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Roundup® herbicide was once the proverbial “silver bullet” in cotton. However, resistance concerns have left many growers and university researchers worrying that the “bullet” is losing its knockdown power.

“The days of only using glyphosate for weed control are past,” said Mike Patterson, Auburn University professor and weed scientist. “However, we have the opportunity to be better stewards and bring back some of the older materials we’ve forgotten how to use.”

Patterson recommends growers apply pre-emerge residual herbicides to guard against resistant weed outbreaks. He said planting FiberMax® cotton seed varieties with LibertyLink® technology and using Ignite® 280 herbicide is another way growers can avoid or address resistant weeds.

“I like the LibertyLink system and think most growers in the Southeast would like it, too, if they gave it a good shot,” Patterson said. “Especially if they are timely with their applications of Ignite herbicide, most growers would be well-pleased with the weed control.”

Patterson said Ignite 280 controls several key weeds, including marestail, morningglory, cutleaf eveningprimrose and volunteer peanuts. Growers making timely applications can also get good control of small pigweeds.

Glyphosate-resistant pigweed remains the largest potential weed threat to Southeast cotton growers. Patterson said resistant Palmer pigweed has yet to spread from Georgia into Alabama. One possible cause is that the Chattahoochee River borders the southern half of the two states and few growers farm on both sides. Also, prevailing winds and storms move eastward.

Andy Hurst, Ignite 280 and LibertyLink product manager for Bayer CropScience, said growers should take resistance concerns seriously, but added that with residual herbicides and LibertyLink varieties, they have no shortage of solutions.

“Rotating Roundup Ready and LibertyLink varieties will help growers manage against future resistance and preserve the viability of both systems,” he said.

Patterson also warned Alabama cotton growers to be careful not to import resistant pigweed into the state themselves.

“I’ve been preaching for growers to clean their equipment, especially if they buy used equipment from South Georgia,” he said. “We also want to minimize tropical spiderwort introduction into southeast Alabama. If you don’t have problems, don’t bring them in.”

Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S. business of Bayer CropScience, which has its global headquarters in Monheim, Germany. Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6 billion, is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of about 19,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries, ensuring proximity to dealers and consumers.

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