Low
Cost Herbicide Programs For Field Corn - Strengths and Weaknesses
Below is a summary of some of the “lower cost” herbicide
options for field corn on the market. The fit that each of these
programs has on your farm will depend on how well you know the following:
- The weed infestations in each field,
- i.e. species, time of emergence and density
- Soil Type in the target field (for soil applied herbicides)
- - Heavy textured soils that are high in organic matter usually
require a higher rate.
- If weeds that weren’t on the product label emerge later,
am I able to deal with them?
- Either with cultivation or a timely follow-up herbicide application.
Other considerations include crop safety, application flexibility
and additional seed costs (i.e. Roundup Ready corn).
Herbicide Programs Under $10/acre
There are numerous broadleaf herbicide programs under $10/ac. However,
they are unlikely to offer complete season-long weed control unless
tillage or a follow-up herbicide application is incorporated into
the weed management program.
Herbicide Programs Under $20/acre
There are few herbicide programs under $20/ac that offer a broad
spectrum of weed control. The fit for many of these programs is in
fields that have relatively low weed pressure with a limited number
of different species that are controlled by the selected herbicide.
For example, Prowl may be a very appropriate herbicide choice provided
the weed spectrum in the field is limited to the weeds on the Prowl
label.
|
Product
|
Application Timing*
|
Considerations
|
|
Axiom (low rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass Control – limited broadleaf control (about 5 broadleaf
species).
Low rate may not be effective on certain soil types and with
heavy weed pressure.
|
|
Axiom + atrazine (low rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
Triazine resistant weeds like lamb’s-quarters are not
controlled.
Low rate may not be effective on certain soil types.
|
|
Banvel II(high rate)
|
PRE
|
Only provides broadleaf and some perennial weed control.
|
|
Dual II Magnum (low rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass Control, broadleaf control limited to nightshade and
pigweed.
Low rate may not be effective on certain soil types and under
heavy weed pressure.
|
|
Frontier (low rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass Control, broadleaf control limited to nightshade and
pigweed.
Low rate may not be effective on certain soil types and under
heavy weed pressure.
|
|
Glyphosate + atrazine (RR corn only)
|
POST
|
Broad spectrum control.
Residual control on a limited number of weeds.
|
|
Glyphosate + Marksman (RR corn only)
|
POST
|
Broad spectrum control.
Residual control on a limited number of weeds.
|
|
Marksman
|
PRE/POST
|
Provides mainly broadleaf and some perennial
weed control. |
|
Primextra II Magnum (Low Rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
Triazine resistant weeds like lamb’s-quarters are not
controlled.
|
|
Prowl 400
|
PRE
|
Grass Control – limited broadleaf control (about 3 species)
|
* Referrs to the application timing relative to weed emergence.
Herbicide Programs Under $30/acre
As the price of a herbicide program increases so generally does the
number of weeds controlled. There are a number of weed control programs
under $30/ac that will offer both grass and broadleaf weed control.
|
Product
|
Application Timing*
|
Considerations
|
|
Accent
|
POST
|
Grass Weed Control and pigweed control.
Will not control group II resistant weeds
|
|
Axiom (High Rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass Control – limited broadleaf control (about 5 broadleaf
species).
High rate shouldn’t be used on coarse textured soils low
in Organic matter.
|
|
Battalion (Post Rate only)
|
POST
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
|
|
Converge (low rate)
|
PRE**
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
|
|
Dual II Magnum (High Rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass Control, broadleaf control limited to nightshade and
pigweed.
|
|
Frontier (High Rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass Control, broadleaf control limited to nightshade and
pigweed.
|
|
Liberty (Liberty Link corn only)
|
POST
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
Top-growth control of some perennials.
|
|
Option 35 DF
|
POST
|
Grass control and limited broadleaf control.
Will not control group II resistant weeds
|
|
Option 35 DF + atrazine
|
POST
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
Will not control
|
|
Option 35 DF + Banvel II
|
POST
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
|
|
Primextra II Magnum (High Rate)
|
PRE
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
Triazine resistant weeds like lamb’s-quarters are not controlled.
|
|
Prowl + atrazine
|
PRE
|
Grass and Broadleaf weed control.
|
|
Ultim
|
POST
|
Grass Weed Control and pigweed control.
Will not control group II resistant weeds
|
*Refers to the application timing relative to weed emergence.
** Converge must be applied prior to corn emergence.
Summary
A very real opportunity exists to minimize weed control costs. It
is accomplished by either scouting fields yourself or hiring a crop
consultant to do so for you. Often unnecessary weed control costs
are avoided by knowing exactly what weed species are in the field,
then targeting control with a herbicide that specifically addresses
those weeds.
Resources
2005 Problem Weed CD, contact the Agricultural Information Contact
Centre.
Related Links
