Achieve the Full Potential of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend and Enlist E3 Soybean Traits

Weed control in soybeans used to be fairly simple. Roundup Ready^® soybeans were the go-to for many growers looking for a convenient solution to manage weeds. But the high selection pressure put on Roundup Ready soybeans over the years has led to herbicide-resistant weeds that are now more difficult to control with traditional herbicide programs. The latest herbicide-resistant trait platforms in soybeans, including Roundup Ready 2 Xtend^® and Enlist E3^® are giving farmers new options for postemergence control of those hard-to-manage weeds. 

Differentiating between the Roundup Ready 2 Xtend and Enlist E3 trait platforms

The biggest difference between Roundup Ready 2 Xtend and Enlist E3 traits are the herbicides that each is tolerant to. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend confers tolerance to postemergence sprays of registered dicamba and glyphosate herbicides. Enlist E3 soybeans are tolerant to postemergence sprays of registered 2,4-D herbicides, glyphosate and glufosinate sprays. Dicamba and 2,4-D are both Group 4 herbicides, although they come from slightly different families.

Which soybean trait is right for your field?

With new options for postemergence weed control, farmers often wonder what trait platform they should be using. There’s really no right answer. Each situation is different, and what’s right for your neighbor may not be the ideal choice for you.

I like to ask farmers what their biggest worry is when it comes to managing their soybeans. If the biggest concern is agronomic challenges, for example controlling white mold, sudden death syndrome or iron deficiency chlorosis then it makes sense to focus on a soybean variety’s genetic package first before the herbicide trait. Disease, insect tolerance and other genetic characteristics should be the first thing you should select to optimize yield potential. On the other hand, if weeds are the most limiting factor for yield potential, choosing the right herbicide package for your acres should involve considering your management style, taking into account what specific weeds are yield-limiting, desired timing of application, and the importance of residual characteristics.

Don’t rely on a silver-bullet solution to weed control

Even though the new technologies are doing a good job of helping keep fields clean, they aren’t a silver bullet and shouldn’t be considered a standalone solution. Whether you plant Roundup Ready 2 Xtend or Enlist E3 soybeans, you’ll still need to plan a season-long weed management strategy that includes preemergence herbicides with residual control. In addition to using multiple modes of action for weed control, you should also make sure you’re choosing the right nozzles to get the best herbicide coverage and adding appropriate adjuvants to the tank mix according to label requirements.

If you have questions about Roundup Ready 2 Xtend or Enlist E3 trait technology, contact your local WinField United retailer.