slicing weight for tough residue management situations.

Sunflower adds two larger models to the 1436 Series of tandem disc harrows: the 1436-33SW and the 1436-38SW.

The tools have true working widths of 33 feet, 3 inches and 38 feet, respectively, and feature 20-degree gang angles with full-concavity blades to provide producers with ample residue-cutting ability to manage the toughest Bt corn residue and heavy stalks of modern hybrids.

"These new harrows leverage the power of high-horsepower tractors to work more acres," continues Kuster, "all while they mix residue and topsoil to provide an ideal environment for microbial decomposition of the stalks. With today's tough stalks, increased compaction in many fields, and herbicide-resistant weeds, a high-performing tillage tool is more important than ever. The Sunflower split-wing 1436SW Series disc has been designed specifically to tackle these challenges."

The 1436SW models' heavy frames are designed for structural integrity in the toughest field conditions, and bring up to 600 pounds per working-width foot to the task of opening and mixing the soil. Both front and rear gangs on the 1436SW machines are offset to allow the front gang to clear-cut the entire width of the soil profile. The 1436SW Series offset rear gang creates a feathering effect that prevents ridge/valley profiles in the wake of the machine. Both sets of gangs ride on C-Flex bearing standards to absorb shock encountered when striking obstacles such as rocks and stumps.

Each heavily braced wing frame is designed to match the cutting width of the tool. This allows engineers to place wheels and wing lift mechanisms near the outer limits of the cutting area, ensuring maximum control of the wing and maintenance of a level working orientation to the field.

The 1436-33SW boasts a transport width of 15 feet, 6 six inches and a folded height of 13 feet, while the 1436-38SW folds to 17 feet, 11 inches wide and 13 feet high.

The new machines also feature proven Sunflower engineering such as a maintenance-free lift system that rides on UHMW plastic bearings, UHMW wing hinge bearings, heavy-duty gauge wheels that pivot on UHMW bearings, single-point depth control mounted on the front for simple adjustments, and a hydraulic depth lock.

Farmers also have their choice of three types of finishing reels to run behind the new harrows to mix soil, mash clods and break up root wads, available in 11-inch- and 14-inch-diameter flat-bar design for aggressive clod crushing, or the 14-inch-diameter chevron type preferred for soil compression.

For more information on either the 6650-48 vertical tillage tool or the 1436SW Series tandem disc harrows, visit your Sunflower dealer or http://www.sunflowermfg.com.



Stay one step ahead of the weed competition next season

When growing soybeans, growers need to think ahead to stay one step ahead of weeds. That means examining weed threats and evaluating which herbicides work best.

As resistant and high-anxiety weeds such as marestail and waterhemp intrude on soybean fields across the Midwest, growers should consistently assess their weed management programs. The end of the growing season is an ideal time to get out in the field and scout for weed escapes to determine what adjustments to make for next season.

“Herbicide resistant weeds can quickly outcompete the crop if growers do not stay ahead of the problem and continue to evolve their herbicide programs,” says Lindsey Hecht, U.S. product manager for soybean herbicides and glyphosate, Dow AgroSciences.

Scout often and throughout the entire season, Hecht says. Determine which weeds are uncontrolled and compete with crops for nutrients during important growth stages. This information will help gauge herbicide effectiveness and indicate which weeds might become larger problems next season, Hecht says.

Waterhemp, for example, is a highly competitive weed, especially in soybeans. Waterhemp can cause up to 40 percent soybean yield loss, according to University of Illinois research.

In soybean fields where waterhemp is an issue, using more residual herbicides can prevent it from emerging again.

“Don’t make the same mistakes from one season to the next,” Hecht says. “Yield diminishes and will never gain full potential once weeds begin crowding crops. With the right management program, growers can control annual weeds, including waterhemp, lambsquarters, marestail and cocklebur.”

When reevaluating weed management programs, Sonic® herbicide and Surveil™ Co-pack herbicide provide­­ long-lasting, residual control for ideal timing of a postemergence glyphosate application such as Durango® DMA® herbicide. For more information on weed control in soybean fields, visit www.SonicHerbicide.com.