Get Season-long Weed Control Plus Increased Crop and Application Flexibility
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Hedging is what farmers do to not only reduce risks when marketing a commodity but also manage risks with the products they use — especially when it comes to season-long weed control in cereals.
Controlling weeds all season long is no easy task. But by using a program approach with effective herbicide products that deliver application and crop rotation flexibility, cereals farmers can reduce risks and give themselves options — even as turbulent weather patterns continue across the country.
“Because my area of the northern Plains has gotten so much rain, the time farmers have been able to spend in their fields has been less than ideal. Weed pressure was heavy when sprayers were able to make it through fields,” says Matthew Pederson, retail strategic account manager, Corteva Agriscience. “Fields that had a fall burndown or residual herbicide application look better than those that did not.”
Pederson reports farmers in his area saw good control of marestail and kochia this season with Pixxaro® EC herbicide with Arylex® active. To guard against resistance development and to control weeds, farmers are choosing their herbicide products wisely, with many looking for products that offer good control and flexibility in application and crop rotation.
“Many of our products are being used to boost weed control programs throughout the season,” Pederson says. “In areas where farmers are battling resistant kochia, utilizing different modes of action is the new norm. We are seeing more and more grasses developing resistance, so farmers are utilizing effective products from our portfolio, Rezuvant herbicide, OpenSky herbicide and/or PerfectMatch herbicide that deliver control or suppression of cheatgrass, foxtail and wild oats.”
Pederson knows farmers rely on Rezuvant® herbicide and OpenSky® herbicide for crop rotational flexibility — with Rezuvant herbicide delivering an elevated load of activity with Arylex active. Several active ingredients in the Corteva Agriscience cereal herbicides portfolio have a wide application window for wheat and offer the advantage of high crop safety.
“Rezuvant herbicide and OpenSky herbicide continue to give broad-spectrum control plus rotational flexibility,” Pederson says. “That’s important when farmers are trying to determine what they’ll plant next season as commodity prices fluctuate.”
Half the battle in successful weed control is hitting them early. Once weeds get taller than 4 inches, their growth to 8 inches occurs quickly. Rezuvant herbicide can be used from the second leaf stage in wheat and barley up until around jointing, which gives farmers a wider weed control window.
“Farmers in my area of the Pacific Northwest apply Rezuvant herbicide over the top of their wheat and barley,” says Britt Beene, territory manager, Corteva Agriscience. “Applicators and farmers like it because of the three active ingredients in one product. It’s flexible and safe for tank-mixing other herbicides, fungicides and even foliar nutrients.”
Beene has seen farmers achieve good control with Quelex® herbicide with Arylex® active, a Group 2 and 4 that can be applied from two-leaf to flag leaf emergence, on both winter and spring wheat and barley. It’s also rainfast in just one hour — a major advantage during wet growing seasons like 2024.
Tolvera™ herbicide in 2025!
Farmers are eagerly anticipating the 2025 new product release of Tolvera™ herbicide, a broad-spectrum herbicide for use in spring and winter wheat, durum and barley. Featuring two modes of action — tolpyralate, an active ingredient new to the cereals market; and bromoxynil — to fight, or be tank-mixed to battle, the spread of resistant weeds, Tolvera herbicide will control many weeds, including all common herbicide-resistant biotypes of kochia, Russian thistle, waterhemp, green and yellow foxtail and barnyardgrass.
“It has a flexible plant-back rotation compared with other products on the market and should be welcomed by farmers in areas that have a diverse crop rotation record and who want more flexibility in their tank-mix options,” Beene concludes.
OpenSky®, PerfectMatch®, Quelex®, Rezuvant® and Tolvera™ are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Arylex® is a registered active ingredient. Always read and follow label directions.
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