Starane* herbicide has been accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in controlling broadleaf weeds in grain sorghum (milo) and field and sweet corn.

“Starane is particularly effective at controlling kochia – a troublesome weed right now in parts of the Western Corn Belt – as well as velvetleaf, cocklebur, sunflowers, ragweed, morningglory and bindweed,” says Brett Oemichen, customer agronomist for Dow AgroSciences.

Under the accepted label, Starane will be helpful as a burndown application in no-till milo.

“When burning down weeds in crop stubble, growers have had much difficulty controlling heavy infestations of kochia with glyphosate or dicamba sprays,” Oemichen says. “Adding Starane to a burndown program will be particularly effective in controlling kochia and other broadleaf weeds in high-residue fields.”

Starane can also be used as an in-crop treatment in grain sorghum.

Sweet corn growers planting into previous year’s potato ground will also find preplant applications of Starane herbicide an excellent tool for controlling volunteer potatoes and many other broadleaf weeds. Follow-up in-crop applications are labeled to help growers control later-emerging kochia and other broadleaf weeds.

Post Applications Uses

For post applications, Starane may be applied to field corn up to the V5 growth stage (five fully exposed collars). Sweet corn growers may apply Starane up to the V4 growth stage. On milo, use Starane from the three- through seven-leaf stage.

Starane is recommended at a rate of 2/3 pint per acre on actively growing weeds up to 8 inches tall. The maximum amount of Starane that can be applied during a single growing season is 11/3 pints.

For added control of lambsquarters, pigweed, Russian thistle or devil’s claw, Starane plus atrazine is an excellent tank-mix combination for corn and sorghum uses.