Unexpected changes in weather before planting can often force you to adjust crop management plans. Many areas of the Midwest are experiencing some level of prolonged or excessive moisture, which can impact disease pathogens present in the soil and timing of weed germination. Before running planters through your fields, be sure to gut-check your early-season plans so you’re able to combat the challenging conditions and give your crops a better chance at success this season.

Examine Your Soils

Soils exposed to the extreme weather and excessive precipitation we’ve seen this season have a higher risk of disease because it creates an ideal environment for disease to thrive. In addition, wet soils often slow crop germination making crops more vulnerable to infection. Knowing your field’s disease history is crucial to choosing the best seed treatment.

Leon Hunter, Syngenta agronomy service manager for the Eastern Midwest, suggests how to handle unexpected weather and last-minute seed treatment adjustments.

If these conditions sound like what you see in your fields, be sure your high-value seed is protected with one of our many seed treatment solutions. They help reduce the risk from early-season disease and insect pressure while optimizing root health, stress tolerance and plant vigor for better emergence.

Dealing With Wet Soils

Soils with high moisture levels often take longer to warm up, increasing the likelihood of delayed weed emergence in your field. To manage weeds in wet soils, consider the following 4 tips:

• Select a herbicide that is going to provide good crop tolerance.
• Ensure that herbicides will provide season-long control of the target weed species.
• Be sure to use multiple effective sites of action.
• Consider a 2-pass program:
  • A 2-pass programs extends the length of residual control, making it more likely the crop will remain weed free until canopy.

Hunter offers this advice to help you get a head-start on weeds.

As you fine-tune your weed management plan, keep in mind the strong performing herbicides from Syngenta.

For corn:

• Acuron®: Contains multiple effective sites of action to control the most difficult weeds, including resistant weeds, with built-in weed resistance management.
• Acuron® Flexi: Delivers powerful, broad-spectrum weed control with added flexibility from preplant up to 30” corn.
• Lexar® EZ: Broad-spectrum control and application flexibility from 14 days preplant up to 12” corn.
• Halex® GT: Flexible post-emergence application delivers residual control of grass and broadleaf weeds until crop canopy.

For your soybeans:

• Boundary® 6.5 EC: Delivers proven early-season grass and broadleaf weed management, and extends the post-emergence application window up to 5 weeks after planting.
• BroadAxe XC: Provides flexible application timing for up to 3 days after planting, but prior to crop emergence.
• Tavium® Plus VaporGrip® Technology: Boasts flexible application from preplant through early post-emergence.
• Flexstar® GT 3.5: Utilizes the Isolink® II Technology adjuvant system for improved effectiveness and reduced crop injury.

Visit ResistanceFighter.com for insights on managing against resistance and herbicide options that fit your farm.

Sign up for the Know More, Grow More Digest to receive twice-monthly agronomic e-mail updates pertinent to your area.

All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.

Syngenta hereby disclaims liability for third-party websites.

©2019 Syngenta. The trademarks or service marks displayed or otherwise used herein are the property of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.