ASK THE AGRONOMIST BLOG

As reports of dicamba damage increase across the country, Stine founder and CEO Harry Stine has been candid in his conversations about the herbicide injury growers are seeing and the falsehoods that are spreading about the true culprit. While we still have a lot of samples from multiple fields that are still processing, we can confirm that elevated levels of dicamba are present in the results we have received thus far.

In late June, various test samples were taken from a field north of Knoxville, Iowa, and submitted to the South Dakota Agricultural Laboratories. The results detected just one chemistry present on the samples — dicamba, which registered 2.66 ppb. Stine RSA Dustin Ellis notes, “This field was one of the first fields that I was called about toward the end of June and is north of Knoxville. The entire farm was cupped. Even today, you can still see the new growth with little cupping, which is one characteristic of dicamba.”

Samples from two fields near Lindsay, Nebraska, also came back with elevated levels of dicamba, with 10.2 ppb of dicamba registered in one and 8.81 ppb in the other. No other chemistries were detected in the foliage samples.

As we test more fields throughout the country, we’ll continue to report our findings. If these early test results are any indicator, dicamba is undoubtedly the culprit of the damage we’re seeing in our fields.

As a reminder, Stine growers who are experiencing suspected dicamba damage in their fields are eligible for free sampling through Stine. Contact your local Stine sales rep if you suspect dicamba in your fields.

Stine’s 2022 corn lineup has yield plus options that fit different growing environments. From our full line of Agrisure^® corn traits to our own Stine GT^™ and conventional options, Stine has you covered. Learn more about some of our top yielders in the field year after year and what our experts have to say about their performance.

Stine 9202-G Brand Corn
Part of the Stine 9202 genetic family, Stine 9202-G is an 85–87-day relative maturity hybrid that features glyphosate tolerance. This product broadly adapts west to east and has good stress tolerance, including tolerance to northern corn leaf blight. With excellent roots and stalks, this product produces plants that stand up to varying weather elements and other stressors. As an HP Corn^® designated product, Stine 9202-G has a positive response to higher populations. It also boasts the Agrisure Artesian^® trait for optimum performance in drought-like conditions. Stine Corn Technical Agronomist Tony Lenz notes that this is a great traditional-looking taller hybrid. “It’s a good silage option but still works very well for grain yields. It’s been a stable hybrid in our lineup for many years,” he adds. Stine RSA Jason Ashley notes, “9202-G has been a very good and popular hybrid in my northern region (south central Minnesota). It has emerged extremely well and can handle stress and some of the sandier rougher soils to the north. It stands well and continuously yields well, which has made several of our customers really like this corn.”

Stine 9728E-20 Brand Corn
A 109–111-day relative maturity product, Stine 9728E-20 works well in variable soil types. It features the Agrisure Viptera^® 3110 trait for season-long insect control and herbicide flexibility with both glyphosate and glufosinate (Liberty^®) tolerance. This is a great choice for lower planting populations and produces excellent roots and stalks for outstanding standability and performance. Stine 9728E-20 also features very good disease resistance and structured refuge in the bag. Stine RSA Kurt Johnson notes this is a go-to product in his region (central Kansas and central south-central Nebraska). “The two modes of action above ground provide the necessary season-long protection we need in our region. I consider this a workhorse type hybrid that adapts to variable soil types, providing top yields on our soils. We plant this hybrid in dryland and irrigated situations and have had excellent results in both,” he adds.

Note: 20% structured refuge required in corn-growing areas; 20% structured refuge required in cotton-growing areas. Consult the Syngenta Stewardship Guide for additional refuge requirements.

Stine 9808E-20 Brand Corn
This 114­–116-day relative maturity product is a leader in our southern region. It works especially well in loam to clay-loam soils and has very good disease protection coupled with excellent roots and stalks. It works well in all row widths and features the Agrisure Viptera 3110 and LibertyLink^® traits for tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides. Stine RSA Kevin Ryan (Delta South) notes, “9808E-20 has been a continuing performer in the south. It has excellent emergence in the cooler, wet soils and fast drydown for early harvest.” He adds, “I like to see a mid-season nitrogen application with sulfur to maximize the yield potential of this hybrid.” Stine Corn Technical Agronomist Mike Smith agrees that 9808E-20 is a leader in the south and is as an excellent workhorse type product for variable soil types. He says, “On the higher-yielding soils, I recommend increasing the population as this hybrid will respond to season-long fertility applications. We also see a nice response to early (V6) and late (VT) fungicide applications.”

Stine 9814-20 Brand Corn
Stine 9814-20 brand corn boasts the Agrisure Viptera 3110 and LibertyLink traits for herbicide flexibility with tolerance to both glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides. This is a 117–119-day relative maturity product that features best-in-class above-ground insect control. The product works well in variable soil types and produces taller plants with excellent late-season health and grain quality for great silage appeal. This is an excellent choice for lower planting populations. Stine RSA Kevin Krabel (central Illinois) notes, “9814-20 is a great silage hybrid for growers who want tonnage. This hybrid is a good workhorse type hybrid in the clay loam soils up north and it gives consistent yield results over diverse corn acres.”

To learn more about Stine’s corn lineup, contact your local Stine sales rep today.

During the past five years, increased use of various forms of dicamba has created issues for both farmers and non-farmers. The requirements needed to safely apply this herbicide in soybeans make timely and effective application difficult and present a significant amount of risk to both growers and applicators. Unfortunately, as we reported a few weeks ago, dicamba damage to soybeans is widespread again this year. To assist our grower customers who are experiencing dicamba damage to their fields, Stine is offering to pay the cost of dicamba testing for suspected damage now through August 1, 2021.

Growers who want to utilize this offer need to contact their Stine independent sales representative (ISR) or regional sales agronomist (RSA) who will collect the sample(s) and submit them to the designated testing entity. For each sample submitted, Stine will cover the cost of testing for dicamba presence. The Stine RSA will receive a copy of the test results to be shared with the customer. 

If you’re unsure who your local Stine ISR or RSA is, use our Find Stine tool or contact us directly at (515) 677-2605. We will be happy put you in touch with a local rep who can gather and submit the sample on your behalf. 

At Stine, we believe that soybean growers need as many options as possible to achieve sound and effective weed control, and we remain committed to offering our customers a multitude of options, all packaged in high-yielding genetics. We are confident in the yield potential of the dicamba-enabled soybean genetics that we offer to our customers. However, given the uncertainty that remains about the long-term viability of dicamba as a soybean weed control solution, we want our grower customers to understand that alternative options are available and that we will assist in any way we can to ensure your fields are positioned for success now and in the future.  

Please contact your local Stine regional sales agronomist for any questions or concerns about dicamba damage in your area.