When it comes to herbicides, growers have more options than ever and – at the same time – have fewer options than ever. This double-edged sword of resistance development is made even sharper by the fact that genetic traits allow for more wide-spread usage of crop protection products than ever before. But where cost, efficacy and safety were once a grower’s main concerns; resistance management has now been added to the mix.

Stine’s corn agronomy department recommends that growers who invest in high-quality Stine hybrids work closely with their agronomy team on a program of early scouting and stewardship practices that discourage weed activity throughout the growing season and learn to spot potential problems that may impact this year’s yield and yields for years to come.

Robert Hall, Stine Agronomy Director, recommends that growers learn how to scout for herbicide-resistant weeds and what steps they should take if they suspect that they have identified resistant weeds. Through tillage techniques, rotations and using herbicides with different modes of action, growers can minimize the development of resistant weeds.

One new tool that growers may find helpful is a new online course developed by the National Corn Growers Association and made available without cost to growers, students, educators and industry professionals.

This training tool will walk you through the science of herbicide resistance development, environmental issues attached to herbicide resistance, agronomic factors and provide complete information for growers on how to:

• Implement recommended techniques to avoid herbicide resistance
• Diagnose suspected cases
• Manage resistant weed populations

The course includes comments by corn growers from different areas of the country on techniques they’ve found successful for reducing the incidence of resistant weeds.

The full course can be completed in about 45 minutes, and includes  an option to exit out and return to the curriculum if necessary.

To access this online tool, go to http://209.98.199.114/ncga-wrm/.