Target Weeds in Cereals

Over the last 45 years, the number of reported resistant biotypes has increased rapidly worldwide, and according to The Center for Integrated Pest Management’s Pesticide Stewardship, resistance to one or more of 25 herbicide families has been observed in more than 65 weed species in the United States.

Grass weeds pose a particular challenge to cereal growers. In addition to directly competing with the crop for water, light and nutrients, grass weeds can cause lodging and seeds can contaminate harvested grain. Ten wild oat plants per square foot can reduce barley yield by 18% and wheat yield by more than 24%.

Tumbleweeds like Russian thistle and kochia also pose serious threats to yield. Spring cereals are particularly susceptible to infestation — Russian thistle can cause yield losses of up to 50% in heavy infestations. Kochia can cause near-complete crop failure and mean losses in sorghum have been reported at 62%. Increasing incidence of herbicide resistance can make controlling weeds more challenging and increase the risk of losses.

Regional Choices for Grass Weed Control in Cereals

Cereal growers have an ally in their fight against resistance. Axial^® brand herbicides are high-performing chemistries that deliver consistent results, with two options to target grass weeds: Axial Bold and Axial Star.

Both Axial Bold and Axial Star are postemergence herbicides that offer broad control of grass weeds, including tough wild oat and foxtail populations as well as kochia. U.S. growers have shown their enthusiasm for Axial brands from Minnesota to Washington, with North Dakota leading in converts to both Axial brand products.

Axial Bold contains two active ingredients for control of pervasive grass weeds including barnyardgrass, Italian ryegrass and wild oat. Axial Bold is optimized for tank mixing, making it compatible with broadleaf herbicides for more efficient knockdown of mixed weeds and less grass antagonism.

Axial Star provides industry-leading control of mixed-grass and kochia, with tank-mix flexibility to tailor weed control solutions to each field’s specific needs.

Tank-Mix Partners Enhance Cereal Weed Control

Talinor^® herbicide is as an ideal tank-mix partner with Axial brand products because it controls more than 45 tough broadleaf weeds in wheat and barley including kochia, mayweed, chamomile and Russian thistle, as well as those resistant to ALS-inhibitor, synthetic auxin and glyphosate herbicides. With two active ingredients and two effective modes of action, Talinor knocks down weeds the first time, and offers a wide application window, from the two-leaf to pre-boot stage of the crop.

Service and support for the Axial brands and Talinor are available. To provide direct access to local in-field support, including free resistance testing, find your rep at SyngentaUS.com/Rep-Finder.