- Palmer amaranth continues to be a major threat in the South and Midwest
- Syngenta provides tips to delay further spread of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth
GREENSBORO, N.C., USA, March 6, 2018 – Syngenta warns that glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth, one of the most threatening weeds in Southern corn and soybean fields, continues to spread into the Midwest. Knowing how to defeat this tough weed is imperative to protect crop yields and manage future resistance.
Palmer amaranth, a member of the amaranthus (pigweed) family, has a complex lifecycle. The combination of its ability to develop resistance and its extended emergence period makes it especially difficult to control. Known to grow up to 3 inches per day and reach up to 8 feet tall, it can easily overtake corn and soybeans due to its aggressive nature. According to research done at Purdue University, Palmer amaranth can create yield losses up to 91 percent in corn and 79 percent in soybeans when left uncontrolled throughout the growing season.
Kevin Bradley, an associate professor at the University of Missouri, has found that equipment, feed, seed and even aquatic birds such as ducks and geese are responsible for Palmer amaranth seed movement. "We moved a lot of seed around, and it’s well beyond a farmer moving it from field to field,” he said. “Palmer amaranth is quickly moving across a larger geography than we’ve seen with any other resistant weed."
According to Joe Wuerffel, Ph.D., research and development scientist at Syngenta,
Palmer amaranth started out as a Southern weed but has now been reported as far north as Minnesota. However, by combining an integrated weed management program that includes both pre- and post-emergence residual herbicides with complementary cultural practices, such as crop rotation, and starting with clean fields and equipment, growers are able to manage the future spread of this difficult-to-control resistant weed.
“Since Palmer amaranth has shown resistance to a number of different herbicides, it’s critical to not allow the weed to emerge from the soil,” Wuerffel explained. “If that’s not an option because it is extremely aggressive, it’s important to apply a post-emergence herbicide when the weed is less than 1 inch tall.”
Syngenta offers an effective weed control program in soybeans that starts with BroadAxe® XC or Boundary® 6.5 EC herbicides (two effective modes of action each) for pre-emergence weed control of Palmer amaranth with long-lasting residual. A post-emergence application of Flexstar® GT 3.5 herbicide (two different modes of action) can help control glyphosate- and ALS-resistant weeds.
In corn, Syngenta offers Acuron® (three effective modes of action) and Acuron® Flexi (two effective modes of action) herbicides, both of which contain the latest herbicidal active ingredient in corn, bicylopyrone. “Bicyclopyrone complements the other active ingredients in Acuron to enable broader spectrum and more consistent control of tough weeds other products are missing,” Wuerffel said.
Growers are seeing the benefits of a well-planned weed control program firsthand. “When you throw multiple modes of action at weeds, it’s much more difficult for a plant to survive, especially when they’re effective modes of action,” said Brad Hemeyer, a grower in Gilliam, Missouri. “Syngenta has one of the best herbicide portfolios for effective modes of action in corn and soybeans.”
Backed by decades of research and development, Syngenta has been at the forefront of introducing herbicides with multiple, effective modes of action to help fight resistance. The Resistance Fighter® program provides education, local recommendations and a comprehensive herbicide portfolio to help growers and retailers effectively manage resistant weeds in their area.
Learn more about how to identify and manage Palmer amaranth in this video with Wuerffel.
For more information about how to fight weed resistance, visit ResistanceFighter.com. Join the conversation online – connect with us at www.Syngenta-US.com/social.
About Syngenta
Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on X at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.
Web Resources:
Acuron
Acuron Flexi
BroadAxe XC
Boundary 6.5 EC
Flexstar GT 3.5
Resistance Fighter
Syngenta Newsroom
Thrive Magazine
Know More, Grow More
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