New Dicamba Products Receive Approval for Use in RR2Xtend Soybean

J.D. Green , Extension Weed Scientist, University of Kentucky

Two dicamba formulations, XtendiMax^TM (Monsanto) and Engenia^TM (BASF), received federal EPA approval in December for use with RoundupReady2Xtend soybean. In addition to federal registration, a pesticide must also be registered and approved within a state before it can be sold. The XtendiMax^TM product received state approval in early January for applications in Kentucky. The Engenia^TM product is still pending state approval, but is anticipated in the near future. These products can be applied before or immediately after planting Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybeans or as an in-crop application from emergence (cracking) up to and including the beginning bloom (R1 growth stage of soybeans). The RoundupReady2 Xtend soybean technology provides another tool for targeting weeds that have developed resistance to other herbicide chemistries, but should be combined with other herbicide options and weed management tools for best herbicide resistance management. Because of the chemical characteristics of dicamba, good stewardship by applicators will be required to lessen the potential for off-target movement and damage to sensitive crops and other plants.

2016 UK Corn, Soybean & Tobacco Field Day

The 2016 UK Corn, Soybean & Tobacco Field Day will be held Thursday, July 28th at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton, (1205 Hopkinsville St., Princeton, KY 42445). Registration will begin at 7:00 am (CDT) and the tours will begin at 7:50 am (CDT). The field day will conclude with lunch provided by the Kentucky Soybean Board & the Kentucky Corn Growers Association.

Field Day Topics Will Include:

• Soil Water, Crop & Remote Sensing Measurements for Irrigation Management

Corn Replanting - Removing a Poor Stand

As farmers debate about destroying poor stands of corn and replanting, there are several herbicide guidelines to consider. There are several options to remove a poor stand, but those options depend on the type of hybrid currently growing in the field.
The following is an excerpt from AGR-6 2016 Weed Control Recommendations for Field Crops.

Weed Science Training on Resistant Weeds & New Herbicide Traits

The UK Extension Weed Science Group is conducting a Weed Science Training from 9 am – 3 pm. Two locations will be offered - June 23, 2015 - UK Research and Education Center (Princeton, KY) and June 25, 2015 - UK Spindletop Farm (Lexington, KY).
Please RSVP for lunch count at one of the following locations. UKREC Princeton - (270) 365-7541 ext 264 or email claurent@uky.edu 
UK Spindletop Farm – (859) 257-4898 or email jdgreen@uky.edu  

The Weed Training will cover the following topics: Herbicide Resistant Weeds, New Herbicide Tolerant Crop Traits, Application Stewardship, Herbicide Symptomology, Weed Identification and Cover Crops in Weed Management.
This program will be offered to UK Agriculture and Natural Resource Agents, other UK Agronomists, pesticide applicators, crop consultants, crop producers and agribusiness personnel. Commercial Pesticide Applicator Credits offered 2 general hrs and 2 specific (1A,10 and 12). CCA credits  have also been requested.
For more information, email J.D. Green or James Martin or call (270) 365-7541 ext. 203

Weed Science Training on Resistant Weeds & New Herbicide Traits

The UK Extension Weed Science Group is conducting a Weed Science Training from 9 am – 3 pm. Two locations will be offered - June 23, 2015 at the UK Research and Education Center (Princeton, KY) and June 25, 2015 at the UK Spindletop Farm (Lexington, KY).  Please RSVP your location with a lunch count.  

UKREC Princeton - email claurent@uky.edu or call (270) 365-7541 ext 264

UK Spindletop Farm – email jdgreen@uky.edu  or call (859) 257-4898

The Weed Training will cover the following topics:

• Herbicide Resistant Weeds 
• New Herbicide Tolerant Crop Traits 
• Application Stewardship
• Herbicide Symptomology 
• Weed Identification 
• Cover Crops in Weed Management 

This program is being offered to UK Agriculture and Natural Resource Agents, other UK Agronomists, pesticide applicators, crop consultants, crop producers and agribusiness personnel. CCA & Commercial Pesticide Applicator Credits have been applied for. 

For more information email: J.D. Green or Jim Martin or call (270) 365-7541 ext. 203

Focus on These Two Things, Cut Costs Elsewhere

Chad Lee, Extension Agronomist, University of Kentucky

Farmers are looking where to cut production budgets for 2015. Three of my colleagues and I were honored to speak at the National Commodity Classic this year. During our presentation, one of my colleagues closed out our session by saying that the two things farmers need to do is: 1) use appropriate soil-applied fertilizers based on soil tests; and 2) use highly effective weed control, which probably includes a soil residual herbicide. All of us in the room agreed that these are probably the two things many farmers will cut in 2015.

Palmer Amaranth on the Move in Kentucky

JD Green and Jim Martin, Extension Weed Scientists, University of Kentucky

Fig. 1 Young Palmer amaranth plant

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) continues to march across Kentucky. Initially this weed was thought to be present primarily in the west end of the state (Purchase region), but sightings have been reported within several Kentucky counties that border Tennessee and the lower Ohio River in the past few years. Last year Palmer amaranth was found on a farm in Hardin County and two additional fields in Mercer and Garrard counties. Last week a population of this weed was discovered in a corn field in Shelby County. These sightings would indicate that Palmer amaranth is a growing threat to grain crop production within the state.

Burndown Weed Control for Corn and Soybeans

Jim Martin and J.D. Green, Extension Weed Scientists, University of Kentucky

The status of weedy vegetation in corn and soybean fields ranges from very clean to very weedy. Burndown treatments applied last fall or during the last few weeks have created a clean seedbed. Burndown treatments that had a soil-residual herbicide look cleaner compared with those that did not have a soil-residual herbicide. This is especially true with marestail. However, do not expect these fields to remain clean for long since the warm temperatures will likely degrade soil-residual herbicides sooner than normal and allow weeds to emerge.

The amount of weedy vegetation in fields that have not yet received a burndown will vary depending on weeds present. With the warmer temperatures cool-season broadleaf weeds such as henbit, purple deadnettle, and common chickweed are maturing earlier than normal and will soon dieback and not likely to be a significant factor unless cooler weather conditions return. However, such weeds as marestail, giant ragweed, ryegrass, and volunteer wheat are growing well and need to be monitored. This may motivate growers to apply burndown treatments earlier than normal in order to manage weeds before they become too large.

Winter Wheat Meeting

The University of Kentucky Winter Wheat Meeting is Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at the James E. Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville. The meeting begins at 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Topics include wide-row wheat, variable rate nitrogen, climate affect on wheat, herbicide resistant weeds and others. Lunch is provided by the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association. 

Weed Control Options on Fallow Crop Fields

J.D. Green and Jim Martin, Extension Weed Science, University of Kentucky
June 7, 2011

Early season rains and major flooding of bottom ground has significantly impacted planting decisions by some corn and soybean producers. As a result there are likely to be cropland in Kentucky that will not be planted this season. However, a successful weed control program may still be a needed to keep weed pressure down and reduce the introduction of more weed seed into the soil seed bank which can impact future crops.