FMC: pre-emergence herbicide boost plant health in corn and soybeans

As planting season approaches, applying a pre-emergence herbicide gives corn and soybean growers the opportunity to produce higher yields and stronger crops in 2010. Without early season weed competition for light, nutrients and space, plants have less pressure and improved yield potential.

According to Bob Hooten, FMC technical service manager, moisture and nutrient loss in the soil can have a profound impact on plant health, decreasing overall yields and potential profits. The key for growers is to eliminate competition for soil moisture and natural nutrients by ridding fields of problem weeds before it is too late.

"The primary reason for using a pre-emergence herbicide is to save moisture and nutrients in your crops," Hooten says. "Overall, evaporation and weeds cause significant moisture loss, which is the most critical piece in terms of yield loss and overall profits."

One major area of portfolio expansion for FMC has been in pre-emergence herbicides. These products help growers knock down weeds before planting or plant emergence, eliminating major competition for nutrients and sunlight for the young crop. For effective weed control in soybeans, FMC offers the Authority portfolio of products and Rage D-Tech herbicide to allow growers to choose the best product to fit their specific needs and cultural practices.

* Authority Assist herbicide - In addition to controlling key broadleaf weeds, it offers the convenience of added grass control. With multiple modes of action, Authority Assist helps combat growing weed resistance issues, a great concern in the industry.

* Authority First DF herbicide - This fast-acting herbicide provides growers with a clean start and a resistance management tool to combat glyphosate-resistant broadleaf weeds.

* Authority MTZ herbicide - Applied in the spring, it will control early-season weed flushes to reduce competition and allow for timely glyphosate applications to control emerged weeds.

* Rage D-Tech herbicide - Labeled for use on both corn and soybean fields, this herbicide helps growers get faster, broad-spectrum control of weeds at an economical price.

According to research conducted by Dr. Bryan Young, professor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, if a grower waits too long to apply herbicide in the spring, it can have a significant, negative impact on yield.

Youngs university research indicates that weeds can grow 1-inch per day. Vigorous weed growth means more competition for soybean seedlings, which compromises yield. At this rate, yield losses can reach 6 bushels per acre when waiting until the weeds are 4-8 inches tall. That means in a 1,000 acre soybean operation, 6,000 bushels could be lost to weeds, costing the grower $54,000 when soybean prices are $9 per bushel.