Biofuels and Corn in the South

As the ethanol push becomes more aggressive, many southern growers will be planting more acres of corn.  What does this mean in the fight against weed resistance?  One Texas grower says that he will be planting some acres of corn that had previously been reserved for cotton.  In an April 13 article in Southwest Farm Press, Max Swinburn says that his rotation of cotton and corn is helpful in weed control, since different herbicides are used in corn and cotton. Adding more corn to the cotton mix is also a good way to spread some weather risk, build organic matter and bump cotton yields.

Columnist Mike Rankin of the Fond du Lac Reporter suggests that rotating crops can add at least 10 to 15 percent more to the final corn yield.  Additionally, he recommends applying a residual herbicide pre-emergence and then making one or two passes to control weeds and combat resistance, even in a glyphosate-tolerant system.  He says, “Glyphosate is a wonderful tool but it has a tendency to make crop producers choose easy over smart.”

As many southern acres become designated to corn, growers are given the opportunity to add the essential element of diversification, not only in their crop rotation, but in their herbicide applications as well. Do you think the booming demand for corn will be a good opportunity to fight weed resistance in cotton, or do you think it will only amplify weed control problems?

Additional resources on increased corn acres in the South:

National Cotton Council of America December 2006 Bulletin

September 6, 2003 Delta Farm Press article

October 18, 2002 Delta Farm Press article