Iowa soybean farmer Jon Freese is sold on the importance of early-season weed control, especially now that he’s witnessed the effectiveness of Bayer Crop Science’s XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip ® Technology against resistant waterhemp. In 2018, after choosing to plant 100 percent of his soybean acres with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans and then applying XtendiMax herbicide with VaporGrip Technology early in the season, the Grundy County grower felt he had reclaimed his fields from the tenacious weed.
“We had outstanding weed control and a significant yield boost last year,” Freese says. “It was the only thing that worked on our resistant waterhemp.”
Freese feels it’s best to be proactive and remedy a problem before it occurs – and weed control is no different.
“We applied the herbicide early, before weeds were able to grow and take hold. Within two weeks, we couldn’t find a weed. This early application allowed us to spray weeds while they were short and therefore easier to kill.”
Freese says he was pleased with the additional 14 days of soil activity that XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology offers on certain small-seeded broadleaf weeds.
“This provides a little extra window to get the beans further along and to help with the weed control,” he says.
In fields with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans, XtendiMax herbicide with VaporGrip Technology can be sprayed up to 45 days after planting or prior to the R1 growth stage, whichever comes first.
As he’s found success in battling waterhemp, Freese says his fellow farmers have taken note and begun to adopt the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System and Xtendimax with VaporGrip Technology in their own operations. He estimates that in one year alone, from 2017 to 2018, the percent of Grundy County growers using the system jumped from 20 to 60 percent.
“We’re using XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology on 100 percent of our acres again this year. It’s a great product,” he says.
He’d encourage soybean farmers who try XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology for the first time this season to start with their most challenging spot on the farm.
“Take your weediest field and try if there. It’ll knock the weeds down, and you’ll use more of it next year.”
More Tools for Weed Control Success
In October 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency extended the label registration for XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip ® Technology through the 2020 growing season, giving farmers access to this important weed management tool for at least the next two years.
Bayer offers tools to help farmers find weed control success; among them are the RR Xtend Spray App, in-person and online dicamba applicator training, educational videos, the “Find an Applicator” tool, approved nozzles and tank mixes and much more.
New this year, Bayer has launched the 2019 Spray Early with Confidence Program that offers an effective weed resistance management strategy, increased flexibility and the chance for soybean farmers to earn additional incentives through the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System.
To learn more, visit www.RoundupReadyXtend.com.
