The U.S. Department of Agriculture opened the door Friday to commercial sales of corn and soybean seeds genetically engineered to resist the weed killer 2,4-D, which is best known as an ingredient in the Vietnam War-era herbicide Agent Orange.

FMC Agricultural Solutions announced a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) crop registration of its Anthem SE herbicide for use on soybeans.

Ohio State University Extension has currently started the second year of a three-year partnership of ag industry, USB, and a number of land grant universities to provide education and resources for managing herbicide site of action and mitigating herbicide resistance. This is resulting in some additional free publications for use by agronomists, growers, CCA, etc.

Marestail, also known as horseweed, competes with soybeans throughout the growing season, reducing crop yields. In a 2010 Ohio State University study, soybeans yielded 51 bushels per acre when burndown treatment failed to control emerged plants; 57 bushels per acre when the burndown was effective, but there was no residual herbicide; and 65 bushels per acre when the burndown was effective and effective residual herbicides were used.

A naturally occurring fungus may prove useful in the fight against Palmer amaranth, an aggressive southern weed that can grow at the rate of two inches a day and outcompete corn, cotton, soybean and other crops for resources, potentially reducing their yields.

Research over the last couple of years has shown that two shot burndown programs which include either 2 shots in the spring or fall plus spring burndown treatments are needed in areas with a history of poor marestail control due to glyphosate and ALS herbicide resistance.

From October 16th, 2013 - November 15th, 2013, we asked No-Till Farmer readers: "Will you be making fall herbicide applications this year?"

Use your yield monitor to mark locations for more than just rocks and evaluate crop performance.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln greenhouse studies have confirmed a Palmer amaranth population resistant to postemergence application of atrazine and HPPD-inhibiting herbicides (Callisto, Laudis, Armezon/Impact). This is the second report (after Kansas) of a Palmer amaranth population resistant to atrazine and the HPPD group of herbicides.

We have published articles about fall herbicide treatments in C.O.R.N. over most of the last five years or more. Readers can check the archives for those articles, as our suggestions about fall weed control have not really changed much from year to year. Maybe the best thing we can do here instead of regurgitating the same information is to list some of the questions we have received this year about fall treatments, with answers of course.