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Farmers in North Dakota and South Dakota plan to update weed control management in
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, April 23, 2012 -- As a sign farmers are responding to the threat of glyphosate resistance, 87 percent of farmers in North Dakota and South Dakota plan to alter their weed control programs in 2012, according to results from a recent BASF survey.
Seventy-six percent of farmers in the surveyed area credited herbicide-resistant weeds with causing yield loss.
These results encouraged weed experts such as Dan Westberg, Ph.D., Technical Market Manager, BASF.
“It indicates that farmers in this area understand that today’s weed control challenges demand the use of a more comprehensive management approach,” Westberg said. “For a long time, farmers relied almost solely on glyphosate to control their weed problems, but those days are over. The repeated use of a single chemistry is the number one reason many have developed resistant weed populations.”
More than one-third of survey respondents plan on applying multiple herbicide sites of action this year, which weed scientists agree is a critical element in controlling glyphosate-resistant weed populations.
“Farmers should implement general diversity strategies, looking at cultural, mechanical and chemical weed control,” said Jeff Stachler, Ph.D., North Dakota State University extension weed scientist. "And we need to make sure that we are rotating sites of action in the herbicides component."
More than one-third of survey respondents plan on applying multiple herbicide sites of action this year, which weed scientists agree is a critical element in controlling glyphosate-resistant weed populations.
“Farmers should implement general diversity strategies, looking at cultural, mechanical and chemical weed control,” said Jeff Stachler, Ph.D., North Dakota State University extension weed scientist. “And we need to make sure that we are rotating sites of action in the herbicides component.”
Many survey respondents also said they would apply a preemergence herbicide before or at planting for a foundation of weed control (46 percent), as well as add tank mixes to their post applications (49 percent). Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they would work with a consultant to plan out their programs.
Not all are on board
Not every grower in this area agrees with these messages, as 12 percent of survey respondents said they would not spend anything more to control resistant weeds. Almost one-quarter of respondents said they don’t believe resistant weeds even impact their yield, going against what weed scientists say.
“We have gotten complacent with herbicides always working,” Stachler said. “They are not always going to work. We need to make sure that we are scouting, identifying and reacting when there are just a few plants in the field.”
Ignoring the problem can lead to long-term issues, such as seed banks full of resistant weeds that need to be managed for years to come.
“The weed seed bank is a powerful tool to allow weeds to survive for a very long time,” cautioned Stachler. “If we add weeds to the seed bank that are resistant, we are only going to continue to have problems.”
BASF provides solutions
Westberg said BASF and the Weed Science Socity of America (WSSA) have invested in a number of initiatives to help farmers manage resistant weeds.
“BASF is focused on being a farmer’s number one partner for managing weed resistance and helping them to maximize yield,” Westberg said. “That is why we provide more corn and soybean herbicide sites of action than any other crop protection company.”
BASF also is dedicated to providing the solutions, technical support and educational tools to help farmers implement a weed management program that -- in addition to employing multiple herbicide sites of action -- includes proactive weed resistance management, as well as planning appropriately to help ensure effective, on-target applications. Farmers can visit http://agro.basf.us/stewardship/herbicide-best-practices.html for more information on herbicide best practices.
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With sales of € 4.1 billion in 2011, BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants, vegetation management, and forestry. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Crop Protection division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com or follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/basfagro.
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BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.9 billion in 2011. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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