Golden Valley,
Minnesota
April 30, 2009
-
Pays three-to-one in corn and soybeans
- Accounts for < 15 percent of variable production cost
Crop protection
input costs account for less than 15 percent of a grower’s
variable production costs for corn and soybeans, but can provide
returns of 300 percent or more, according to
Syngenta Crop
Protection.
“In 2008, crop protection was estimated to
account for 8.8 percent of corn variable costs and 12.4 percent
of soybean variable costs*,” reports Pat Steiner,
AgriEdge®
Corn Program
manager with Syngenta.
In corn, extensive research demonstrates that a
soil-applied herbicide is one of the best investments you can
make, says Steiner. This was recently reinforced by results of
2007 and 2008 herbicide timing studies conducted by Purdue, Ohio
State and Southern Illinois Universities.
“In these studies, applying
Lexar® corn herbicide at pre-emergence and
glyphosate at post-emergence increased glyphosate-tolerant corn
yields by an average of 18 to 30 bushels per acre compared to an
all-post glyphosate program,” reports Steiner.
In soybeans, soil-applied herbicides protect
against yield loss due to early season weeds, potentially
improving gross return by $21 to $40/A**, or profit by $6 to
$30/A, a study by The Ohio State University finds.
According to the researchers of The Ohio State
University study, pre-emergence herbicide typically results in
an approximately 10 percent yield advantage over post-
application when the weeds are larger than 4 to 6 inches tall.
In a 50 bu/A soybean yield environment, this equates to about 3
to 5 bu/A yield advantage or $21 to $40 additional revenue. The
additional revenue, minus the cost of pre-emergence herbicides
of approximately $10 to $15 per acre, gives growers $6 to $30
more per acre in net gain, they conclude.
Early-season weed control can also save money on
corn fertilizer, according to a recent University of Wisconsin
(UW) study that teamed soil specialists with weed scientists to
evaluate the effects of herbicide timing on
nitrogen (N) efficiency.
“In 2006 and 2007 field studies, delayed
post-emergence glyphosate programs required up to two times more
nitrogen to produce the same corn yield as plots treated with
pre-emergence herbicides or early post-emergence herbicides,”
reports Chris Boerboom, UW weed scientist. Giant foxtail and
common lambsquarters were the predominant weed species in both
years.
According to Steiner, the UW study is
particularly significant because “it puts some real numbers to
what many have suspected all along – that weedy fields waste
nitrogen dollars.”
In a comparison of nitrogen uptake conducted by
Syngenta, researchers measured more than 9 pounds per acre of
nitrogen accumulation in one- to two-inch weeds – a value of
about $4.50/acre at current nitrogen prices ($0.50/lb). The
weeds absorbed some of the nitrogen that would have been
available for corn that by the V2 stage, corn treated with
glyphosate had only accumulated half the amount of nitrogen as
corn in weed-free plots treated pre-emergence with
Lumax® herbicide.
To encourage
early-season weed control, the
AgriEdge Corn Program from Syngenta offers incentives for
using Lexar, Lumax, Camix®, Halex® GT,
Bicep II Magnum® or Bicep Lite II Magnum®
pre-emergence herbicides in conjunction with qualifying Garst®,
Golden Harvest® or NK® Seeds corn
hybrids. Incentives for early-season weed control in NK
Soybeans are also available through the
AgriEdge Soybean Program.
In multi-year Syngenta trials across the Midwest,
pre-emergence application of Lumax and Lexar herbicides
generated a 15 bu/A and 18 bu/A increase in corn yields,
respectively, compared to a straight, early post-emergence
glyphosate application.
Yield increases could be even higher this year,
notes Steiner. “Last year’s wet weather and herbicide delays
have encouraged a large build-up of weed seeds in the soil bank
that are just waiting for warm weather and moisture to take
off.”
For more information about the 2009 AgriEdge
Program or to download a Program Use Guide, growers should visit
www.AgriEdge.com. Use guides are also available from
authorized Garst, Golden Harvest and NK Seeds dealers or crop
protection retailers.
Syngenta is
one of the world's leading companies with more than 24,000
employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose:
Bringing plant potential to life®. Through
world-class science, global reach and commitment to our
customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the
environment and improve health and quality of life. For more
information about us please go to
www.syngenta.com.
*Source: USDA/Global Insight 2008
**Based on soybean prices of $8/bu
Important: Always read and follow all bag tag,
grower agreement and label instructions before buying or using
these products. Bicep II Magnum, Bicep Lite II Magnum, Lexar and
Lumax are Restricted Use Pesticides.
Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. warrants that its
products conform to the chemical description set forth on the
products’ labels. NO OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE SHALL APPLY TO SYNGENTA PRODUCTS.
Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. neither assumes nor authorizes
any representatives or other person to assume for it any
obligation or liability other than such as is expressly set
forth herein. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL SYNGENTA CROP
PROTECTION, INC. BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY USE OR HANDLING OF ITS PRODUCTS. No
statements or recommendations contained herein are to be
construed as inducements to infringe any relevant patent now or
hereafter in existence.
AgriEdge®, Bicep II Magnum®,
Bicep Lite II Magnum®, Camix®, Halex®
GT, Lumax®, Lexar®, NK®,
Bringing plant potential to life®, and the Syngenta
logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Garst®
is a registered trademark of Garst Seed Company. Golden Harvest®
is a registered trademark of Golden Harvest Seeds, Inc. NK Seeds
is a business unit of Syngenta Seeds, Inc. |
