Wednesday March 10 Ag News

Nebraska On-Farm Research Network publishes results and videos of 2020 farmer-conducted research online

Farmers are tasked with finding the best agronomic practices that work for their operations.  In spite of the challenges that weather, markets, and the current pandemic present, on-farm research can play an important role from an economical and environmental standpoint, even in the most challenging years. As tractors will be hitting the fields soon, now is the time to make plans that will impact operations throughout the growing season.  On-farm research provides producers with the opportunity to address critical production, profitability, and natural resources questions.

Farmers participating in the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network conducted nearly 90 on-farm research studies in 2020, covering a wide range of topics. Practices such as cover crops, row spacing, planting population, starter fertilizer, and more were evaluated, as well as technologies such as drones, sensors, and models for nitrogen management and variable-rate seeding technology.  

You can access these research results and benefit from the research conducted by farmers across the state by downloading a PDF copy of the 2020 on-farm research results. New this year, the online results book features enhanced content such as links to short videos about selected studies.   

“Throughout the growing season, we recorded and produced short videos about ongoing studies so people could see how studies were progressing in the field,” said Laura Thompson, Nebraska Extension Educator. “This year, as people flip through the result book, they will be able to watch these videos and then read the report to see the results of the project.”  

In addition to the PDF book, the Results Finder online tool, produced by the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network, allows users to easily access and search for results of over 800 on-farm research studies dating back to 1990.  The book and Results Finder are available at: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/farmresearch/resultshome. 

“Our goal is to provide reliable research that farmers and agronomists can use to make informed management decisions,” Thompson said. “On-farm research is a great way to generate local and relevant agronomic information. We are excited to continue partnering with producers to conduct on-farm research in 2021.”  

The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is open to farmers across the state and welcomes new participants. Conducting on-farm research is a great way to address questions related to the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of your operation. Nebraska Extension educators can provide technical expertise to set up robust research studies and analyze and evaluate research results. New research projects are being posted online at https://cropwatch.unl.edu/farmresearch/extensionprotocols or custom protocols can be developed to address questions that are relevant to your operation.

To get involved with on-farm research, contact a member of the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network.

The on-farm research network is a collaborative partnership that includes Nebraska Extension, the Nebraska Corn Board, the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff, and the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission.



Popular Ag Sack Lunch Program  Offering  Virtual and In-person Presentations This Spring

The 11th Annual Ag Sack Lunch program heads into the spring semester offering schools the option of either virtual or in-person presentations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the nation’s educational systems. The popular program is designed to increase agriculture awareness among Nebraska fourth-graders and their families.

For fourth-grade classes that are able to make the trip to Lincoln to visit the State Capitol Building, the program provides free sack lunches to the students while they listen to a short presentation about agriculture in Nebraska. The sessions are led by “Ag Ambassadors,” students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Agriculture. Students at schools opting for virtual presentations also hear about the importance of agriculture to Nebraska’s economy.

“We are pleased that we’ve been able to resume offering in-person presentations for classes that are coming to Lincoln,” says Karen Brokaw, Ag Sack Lunch Program coordinator. “Of course, we practice social distancing and the wearing of masks during those in-person sessions.” According to Brokaw, the program continues to receive accolades from teachers, including those who have participated in the virtual presentations during the pandemic.

Ashland-Greenwood teacher Elsielynn Busenitz praised the virtual presentation that her class enjoyed in February. “Thank you so much,” she said. “It was a great program and so well done. My students were engaged and were provided many opportunities to engage with the speaker. The information was interesting and well presented to the students so that they were interested and understood it.”

The Ag Sack Lunch Program is sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Board; the Nebraska Soybean Board; the Nebraska Pork Producers Association; Nebraska Beef Council; Midwest Dairy; and Nebraska Poultry Industries.



Mark your Calendars: 2021 NeFU Spring District Meetings Schedule
John Hansen, NE Farmers Union President

Below and attached is the list of dates for NeFU Spring District Meetings.

The Meetings can be held in the safety of where ever you want them to be, your office, house, shop, car, truck, tractor, back porch, etc. And, you will not be required to wear a mask, unless you really want to.

Please help us spread the word. Gather names and emails of folks you want to receive Zoom invitations and send them to either Travis or me. We already have a starter list of folks to send invitations to by District. Thanks for your help.

2021 NeFU Spring District Meetings via Zoom Conference Call Schedule - All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.

District 6:                    Tuesday, March 16, 2021
District 5:                    Wednesday, March 17, 2021
District 2:                    Thursday, March 18, 2021
District 4:                    Tuesday, March 23, 2021
District 7:                    Wednesday, March 24th, 2021
Districts 1 & 3:            Thursday, March 25, 2021

Contact the State Office (402) 476-8815 or travis@nebraskafarmersunion.org or your District Director or President for the invite link.

You are welcome to join any meeting that fits your schedule.



Senator Grassley Introduces Bill to Crack Big Oil’s Subsidy Advantage

Today Senator Chuck Grassley introduced the Fair Returns for Public Lands Act with Senator Jacky Rosen. The bill would modernize the royalty rates petroleum companies pay when drilling on public lands, which haven’t been updated for over 100 years.

In response to this action, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement:

“Big Oil loves to claim there would be a so-called level playing field if not for the RFS. Meanwhile, for over 100 years petroleum companies have been paying pennies on the dollar for resources extracted from public lands. The truth is the playing field can never be level when oil companies have secret advantages. This is just one of many hidden Big Oil tax subsidies and we thank Senator Grassley for shining a light on it.”



IRFA Congratulates Michael Regan as Next EPA Administrator

Today the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Michael Regan as the next Administrator of the EPA.  In response, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement:

“We congratulate Mr. Regan on his confirmation today and we look forward to a fresh start at EPA after the past four years of unpredictability. It is our hope that this new administration will bring stability to the RFS program and provide growth opportunities to the biofuels sector. American biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel are ready to help reduce our nation’s carbon emissions, but we need stable policy and market opportunity in order to do so.”



Growth Energy Statement on Confirmation of Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency Michael Regan

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Michael Regan to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“We congratulate Administrator Regan on his confirmation to a vital role in this administration as climate change continues to be at the forefront of the Biden agenda and as EPA reviews small refinery exemptions and other issues vital to the biofuels industry. Biofuels are a critical tool in achieving President Biden’s aggressive climate goals and the biofuels industry is ready to partner with Administrator Regan to decarbonize the transportation sector and bring the agricultural sector into the fold of addressing climate change.

“Administrator Regan has been on the record supporting biofuels as critical to help meet an ambitious climate agenda, committing to following the letter of the law on the Renewable Fuels Standard, and pledging transparency on any small refinery exemption decisions. We look forward to working with Administrator Regan on all of these policy and regulatory initiatives, and offering our organization’s perspective and high-level of expertise as he makes these decisions.”



RFA Welcomes Michael Regan’s Confirmation as EPA Administrator
    
The U.S. Senate today approved Michael S. Regan to be the next Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, by a 66-34 vote. Most recently, Regan served as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. The following is a statement from Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper:

“We congratulate Michael Regan on his confirmation and look forward to working with him to implement President Biden’s vision for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard. We were pleased to hear Administrator Regan say that agriculture and biofuels will have ‘a seat at the table’ as our nation tackles climate change, and we believe ethanol will be a critical component of the drive toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In his previous position, Mr. Regan built a strong track record of listening to all stakeholders to find practical, science-based solutions to the environmental issues impacting the people of North Carolina. We welcome a similar approach to problem-solving as he takes the helm at EPA, and we appreciate the outreach he has already conducted to renewable fuel stakeholders. We are confident he will strongly uphold President Biden’s commitment to ‘honor the critical role the renewable fuel industry plays in supporting the rural economy and the leadership role American agriculture will play in our fight against climate change.’”



 ACE Reaction to Michael Regan’s Confirmation as EPA Administrator

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate cast their vote confirming Michael Regan to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“We congratulate Michael Regan on his confirmation to formally lead EPA and look forward to working with him to address the long to-do list he inherits with respect to the RFS, including reining-in Small Refinery Exemptions, restoring 500 million gallons remanded to EPA by the D.C. Circuit Court from the 2017 Americans for Clean Energy Inc. decision, and promptly moving forward on the 2021 and 2022 Renewable Volume Obligations. Other priorities we will be raising with Administrator Regan include applying updated lifecycle science showing corn ethanol can and should be part of the climate solution, moving forward with EPA’s E15 labeling and Underground Storage Tank compatibility proposed rulemaking, and ensuring a role for midlevel ethanol blends in new fuel economy and emissions standards.”



NBB Congratulates EPA Administrator Michael Regan on Confirmation

Today, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) congratulated EPA Administrator Michael Regan as the U.S. Senate voted to confirm him. During his confirmation hearing, Regan emphasized that the "RFS is definitely a priority for this administration."

Kurt Kovarik, NBB's Vice President of Federal Affairs, states, "The Renewable Fuel Standard is a vital supportive policy for U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers. Every year, these fuels meet more than 90 percent of the RFS's goals for advanced biofuel production and use, achieving measurable reductions in transportation sector carbon emissions. As our industry pursues a vision to sustainably increase production over the next decade and support emergence of sustainable aviation and marine fuels, we look forward to working with Administrator Michael Regan."

The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year. Using these better, cleaner fuels reduces carbon emissions by an average 74 percent compared to petroleum. It also reduces particulate matter and hydrocarbon emissions and associated health impacts, leading to lower healthcare costs.



Cattlemen Support the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2021

The Death Tax Repeal Act of 2021 was introduced this week by U.S. Senator John Thune of South Dakota and U.S. Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Jason Smith (R-MO).   

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) issued the following statement in support of bipartisan legislation to repeal the federal estate tax, commonly referred to as the death tax.   

“The estate tax disproportionately harms cattle producers because with few options to pay off tax liabilities, many farm and ranch families are forced to make tough choices at the time of death – and in worst case scenarios, must sell off land to meet their federal tax burden,” said NCBA President Jerry Bohn.   

An estimated 2,000 acres of agricultural land is paved over, fragmented, or converted to uses that compromise agriculture each day in the United States. With more than 40 percent of farmland expected to transition in the next two decades, Congress must prioritize policies that support land transfers to the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Most farm estate values can be attributed to non-liquid assets such as the fair market value of land, livestock, and equipment.  

“As small business owners, environmental stewards, and the economic backbone of rural communities across the country, U.S. cattle producers understand and appreciate the role of taxes in maintaining and improving our nation. However, they also believe that the most effective tax code is an equitable one. For this reason, NCBA ardently supports the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2021,” Bohn said.

Earlier this month, NCBA sent a letter to Senator Thune, as well as Reps. Bishop and Smith in support of the bipartisan legislation.  



AFBF Applauds Introduction of Estate Tax Repeal Bills

The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on Congress to remove barriers to farm ownership. Bills aimed at eliminating the estate tax were introduced in the Senate and House Tuesday. Both are supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and 25 cosponsors introduced S. 617 and Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) introduced H.R. 1712, with 121 cosponsors. Both bills would allow for a complete repeal of the estate tax, which, according to AFBF analysis, threatens more than 74,000 family farms across the country and nearly half of all farmland.

“Farmers and ranchers already face unpredictable challenges beyond our control yet persevere to protect our nation’s supply of food, fiber and renewable fuel. The tax code should encourage farm business growth, not add to uncertainty,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Eliminating the estate tax removes another barrier to entry for sons and daughters or other beginning farmers to carry-on our agricultural legacy and make farming more accessible to all. We appreciate Senator Thune and Representatives Smith and Bishop for introducing their bills and look forward to working with them to get this important legislation passed.”

If the estate tax is not eliminated, instead of spending money to improve their operations, farmers and ranchers, along with all small businesses, will be forced to continue to divert resources to pay for estate planning to account for a shifting and unpredictable tax code.

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act temporarily doubles the estate tax exemption to $11 million per person indexed for inflation through 2025. However, without congressional action, the estate tax exemption will revert to $5.5 million per person in 2026, putting even more farms and ranches at risk.



Fertilizer Prices Keep Climbing as Farmers Prepare for Planting

Retail fertilizer prices are significantly higher for the fifth week in a row, with all eight fertilizers tracked by DTN posting increases of 7% or more in the first week of March 2021.  DTN considers a 5% or greater price change to be significant.

Leading the way higher this week were MAP, 10-34-0 and UAN32, all of which are 12% higher compared to a month ago. MAP had an average price of $673 per ton, 10-34-0 $560/ton and UAN32 $304/ton.

UAN32 surpassed the $300/ton level for the first time since the first week of August 2019. That week, the liquid nitrogen price was $320/ton.

Both urea and anhydrous were up 11% looking back a month. Urea had an average price of $474/ton, while anhydrous was at $560/ton.

DAP was also considerably higher, coming in 10% higher than the prior month. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $609/ton.

Both potash and UAN28 were up 7% compared to last month. Potash had an average price of $416/ton, while UAN28 was at $254/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.52/lb.N, anhydrous $0.34/lb.N, UAN28 $0.45/lb.N and UAN32 $0.48/lb.N.

With retail fertilizer prices moving higher over recent months, all fertilizers are now higher in price from a year ago. UAN28 is now 8% more expensive, UAN32 is 10% higher, potash is 13% more expensive, anhydrous is 14% higher, 10-34-0 is 20% more expensive, urea is 28% higher, DAP is 49% more expensive and MAP is 56% higher compared to last year.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 3/5/2021

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending March 5, ethanol production climbed 10.5%, or 89,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 938,000 b/d—equivalent to 39.40 million gallons daily and a seven-week high. Production remained 10.2% below the same week last year. The four-week average ethanol production rate ticked 0.1% higher to 839,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 12.86 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks thinned 1.6% to a 14-week low of 22.1 million barrels, which was 9.3% below a year-ago. Inventories drew down across all regions except the East Coast (PADD 1) and Midwest (PADD 2).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, increased 7.1% to 8.73 million b/d (133.77 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 7.7% less than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol rose 0.5% to 818,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.54 bg annualized and a high for the year. This was the highest level of 2021 but was still 11.0% below a year ago as a result of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of January 2021.)



Vilsack on Congressional Passage of the American Rescue Plan Act

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement today on passage of the American Rescue Plan Act by the U.S. Congress. The bill now goes to President Biden for his signature. For a detailed review, see the USDA fact sheet.

“President Biden wasted no time fulfilling his pledge to the American people to bring substantial financial relief within the first 100 days of his Administration. Thanks to passage of the American Rescue Plan today, help is on the way. The American Rescue Plan will jolt our economy back to life, get money into the hands of struggling Americans, get our children back to school safely, get COVID-19 vaccinations out more swiftly, and get nutrition assistance to millions of food insecure Americans.

“The American Rescue Plan boosts SNAP benefits for food insecure families; it expands resources to mothers and young children to purchase healthy, fresh foods; and delivers badly-needed nutrition aid to U.S. territories. It also increases food available for distribution through food banks, nonprofits, or restaurants to help feed families in need and at the same time supports farmers by purchasing their products. America’s farmers, ranchers and producers will reap the benefits of the American Rescue Plan as more resources flow through the economy, as more businesses open up, spurring greater demand for American food and agricultural products.

“In rural America, the American Rescue Plan provides significant investments to help struggling homeowners pay their mortgages, property taxes and property insurance. It expands rental assistance. It funds broadband to schools and hospitals and other community facilities.

“The American Rescue Plan provides historic debt relief to Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and other farmers of color who for generations have struggled to fully succeed due to systemic discrimination and a cycle of debt. We cannot ignore the pain and suffering that this pandemic has wrought in communities of color. The American Rescue Plan answers that call to action.



American Rescue Plan to Provide Additional Relief Amid COVID-19

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319), providing additional relief to address the continued impact of COVID-19 on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses. The U.S. Senate passed the legislation last week, and President Biden is expected to quickly sign the bill into law.

The Act includes $7 billion for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and $15 billion for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program. Agricultural businesses have utilized both programs to ensure they can continue to operate during the pandemic.

Similar to previous COVID relief efforts, the legislation provides food assistance for those facing hunger through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food and nutrition programs, including extending the 15 percent increase in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September 30, 2021.

The American Rescue Plan also provides $4 billion to respond to COVID-19 disruptions in the food supply chain and makes long-term investments to increase the resiliency of the food supply in the future. This includes increased food donation, protection for food workers, infrastructure investments, and support for livestock and animal health.

Assistance to strengthen rural health care, including assistance for rural hospitals and expanded vaccine distribution, are also included in the legislation.



American Rescue Plan a Step Towards a Fair, Stable Food System

The U.S. House of Representatives today voted in favor of the American Rescue Plan, sending it to the White House for President Joe Biden’s signature. The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package includes benefits for unemployed workers, stimulus payments up to $1,400 per person, and supplemental funding for nutrition programs, as well as support for vaccine distribution in rural communities, debt relief for socially disadvantaged farmers, and resources to build resilience in the food system.

When the bill was passed by the U.S. Senate over the weekend, National Farmers Union (NFU) praised it, saying it “provides a lifeline” for struggling Americans and takes “several steps towards more meaningful, enduring improvements” in the food system. Upon the House’s approval today, the organization’s president Rob Larew reiterated his satisfaction with the legislation:

“In many respects, the American Rescue Plan is a positive development. In the immediate term, it provides crucial assistance for both unemployed and food insecure Americans and expedites vaccine administration in rural communities. But the bill doesn’t just address our most imminently pressing economic and medical concerns – it also endeavors to change the agricultural sector for the better by redressing racial inequities in federal farm programs and increasing resilience in our food supply chain. We are extremely encouraged by the inclusion of these provisions and hope Congress follows up with additional structural reforms that move us even closer to the fair, stable food system we’ve envisioned for so long.”



USDA Seeks Nominees for the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominees for one producer position and one expert in finance and management to serve three-year terms on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors. Nominations are due May 9, 2021.

USDA selects appointees from candidates nominated by Certified Nominating Organizations (CNO). A CNO is any certified national organization with a principle interest in the production of sheep in the United States and whose membership consists primarily of active domestic sheep producers.

The board of directors comprises seven voting members and two non-voting members. Voting members include four active U.S. sheep producers, two members with expertise in finance and management and one member with expertise in lamb or wool product marketing. Non-voting members include USDA’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics.

AMS policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of their industries in experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. When submitting nominations, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.

The Sheep Industry Improvement Center was established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill and administers a grant program designed to improve the infrastructure of the U.S. sheep industry by strengthening and enhancing the production and marketing of sheep and sheep products.



VYTELLE LAUNCHES VISIONARY VYTELLE SOLUTIONS

Precision livestock company, Vytelle, is reshaping how cattle producers worldwide optimize their herds. Vytelle has assembled the first integrated technology platform built to accelerate genetic progress in cattle. This allows producers to sustainably deliver more protein with fewer inputs, helping to ensure meat and milk are viable, competitive food choices for future generations.

Vytelle’s visionary brand is committed to transforming the industry by making individual animal management possible, helping cattle producers transform decision making, and bringing a new certainty to performance, health and genetic progress through the Vytelle solutions: VYTELLE SENSE, VYTELLE INSIGHT and VYTELLE ADVANCE.

VYTELLE SENSE data capture helps seedstock and feedlot cattle producers measure key performance factors for better genetic and beef marketing management. Vytelle’s proprietary individual animal data capture system collects feed intake and in-pen weight measurements to identify elite-performing animals to help producers make more-informed marketing and genetic selection choices. Vytelle’s low-contact devices collect key performance data with no stress on the animal and automatically communicate it for processing and integration with other information.

VYTELLE INSIGHT enables better decision-making for cattle operations with easy-to-understand phenotypic and genomic reporting and insights. VYTELLE INSIGHT decision-support tools translate billions of data points into knowledge cattle producers can use to monitor, predict and optimize overall animal performance. Built on 30 years of continuous advancement in helping producers collect and use cattle data, Vytelle’s decision tools are now driven by the industry’s first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (AI) analytic engine. It quickly processes phenotypic, genomic, environmental and performance data into easy-to-read dashboards and reports, enabling more-informed choices for producers’ cattle operations.

VYTELLE ADVANCE is high-performance reproductive technology, utilizing the most modern in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique to help move producers’ cattle herds forward quickly by multiplying offspring from elite-performing animals, shortening generation intervals and improving reproductive efficiency. Vytelle's skilled technicians perform oocyte collection on donors, without the use of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In Vytelle’s lab, the eggs are carefully fertilized using semen from the sires of the producer’s choice. Embryos are then returned fresh or frozen to meet the needs of each producer.

Producers can progress their genetics and make the most important mating and reproductive decisions with Vytelle’s solutions today. Start now by visiting www.vytelle.com.



Syngenta helps growers overcome unique conditions as the 2021 season approaches

As the 2021 growing season approaches, corn and soybean growers are thinking through strategies to maximize yield potential and create field conditions that will benefit their crops for years to come. As a first step, Syngenta recommends scouting fields and reviewing notes from the close of the 2020 season.

“I always try to encourage people to look at the subtle changes that are happening in the fields where you farm for a long time. Is foxtail control getting more difficult? Is waterhemp making inroads in your area?” said Bill Johnson, Ph.D., professor of weed science at Purdue University. “Maybe it's not in your field, but maybe you’ve got some neighbors who have it. Pay attention to the subtle things.”

Across the board, researchers stress the importance of early-season weed management. “Some of the biggest findings of our research were just how competitive weeds can be early on in corn development,” said Erin Burns, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension weed scientist at Michigan State University. “There is a critical period of weed control in corn, which is mostly emphasized on weeds that germinate before or shortly after corn emergence; and controlling those weeds plays a large role in preserving yield potential within that crop.”

“A more pragmatic reason for early-season weed control, especially the use of residual herbicides around the time of planting, is that weather in the Midwest is unpredictable,” added Sarah Lancaster, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension specialist at Kansas State University. “One rain event could be the difference between a timely post-emergence herbicide application with excellent weed control or a ‘rescue’ situation with substantial yield loss, especially if preemergence herbicides were not used.”

Burns pointed to specific examples in Michigan. “Like other states, we have issues with the big weeds: waterhemp and Palmer amaranth,” she noted. “The incredible growth rate and seed production for those two species plus the ability to quickly evolve herbicide resistance are all problematic.”

All of the researchers recommend starting with clean fields, applying herbicides with multiple effective sites of action early in the season, and implementing sound agronomic practices for the most effective weed management and to minimize resistance.

“Syngenta offers a robust portfolio of premixes that protect yield potential for both corn and soybeans,” said Mark Kitt, Syngenta corn herbicide technical lead. Acuron® corn herbicide contains four active ingredients, including the Syngenta-exclusive bicyclopyrone, and three effective sites of action for long-lasting residual with built-in resistance management.

“Acuron manages tough, yield-robbing weeds other products miss, and better weed management means higher yield potential,” Kitt continued. “When applied preemergence and at full-label rates, Acuron outyields competitive herbicides by 5 to 15 bushels an acre because of its unique combination of powerful weed management, longest-lasting residual and proven crop safety.”*

For soybeans, Syngenta empowers growers to optimize their herbicide application for their specific field conditions and trait platform with a diverse portfolio of solutions that includes Boundary® 6.5 EC, BroadAxe® XC and Prefix® herbicides preemergence for managing ALS-, PPO- and glyphosate-resistant weeds. These flexible options provide effective weed management across a range of geographies, soil types and across all trait systems.

Additional tools in the soybean portfolio include Tavium® Plus VaporGrip® Technology herbicide applied early post-emergence for effective knockdown and residual control of key weeds, including ragweed, marestail, Palmer amaranth and waterhemp; and Sequence® herbicide to provide overlapping post-emergence residual to help keep soybeans clean through canopy and beyond.

“From a best operational standpoint, to delay or manage herbicide resistance, the key is to integrate some cultural strategies like high seeding rates, narrow row spacing, the use of cover crops and harvest weed seed control methods (chaff lining/seed destructors) in integration with herbicide programs,” said Prashant Jha, Ph.D., associate professor and extension weed specialist at Iowa State University. “Herbicides will always remain the foundation of our weed management programs in corn and soybeans, but complementary or alternative strategies will help to prolong the life of the chemistries we have.”