Ford Baldwin says funding from the Arkansas Soybean
Promotion Board has allowed him and fellow weed scientists
with the Division of Agriculture to examine weed control
options with a "much wider perspective" than might be
possible if they relied solely on industry funding.
"Basically all of the applied weed science research
I do is funded by the Promotion Board," says Baldwin.
That includes his work on application rates, application
timing and use of other herbicides with Roundup Ready
soybeans.
Baldwin says studies conducted by him and researchers
such as Dick Oliver have shown over the past four years
that two applications of a pint of Roundup per acre are
as effective as the higher label rates if the applications
are properly timed.
"The label recommends a quart the first application,
followed by a pint to a quart in a second application,"
notes Baldwin. "So we're reducing the rate by a third
or even a half with no loss in activity if farmers stick
to our timing.
"If they miss our timing, I would be the first to tell
farmers to use the label rate. But we've found that the
timing is much more critical than the rate."
He says making the initial application of Roundup within
the first 14 days after soybean emergence is just as important
as timing is with any other herbicide.
"In 1998, most farmers faced drought condition earlier
than anticipated. The question became, 'Do I spray drought
stressed weeds, or do I wait for a rain?'
"The weed control programs we emphasize normally enable
farmers to spray before they get into a drought stress
situation."
Baldwin says grower checkoff funding has allowed U
of A weed scientists to answer growers' questions about
whether herbicides other than Roundup can be used effectively
with Roundup Ready soybeans.
"Monsanto has advertised a Roundup-only program that
says, 'If you need anything else, use more Roundup.' Other
companies are saying, 'Put our herbicide down in the soil
and you'll prevent a lot of that early weed competition.'
"We've found that both sides can be right. A Roundup-only
program can work well, but during years of environmental
extremes like 1998, when it was too wet in extreme north
Arkansas and too dry everywhere else, having a residual
soil-applied herbicide can be very beneficial in a Roundup
Ready program."
Soybeans Today January 1999
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ATTN: Warren Carter
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Phone: 501-228-1265.
Copyright �2000 Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.
All rights reserved.
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