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Herbicide plans impact profitability

A technical service representative with BASF says farmers are facing increased challenges from herbicide resistant weeds at a time when every bushel matters.

Kurt Maertens, who covers eastern Iowa & western Illinois, says weed escapes impact the bottom line.

“If we’re not getting them controlled, obviously they’re competing for that space, nutrients and water.”  He says, “There’s plenty of data out there that shows there’s detrimental yield loss there.”

He tells Brownfield farmers need to utilize herbicides with multiple modes of action to combat resistance.

“It’s imperative that we give them a 1-2 punch with our herbicides.”  He says, “A strong, multiple effective sight of action pre-, followed by a strong, effective sight of action post-emergence control.”

Maertens says the down economy has many farmers looking to cut costs, but he says don’t skimp on herbicide plans.

“We’ve got to have that residual pre- down to get us off to successful start.”  He says, “Because the easiest way to kill a waterhemp plant is when it’s coming out of the ground. There’s only one growing point.  Then we’re utilizing that post- trip to clean up any escapes that comes to that pre-.”

Maertens says one waterhemp plant can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds, so mismanagement even one season can have long term consequences.

AUDIO: Kurt Maertens – BASF