FIGHTING HERBICIDE resistance can be a real challenge for no-tillers with soybeans in their rotation because there are fewer options for weed control than with corn.

But growers can gain the upper hand by dedicating themselves to a yearlong weed control program, says Bob Bruss, director of technical service for Nufarm Americas.

“You’ll also have to go back to integrating chemical management with things like manipulating your planting dates, your plant densities, weed shading, using cover crops, and also crop rotation because you can use different herbicides ahead of corn than you can with soybeans,” Bruss says.

Here are some tips Bruss shared about diverse herbicide programs that could beef up weed management programs.

Right Product, Right Size

Warmer weather seen this year in some states might cause weeds to get bigger earlier, but don’t hold off on treating them to save a little money, Bruss says.

“Don’t let those weeds go to seed,” he says. “If you have a chance to control the weed now with a burndown program or soil residual, and there’s good weather, do you want to let that pass and bank on being able to control it later with a post-application program?”

Marestail, waterhemp, Palmer amaranth and giant ragweed are some of the most difficult weeds found in no-till systems, and no-tillers need to think about product chemistries and timing to get them under control, Bruss says.

In fact, marestail is one of the few weeds that show up on the winter annual and summer…