• Crop Protection
  • Feb 13, 2019

Plan For This Season’s Biggest Challenges and Opportunities

Looking up at tall grain bins
If there’s one thing farmers can agree on, it’s that managing a farm isn’t easy. It can be hard to process all the information coming at you. You want to make the most profitable decisions, but who has the time to become an expert on every product and management practice out there?
 
One way to do that is by attending a clinic hosted by your local retailer and WinField United. These clinics are designed to go through the topics we feel are most critical to the 2019 season. We meet with you, look at your situation, talk through possible options and demonstrate application techniques and products. There’s a lot changing in the agriculture industry right now, and we’re here to help you navigate through the uncertainty and make profitable decisions.
 
We make opportunities like these available because it’s our job to gather the latest agronomic information on key areas like spray application and nutrient management efficacy. Here are just some of the topics covered at our clinics.
 
Dicamba applications and weed management don’t have to be difficult 
Dicamba continues to be a hot topic since low-volatility products for in-season use on soybeans and cotton were released. In addition to very specific and sometimes complicated label requirements, each state can also impose its own regulations for application. Researchers and weed science experts came up with extensive application recommendations in an effort to reduce risk to sensitive crops and also to extend the life and efficacy of the new technology. For example, some states impose restrictions on what hours of the day and months of the year in-season dicamba can be applied. That can make planning applications more difficult, and in some cases impossible, especially if conditions aren’t conducive. Work with your agronomist on a contingency plan in the event you have trouble getting those acres sprayed this season.
 
It’s a lot to sort through. A trusted advisor should be helping you understand how new regulations may affect your weed-management program if you plan to plant dicamba-resistant crops this season. Research at the WinField United Innovation Center has discovered adjuvant solutions that can greatly contribute to application success by replicating actual field conditions that applicators commonly encounter. Researchers found that a significant number of fine particles were still present, even when a drift-reduction agent was added to the tank. They also discovered not all drift-reduction agents had the same efficacy in reducing fine-sized droplets.
 
Weed control, with or without dicamba, is all about good coverage.This can mean the difference between average and exceptional weed control. Additional research shows that the right adjuvant can improve herbicide efficacy by ensuring more product reaches its intended target for better plant coverage.
 
Adjuvants can also help in the battle against herbicide-resistant weeds, because with better coverage and the right mix of herbicides, weeds are less likely to escape your control. Doing your own on-farm trials is likely the best way tosee how adjuvants have an impact on weed control in your fields. Before you load up your sprayer, talk through some adjuvant options with your retailer and agronomist.
 
Get fertility right on high-yield acres
As you know, it requires aggressive management to get the most from your high-productivity acres. In addition to the right genetics, you need to manage planting populations and plan a fertility program that matches your yield goal.
 
Offensive hybrids require more nutrition to produce more high-quality grain. Applying the right macronutrients is definitely key, but don’t forget about micronutrients. Although required in smaller amounts, a micronutrient deficiency can limit yield just as much as— or even more than— a macronutrient deficiency. Micronutrients are essential for physiological processes in plants and deficiencies can affect photosynthesis, root growth and development, nitrogen use efficiency and pollination, among other plant functions.
 
While there are many micronutrient products on the market, the most effective ones are backed by rigorous testing and quality data. As with any crop input, you’ll get what you pay for. The ultimate goal with any micronutrient application is to ensure plant uptake, and there are fertilizer products on the market that contain patented technology to improve the movement of micronutrients through the leaf cuticle for better absorption.  
 
Work with your agronomist to plan a season-long micronutrient strategy that includes at-planting, in-season and post season micronutrient applications. Ensuring the correct application timing and nutrient form can help your plants maximize micronutrient uptake.
 
Seek the right resources
Before planting starts, request recommendations and information to help manage your toughest crop production challenges. WinField United will be sponsoring clinics at our retail partner locations to share the latest field research and product information. We’ll cover agronomic topics and provide technical information that has a direct impact on your profitability. In addition, there will be trusted experts available to answer your toughest crop production questions.
 
A clinic is a great way to spend little timeto get customized, relevant agronomic information that can increase your farm’s productivity. For more information or to find a clinic near you, contact your local WinField United retailer.