If you're waiting for Asian soybean rust to appear in your fields before you spray, Marty Wiglesworth suggests you reconsider.

As plantings of genetically modified (GM) crops continue to climb by millions of acres per year, one crop stands out for its absence from the list. Wheat growers, including no-tillers, are still waiting for the benefits of biotechnology, and the wait is likely to be a long one.

Despite the fact that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials estimate that growing corn without atrazine could cost no-tillers as much as $28 an acre due to reduced yields and the need for more expensive herbicides, you might be in danger of losing this long-term weed control chemical product.

A new formulation of paraquat herbicide from Syngenta Crop Protection has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Syngenta says Gramoxone Inteon sets a higher industry standard for protection of users, provides control as effective as Gramoxone Max in burndown and harvest aid uses, and offers an effective alternative to glyphosate.

A NUMBER OF NEW products and Section 18 exemptions from the Environmental Protection Agency for the use of fungicides against Asian soybean rust means more options for no-tillers looking to protect their soybeans. Here’s a company by company rundown of the products no-tillers can add to their list of choices.

No-tillers can choose from a number of corn herbicides and fungicides that have become available since the last growing season. The new products for this year, listed by manufacturer, include:<

Three outstanding individuals and an exceptional group earned 2004 No-Till Innovator Awards for their contributions toward advancing no-till farming. The ninth annual awards, sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection and No-Till Farmer, were presented in four categories: consulting, crop production, research and education, and organization.

With growers needing to find new ways to take U.S. yields to a higher level to compete with other countries, Rob Neill says increased emphasis needs to be placed on seed treatments, shifting resources to development of new seed traits and developing new pest control compounds.

Never mind the critics, there is plenty of evidence that no-tillers raising genetically modified (GM) crops are ahead of the learning curve, while the rest of the country and world is catching on.