Resistance Fighter: Ask the Expert

Extension Agent Urges Growers to Think in Preservation Mode

Chuck Foresman — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:04:00 GMT

Tim Britton, NCSU cooperative extension agent in Johnston County, N.C., grew up around agriculture and has always known the importance of preserving the chemicals used in the industry to protect crop yield and quality. Glyphosate-resistant horseweed and Palmer amaranth became significant problems in the area in 2003, and he has since worked with local growers to minimize the spread of resistance while preserving valuable chemistries.

“Even if a grower doesn’t have resistance now, it will come,” Britton said. “My word of advice to anyone who hasn’t seen resistance is to plan his herbicide program as if it already exists.”

Britton appreciates being recognized as a finalist in the 2009 Resistance Fighter of the Year program and believes it is beneficial to those in agriculture. “Any time a person sees a campaign like Resistance Fighter of the Year, it makes him or her think about ways to contribute to the prevention and management of resistance.”

Is there someone in your area who has influenced your management decisions that you feel is worthy of the Resistance Fighter of the Year award?

Nominate him or her at http://www.resistancefighteroftheyear.com/ today!

Nominate Your Resistance Fighter of the Year Today!

Chuck Foresman — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:06:00 GMT

The Syngenta Resistance Fighter^TM of the Year program recognizes individuals who are tackling weed resistance head on through research and educational efforts that provide growers with the solutions they need to combat this real and growing threat in the field.

"Our 2009 winners demonstrate a passion for the preservation of glyphosate and the future of agriculture. They devote extensive time and effort toward their work and are helping many growers successfully manage glyphosate resistance," said Chuck Foresman, manager of weed resistance strategies, Syngenta Crop Protection. "We know there are more individuals across the country with similar passion and devotion that are deserving of this recognition, which is why we are continuing our Resistance Fighter of the Year program."

"Giant ragweed has been our most prevalent weed problem since 2004," said Paul Barchenger, agronomy division manager at Hutchinson Coop in Hutchinson, Minn. His recommendation of effective solutions, backed by extensive research, helps growers in his area fight this weed effectively. "Combinations of Syngenta pre-emergence herbicides like Boundary^® and post-emergence herbicides such as Flexstar^® GT have shown tremendous success in combating giant ragweed."

Jeremy Kichler, Georgia Cooperative Extension agent in Macon County, Ga. stresses the importance of proactive management techniques when counseling growers.

"Residual herbicides like Prefix^®on soybean and Reflex^® on cotton have been excellent for Palmer pigweed control this season," Kichler said. "Growers should use multiple modes of action, apply correct herbicide rates and be timely with their herbicide applications."

2010 Resistance Fighter of the Year nominations are being accepted now through November 19, 2010. Eligible nominees include retailers, consultants and county extension agents who have successfully implemented resistance management practices with producers in their area.

Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy.

Reflex is not currently registered for sale or use in all states. Please check with your state or local extension service before buying or using these products. Reflex may be used on cotton in AL, AR, LA, MS, MO and TN in accordance with the Special Local Needs provisions of the EPA under a FIFRA Section 24(c) registration. You must have a copy of the approved 24(c) registration in your possession in order to use Reflex, and you must comply with all of the limitations for use set forth in the 24(c) registration.

Flexstar^®, Prefix^®, Reflex^® Resistance Fighter^TM and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

Resistance Fighters of the Year Get Exclusive Look at Syngenta Research

Chuck Foresman — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:05:00 GMT

The 2009 Resistance Fighters of the Year, Paul Barchenger, agronomy division manager at Hutchinson Coop in Hutchinson, Minn., and Jeremy Kichler, Georgia Cooperative Extension agent in Macon County, Ga., continue to educate growers on ways to fight weed resistance in their regions and epitomize what it takes to be true resistance fighters.

While Barchenger has been busy in Minnesota combating giant ragweed, Kichler faces his own battle with Palmer pigweed in Georgia. Although both weeds present definite challenges, Barchenger and Kichler have seen successful management when growers use sound weed management strategies which include crop rotation, utilizing multiple modes of action, using pre-emergence residual herbicides, and incorporating tillage when necessary.

As part of the Resistance Fighter of the Year award package, Barchenger and Kichler recently participated in a tour of the Syngenta Vero Beach Research center (VBR) for a behind-the-scenes look at Syngenta weed scientists' efforts to identify and bring to market tools that will aid in the fight against resistant weeds.

During the tour, Drs. Tony Burd, Eric Palmer and Nick Polge of Syngenta explained the intricacies of their research on various herbicide-resistant weed species, highlighted cutting-edge technology and discussed some of their recent findings at VBR. Both Kichler and Barchenger look forward to sharing what they learned with growers in their region and were grateful for the exclusive opportunity.

Arkansas Growers Take a Round in the Fight Against Resistant Palmer

Chuck Foresman — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:04:00 GMT

As growers across the Delta fight glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed, it's encouraging to hear the stories of guys who've managed it successfully.

A grower in Blytheville, Ark., noticed suspicious Palmer pigweed in his fields last season. Rather than stick with his typical weed control program, he heeded the advice of one of my colleagues and used more pre-emergence and residual herbicides. He used a pre-emergence program for the first time in his cotton fields, and was very satisified with the results of Prefix^® and Flexstar^® GT herbicides in his soybean fields. As he said, his situation could be a lot worse, especially when he looks at other fields in the area.

In Hughes, Ark., a farm manager who has always relied on pre-emergence herbicides hasn't made dramatic changes to his weed control program, despite the explosion of glypohsate-resistant weeds and the history of resistance to other herbicide modes of action. He never relied on glyphosate alone for weed control, and with his pre-emergence residual program, his fields continue to stay clean. He also uses Gramoxone Inteon^® herbicide for an alternative mode of action when he needs quick burndown.

These are just a couple of the encouraging stories I heard from the field this season, and I predict that more growers who faced heavy pressure without as much success in 2010 will make the modifications necessary, including the use of pre-emergence residuals, to come out on top in 2011.

Are you ready to make a change? Visit the Solutions Builder to create a customized weed management plan for your fields.

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©2010 Syngenta Crop Protection, 410 Swing Road, Greensboro, NC 27409. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy. Gramoxone Inteon is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Flexstar^®, Gramoxone Inteon^®, Prefix^®and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

University of Arkansas Programs Keep the Palmer Jungle at Bay

Chuck Foresman — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:30:00 GMT

At a recent field tour, University of Arkansas weed scientists Ken Smith and Bob Scott walked attendees through trials on a Widener, Ark., farm that had become a Palmer jungle last season. To the surprise of some, both researchers said it is possible to successfully manage the problem, both in Roundup Ready^® and LibertyLink^® systems. The key is staying ahead of resistant weeds with residual herbicides at burndown, pre-emergence and in-season.

This LibertyLink soybean field showcased at the tour received an application of Prefix^® + Dual Magnum^® herbicides followed by an application of Ignite^®herbicide. As you can see, the only "jungle" present in this field is strong, healthy soybean plants.

To build an effective management program that will help keep the weed "jungle" from invading your fields, visit the Solutions Builder.