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Potato growers are no strangers to late blight, especially in regions like the Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest. Cool, wet weather conditions provide the right environment for the spread of the disease.

Potato late blight can rapidly damage potato crops, starting with the foliage and tubers. Recognizing the symptoms, understanding management strategies and staying updated on available tools and resources can help growers design an effective program for managing late blight.

According to University of Minnesota Extension, late blight symptoms manifest as small, light-to-dark green, circular- or irregularly shaped spots on lower leaves. White, cottony mildew is often visible on infected leaves. Stems, petioles and tubers are also susceptible to the disease.

Additionally, late blight can cause leaves to appear greasy or water-soaked, with a distinct decaying odor in the fields, according to the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture. Upon closer inspection, affected potatoes exhibit a tan to reddish brown dry rot.

Managing late blight starts with removing any previously infected plants and avoiding planting in low-lying, swampy areas. Fungicides that incorporate a novel mode of action without cross-resistance to other fungicides are a critical part of late blight programs. Regular field scouting to detect early signs of infection helps inform timely applications that maximize their impact.

One notable fungicide in late blight management is Orondis® Opti fungicide. Its unique combination of oxathiapiprolin and chlorothalonil helps provide effective protection to potatoes with late blight pressure.

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Another option to consider is Orondis Ultra. This includes oxathiapiprolin and mandipropamid, making it a good option for growers whose programs already include fungicides with chlorothalonil.

Kiran Shetty, Ph.D., technical product lead for potatoes at Syngenta, emphasizes the importance of proactive late blight management with vigilant scouting. Shetty underscores the importance of timely fungicide applications to protect yields in the field and surrounding areas.

Hear more from Shetty about the best chemistries to beat late blight:

With proactive measures and access to effective fungicides, vigilant potato growers can beat late blight and safeguard their yield potential.

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Ear rots plague growers regardless of region and weather. These fungi are most commonly found in corn in the Midwest, Upper Midwest, Central Plains and Northern Plains. Infections can cause lighter, lower quality kernels, introduce mycotoxins that impact feed value and reduce marketable yields. There are different management options, but first, it is important to identify what type of ear rot you are dealing with.

Diplodia Ear Rot

A close-up photo shows the base of an ear of corn affected by Diplodia ear rot, with powdery white mold growing between kernels.
White moldy kernels are a sign of Diplodia ear rot.

Diplodia ear rot is very common in cool and wet environments. To determine if you are dealing with Diplodia, you need to look out for white mold, with coverage ranging from the base of the ear to the entire ear. The white moldy kernels will also have raised black bumps on them also known as, pycnidia.

A common way to manage this specific disease is by adjusting your combine settings to discard the diseased kernels. University of Kentucky Extension recommends quickly drying the affected grains to 15-16% to keep the disease from spreading in storage. As with any fungus, be sure to store the infected grain away from healthy yields.

Fusarium Ear Rot

A close photo of a corn cob affected by Fusarium ear rot. The white fungal growth on the kernels is clear to see.
White fungal growth on kernels is the first sign of Fusarium ear rot.

Fusarium ear rot often occurs in warm and dry environments. The first symptom in a crop affected by Fusarium verticillioides is a white or pinkish fungal growth on the kernels. The fungi present in this disease can also produce mycotoxins which can affect livestock, especially pigs and horses. To manage Fusarium, dry infected grain quickly and store at or below 18% moisture.

Gibberella Ear Rot

An ear of corn affected by Gibberella ear rot. Half of the ear has visible pink and reddish fungal growth starting at the tip of the ear.
Pink to red fungal growth is a recognizable symptom of Giberella ear rot.

Gibberella is commonly found in cool and wet temperatures. It also produces mycotoxins which primarily affect swine. Corn infected with Gibberella will have pink to red fungal growth on the tips of the ear. If the disease is severe, the silks and husk will sometimes stick to the ear. Similar to Fusarium, manage this disease by storing the grains at or below 18% moisture to reduce the spread.

Aspergillus Ear Rot

A close-up photo of an ear of corn affected by Aspergillus ear rot. Olive-colored spores are growing on the end of the ear and powdery mold is beginning to grow between kernels.
Yellow to olive-colored spores are an identifying characteristic of Aspergillus ear rot.

Another mycotoxin-producing fungus, Aspergillus flavus occurs in hot and dry environments. Look out for yellow to olive-colored spores on the end of the ear and powdery mold between the kernels. You may also notice the fungus overwintering on soil debris which infects next season’s kernels through wind and insect damage.

Stressed plants are most susceptible to Aspergillus ear rot. To set corn up for success, choose hybrids that tolerate drought stress, provide fertilizers and consider reevaluating your insect management plan.

No grower wants to deal with ear rot disease, mycotoxins, or lost yields – that’s why it’s important to be able to identify them and take action. If you suspect ear rots are impacting your fields, speak with your local Syngenta representative for additional recommendations.

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Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, is a bacterial disease that can significantly damage or kill citrus trees. HLB is tough to diagnose; by the time it’s recognized, HLB has likely spread to many surrounding trees. Even worse: there’s no known cure for the bacterium. You can gain the upper hand against HLB by controlling its carrier, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP).

The Sneaky Symptoms of HLB

During the first year of infection, trees show no signs of HLB but ACP can still take up the bacterium and spread it to other trees. When symptoms do begin to manifest, they’re easily mistaken as signs of nutrient deficiency, since HLB impedes the tree’s vascular system which inhibits the movement of nutrients. Symptoms include leaf yellowing, misshapen fruit that do not ripen, premature fruit drop and root dieback.

Asian Citrus Psyllid and HLB

The reproductive and feeding habits of ACP make it a perfect carrier of the bacterium that causes HLB. When an infected psyllid feeds on a citrus tree’s leaves and stems, it creates a localized infection and transmits the bacterium into the tree. The bacterium quickly spread throughout the plant from the point of infection.

Female psyllids lay eggs in the same region where they feed. If the nymphs of infected females begin feeding on the infected area of the tree, they’ll acquire the bacterium, molt to the winged adult stage and disperse, taking the disease along with them. They’ll then carry it for the rest of their lives, traveling miles by air currents or as hitchhikers on harvested fruit.

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Managing Asian Citrus Psyllid

Without a cure for HLB, controlling ACP is the primary strategy to prevent its spread. First, prioritize scouting for ACP and look for the winged adult insects as well as the yellow-bodied nymphs. ACP are often found feeding on newly developed leaves when flush is forming. If ACP populations are present, apply an insecticide like Minecto® Pro to help control the pest. If you suspect that trees have been fed upon by ACP, quickly quarantine them to prevent the spread of HLB.

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Todd Poots is wearing a black ball cap with red lettering that reads, ‘Poots Heritage Farm, 150 Years’. There is perhaps no garment in the world that would suit him better.

Poots loves agriculture in a way those removed from America’s farms and ranches may never fully comprehend. He dedicated decades of his career and life to bettering the ag industry, from working the land to contributing through his career at Syngenta Seeds. And he certainly loves the farm his hat represents, which has been in his family for more than a century and a half.

Above all else, though, Poots values his family. If the multigenerational farm proved incapable of taking care of that family, Poots and his wife Marta would never have come back. In fact, for more than 30 years, they didn’t, at least not anywhere close to a full-time basis. Todd and Marta raised their three sons — Preston, Matthew and Clayton — off the farm as Todd carved out a successful career with Syngenta Seeds. But before we get to all that, let’s back up and take a look at the farm Todd Poots credits as the foundation for the man he has become.

The Poots Farm Origin Story

In 1869, Todd’s great-great-grandfather settled on 160 acres near Newton, Iowa. That original 160-acre parcel is still part of the farm, though the operation is about twice that size now. Todd grew up on the farm and, for the most part, loved his youth spent working with the family’s hogs, cattle and crops. Like most farm parents, Jerold and Cynthia Poots passed on the values of community and an honest day’s work to Todd and his two sisters. Dirt under the fingernails and a sunburned neck were badges of honor to be worn proudly, and Todd did.

As much as Todd loved his life on the farm, there wasn’t really a full-time employment opportunity for him on the place after he graduated from Iowa State University. “My folks were pretty self-sufficient here on the farm,” he says. “For a long time, Mom and Dad had no plans to ever really retire. They were just going to work until their bodies couldn’t do it anymore. I feel very fortunate that they held on to it.”

Circling Back Home

Todd got a job right out of college working for the Garst Seed Company, which was later acquired by Syngenta in 2004. He and Marta raised their family in Huxley, Iowa, near the Slater Syngenta facilities, for 35 years as Todd built a successful career at Syngenta. Today, Todd’s role with Syngenta Seeds is focused primarily on corn hybrids and helping growers through his role in supply planning.

Through the years, Todd and Marta kept their family close to agriculture; the boys were active members of 4-H and FFA, and they regularly made the hourlong trip to help Grandma and Grandpa on the farm in Newton. As time went on, Todd found himself spending more and more time back at the old place.

“I was staying in our camper overnight during calving season,” he recalls. “I just got more involved when the need arose. Eventually, Marta and I decided to move back and build our home on the farm in 2022.”

Todd expresses gratitude toward his longtime employer for allowing him to adjust his role with the company to make more room for expanded responsibilities on the family farm. “Syngenta affords a lot of opportunities for employees to transfer and really grow,” he says.

Working Sustainably for the Next Generation

Todd describes the crop and livestock operation as mostly capable of sustaining itself. The farm is home to a 60-head herd of commercial beef cows, which supplies a calf-to-finish beef business that the family is proud to provide several longtime customers. They have about 100 acres of pasture, and the last couple years have implemented more rotational grazing practices to stretch that pasture further than ever before.

“Most of our pasture ground is rolling terrain and not all that suitable for other crops,” Todd says. “That 100 acres is about the size that we can comfortably get through the pasture season with our climate and rainfall. We’ve had three straight years of dry weather, but the rotational grazing already seems to have helped a lot.”

The balance of the farm is dedicated to crops, though in a different rotation than most of the neighbors, with alfalfa rotated with corn and soybeans to help support the cattle.

Through it all, Todd has kept his eye fixed on what has driven him throughout his life and career in agriculture: family. Todd’s youngest son, Clayton, is the most interested in eventually coming back and running the farm. It will take a considerable amount of work and planning, but if that plan indeed comes to fruition, Clayton will mark the sixth generation of the Poots family to cultivate this piece of land. “It excited me to work with the younger generation of agriculture. It’s a two-way street, having them bring their knowledge to me and sharing mine with them,” Todd says.

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The Poots family farm near Newton, Iowa.
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The Poots farm has been in operation for 155 years, making it part of the 1,844 Heritage Farms honored in Iowa.
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The Poots farm has a 60-head herd of commercial beef cows, which supplies a calf-to-finish beef business.
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In addition to corn and soybeans, Poots rotates alfalfa in to help support the cattle.
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A commemorative rock graces the entrance to the Poots farm.
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Poots manages the farm with a mix of innovative change and traditional practices.
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Todd and Marta’s youngest son, Clayton, has expressed interest in running the farm, which would make him the sixth generation to work the land.

But Todd and Marta aren’t putting any undue pressure on any of their kids to do that; if the farm isn’t going to provide economic and emotional fulfilment, there’s no obligation. “We’ve got grandchildren now,” Todd says. “You’ve got to be able to balance it. Our place is small by modern standards, and at least for a while it’s going to take both of us farming while having outside careers. But if you really want it, it can work.”

It’s not lost on the Poots family just how rare and fragile a multigenerational business — and particularly a farm — can be. Change must be embraced right alongside tradition. There’s a very fine line between trigger-happy and gun-shy, and the next generation needs to be properly incentivized while respecting the hard-earned wisdom of Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.

“Of course, I look at some things differently than my dad did when it comes to the farm,” says Todd. “But sometimes I’ll make decisions and come to find out it’s everything my dad did.”

“When it comes to innovation, especially on a smaller farm, you have to be careful,” he continues. “You can’t change the whole world at once. You often have to make small innovations, anything that can help the bottom line. I’m looking forward to a future of trying to get everything we can out of the farm while still being true to the land we have.”

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It’s certainly a future worth looking forward to. And if the Poots family continues to stay true to that philosophy, they can probably start drawing up designs for 200th anniversary ball caps.

Cover photo: Three generations of the Poots family in August 2019, celebrating the farm’s 150th anniversary. From left: Matthew and Marissa Poots, Clayton and Grace Poots, Jerold and Cynthia Poots, Todd and Marta Poots, Preston and Mark Poots-Jacobsen. 

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Can you recognize common corn and soybean weeds? Characteristics like leaf shape, petiole length and the presence of hairs can help you identify these yield-robbers. Learn to tell the difference between these common weeds (including waterhemp and Palmer amaranth!) and put your knowledge to the test.

Plus, get fast facts about other weeds like horseweed, common lambsquarter and giant ragweed.

An infographic titled 'What's That Weed?' depicting Polaroid-style photos that feature silhouettes of various weeds, each with a description of that weed’s scientific name, life cycle, habitat, and appearance. The silhouette photos flip over to reveal a full-color image of each weed.

Waterhemp, aka Amaranthus tuberculatus. FAMILY: Amaranthaceae (Pigweed). LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Native to North America and widespread from central to eastern U.S. DESCRIPTION: Seedling leaves are oar-shaped;
true leaves are alternate, oval to lanceolate in shape (wider at base and taper toward leaf tip) and measure 0.5 to 6 inches long and 0.25 to 1.25 inches wide. Waxy, hairless stems and leaves with prominent veins and small notch at leaf tip. Brightly-colored stems range from red-pink to green.

Palmer amaranth, aka Amaranthus palmeri. FAMILY: Amaranthaceae (Pigweed) LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Native to Southwest U.S./Northern Mexico and is widespread throughout the country. DESCRIPTION: Seedling leaves more oval- or diamond-shaped; true leaves are alternate and lanceolate in shape, measuring 2 to 8 inches long and 0.5 to 2 inches wide. Smooth, hairless stems and leaves with prominent white veins on undersurface. Single hair located at leaf tip notch of first few true leaves can often (but not always) distinguish Palmer amaranth fromwaterhemp.

Horseweed, aka Marestail or Erigeron canadensis. FAMILY: Asteraceae (Composite) LIFE CYCLE: Winter and summer annual. HABITAT: Native to North and Central America. DESCRIPTION: Seedlings feature basal rosette with oval- to egg-shaped leaves; true leaves are alternate, linear, hairy and irregularly-toothed, measuring 4 inches long and 0.25 to 0.5 inches wide. Sessile leaf pattern, meaning no petiole is present. Leaves are progressively smaller towards top of stem.

Giant ragweed, aka Ambrosia trifida. FAMILY: Asteraceae (Composite). LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Native to North America and widespread from central to eastern U.S. DESCRIPTION: First pair of true leaves are unlobed and lanceolate in shape. All other subsequent leaves are 3-lobed or 5-lobed. Leaves are opposite and hairy with toothed margins, measuring 6 inches long and 4 to 8 inches wide.

Common cocklebur, aka Xanthium strumarium. FAMILY: Asteraceae (Composite). LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Exact origins debated; native to the Americas and possibly Eurasia. DESCRIPTION: Seedlings feature lanceolate leaves and purple stem base; first pair of true leaves appear opposite one another. Subsequent true leaves are alternate, triangular and ovate with stiff hairs and irregular margins, measuring 2 to 6 incheslong. Thick, rough stems featuring dark purple or black spots.

Common lambsquarters, aka Chenopodium album. FAMILY: Amaranthaceae (Pigweed). LIFE CYCLE: Summer annual. HABITAT: Believed to have originated in Eurasia. DESCRIPTION: Dull green color with mealy, whitish-gray coating on upper leaf surface. Seedling leaves are opposite and narrow with rounded tips, no veins visible. True leaves are alternate, triangular to lanceolate in shape with undulate to toothed margins.

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Weeds represent a significant economic threat to growers across the country. Identifying weeds and remaining vigilant through regular scouting is critical to formulating a proper plan. Uncontrolled or mismanaged weeds can damage crops, compete for resources, contribute to herbicide resistance and slow harvest. According to Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, incorrectly identifying problem weeds can mean the difference between profit and loss.

Waterhemp vs. Palmer Amaranth

Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are two of the most widespread and devastating yield-robbers growers face, with populations in almost every corn- and soybean-growing region in the U.S. To make matters worse, the International Herbicide-Resistant Weed Database Weed Science map shows that populations of both weeds exhibit herbicide resistance.

These pigweeds are frequently misidentified, but a few key characteristics help set them apart.

Waterhemp

A close-up aerial view of a cluster of waterhemp weeds.
Short petioles help distinguish this cluster of waterhemp from Palmer amaranth.

An AgWeb poll asked about 400 growers what their “top weed nemesis” was. Unsurprisingly, waterhemp took the top spot, earning 35% of the votes.

Waterhemp is a small-seeded broadleaf weed that compensates for its tiny seed size with a fast growth rate. Its lightweight seeds thrive in minimum and no-till situations, where they germinate quickly near the soil surface or in crop residue. Plants generally produce about 250,000 seeds per plant, although some can produce as many as one million seeds, making them a prolific and costly problem for growers.

Waterhemp emerges throughout the growing season, but a higher percentage appears later than most annual summer weeds. This allows waterhemp to escape many preemergence herbicide applications and persist after post-emergence applications, especially those with no residual, like glyphosate, or limited residual. Waterhemp plants that are left to go to seed can quickly populate the soil seed bank with millions of seedlings, increasing resistance and ensuring costly management issues for years to come.

Look for:

  • Waxy, oar-shaped seedling leaves.
  • Hairless stems that range from green to red-pink in color.
  • Glossy alternate true leaves that are oval or lanceolate in shape.

Palmer Amaranth

A close-up, aerial view of a cluster of Palmer amaranth weeds.
Long petioles help distinguish this cluster of Palmer amaranth from waterhemp.

Another broadleaf weed, Palmer amaranth shares many characteristics with waterhemp. Its small seeds thrive in minimum tillage fields. Plants can produce at least 100,000 seeds when in competition with a crop and almost 500,000 seeds in non-competitive scenarios. If escaped weeds get the chance to produce seed, they can cause serious consequences for future seasons. Like waterhemp, Palmer amaranth persists after non-residual or limited residual herbicide applications. Palmer amaranth has been steadily spreading northward in recent years and continues to raise alarms for herbicide resistance.

Palmar amaranth’s emergence period extends well into the growing season. Out of the many tough weeds growers need to scout for, Palmer amaranth may be the most unpredictable. Start scouting early and continue throughout the growing season to stay in control.

Look for:

  • Oval- or diamond-shaped seedling leaves.
  • Alternate true leaves that are alternate and lanceolate in shape.
  • Smooth and hairless stems.
  • Seed heads that grow up to 30 inches long.
  • A single hair at the leaf notch of the first few true leaves can sometimes, but not always, distinguish Palmer amaranth from waterhemp.

Even experienced growers may still confuse these two weeds. When in doubt, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recommends a few tips to help growers tell the difference between waterhemp and Palmer amaranth:

  1. Palmer amaranth cotyledons tend to be longer and narrower compared to waterhemp cotyledons.
  2. True leaves on Palmer amaranth may be notched at the tip; hairs are less common on waterhemp seedlings.
  3. If the petiole is shorter than the leaf blade, the weed is probably waterhemp. Palmer amaranth, on the other hand, has petioles that are as long as or longer than the leaf blade.

Proper identification is more difficult after the flowering stage, so don’t let weeds mature before scouting.

How to Identify Common Weeds

Although waterhemp and Palmer amaranth dominate headlines across the Midwest and Central Plains, there are plenty of other tough weeds that should be on your radar.

Common Ragweed

A close-up photo of common ragweed.
Hairy stems, fern-like weeds and green flowers are identifying characteristics of common ragweed.

Common ragweed is an aggressive broadleaf weed from the aster family. According to Michigan State University, one common ragweed plant per 10 square feet can cause a 30% yield reduction in soybeans and average 3,500 seeds per plant.

Look for:

  • Common ragweed grows to 1-3 feet in height.
  • Purple seedling stems and dark green, paddle-shaped cotyledons.
  • Green leaves that are deeply divided into lobes.
  • Branched and hairy stems.
  • Fern-like leaves 2-4 inches in length with longer stalks on lower parts of the plant.
  • Clusters of green male and female flowers.

Giant Ragweed

Giant ragweed growing in a field of soybean seedlings.
Rough, heavily lobed leaves and weed height are indicators of giant ragweed.

Another aster, this large-seeded broadleaf can reach heights of up to 20 feet and has a big appetite for your crop’s resources. Giant ragweed typically emerges several weeks prior to corn and soybean planting. It is especially difficult to control because giant ragweed seeds germinate deep within the soil profile.

Look for:

  • Thick, fleshy cotyledons.
  • Heavily lobed leaves that are rough to the touch.
  • Opposite leaf arrangement as the plant develops.
  • Weed height that is 1-5 feet taller than the crop with which it is competing.

Common Cocklebur

Common cocklebur growing in a corn field.
Stiff hairs on the surface of leaves help growers differentiate between common cocklebur and other weeds.

At the seedling stage, this weed is easily confused with giant ragweed because the long cotyledons of the two species look similar. However, common cocklebur emerges closer to the end of planting. Cocklebur’s large leaves intercept a lot of sunlight, making it a highly competitive yield reducer.

Look for:

  • Triangular or oval leaves that are approximately 2-6 inches in length.
  • Stiff hairs on the surface areas of the leaves.
  • Three veins extending from the same point on the upper side of the leaf.
  • Long petioles.

Horseweed (Marestail)

A dense patch of marestail growing in a farm field.
Marestail leaves get progressively smaller toward the top of the plant.

While this weed may germinate year-round in different geographies, it typically is seen in late summer or fall, and in early spring. Knocking out this weed before its highly mobile seeds spread throughout fields offers the best chance of control.

Look for:

  • A basal rosette with oval to egg-shaped leaves soon after emergence.
  • Alternate true leaves that are hairy and irregularly toothed.
  • Leaves that decrease in size toward the top of the plant in a sessile leaf pattern.
  • Growth up to 6 feet tall.

Common Lambsquarters

Common lambsquarters growing in a field.
The mealy white coating on this weed indicates it is common lambsquarters.

This early-emerging weed is one of the most competitive species, particularly due to its rapid growth rate. Each plant produces an average of 72,500 seeds, which are some of the most resilient in the soil seed bank.

Look for:

  • Veinless seedling leaves that are opposite and narrow with rounded tips.
  • Triangular, alternate and dull green true leaves with undulate to toothed margins.
  • A mealy white coating on leaf surfaces.
  • Small green flower clusters at the tips of the main stem.

How to Contain Weeds

Although a handful of weed escapes may not be enough to steal away your yields, the presence of just one weed opens the door for hundreds or thousands more next season.

The first step to manage weed escapes is proper identification. While many herbicides are labeled for a variety of common weeds, knowing exactly what’s in your field informs more efficient and effective programs. Herbicide programs with multiple effective sites of action, strong overlapping residuals and full use rates will result in the most complete control of labeled weeds.

For soybeans, start with a strong preemergent herbicide, such as Tendovo® followed by a post-emergence herbicide option like Dual Magnum® or Flexstar® GT 3.5 for overlapping residual control and resistance management.

For corn, start with a strong preemergence herbicide application of Storen®, Acuron® or Acuron Flexi. Either can be applied in one pass or in a two-pass program with a foundation rate preemergence followed by the remaining rate post-emergence. Additionally, Acuron GT herbicide is a post-emergence option that delivers fast knockdown and enhanced control of difficult weeds like waterhemp. It can be applied as part of a two-pass program following an application of  Lexar® EZ or Lumax® EZ herbicides. All these solutions include multiple sites of action for resistance management and offer application flexibility.

Talk to your local Syngenta retailer or sales representative to plan a program tailored to tough and resistant weeds in your fields.

If timing doesn’t allow for herbicide applications, control escapes with methods like cultivation or hand-pulling. If pulled weeds have flowers or seed heads, make sure they are bagged, removed from the field and destroyed to make sure there is no chance of spread to your fields or your neighbor’s. Properly identifying and removing just one waterhemp or Palmer amaranth plant can mean the difference between a clean start to the next season and hundreds of thousands of emerging weeds.

Harvest Corn and Soybeans, Not Weeds

After a season of hard work, getting every possible bushel out of your acres is key. If you see weeds in your fields at harvest, consider some of these harvesting tips outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture:

  1. Avoid harvesting corn and soybeans located in areas densely populated with weeds — the risk of spreading weed seed is likely not worth the bushels you might get from that field.
  2. Adjust your combine’s cutting height settings to minimize the amount of weed seed that is harvested. Consulting with your combine provider helps determine the right height for your field conditions.
  3. Regularly clean your farm equipment between harvesting different fields to avoid contamination from weed seed.
  4. Destroy all weed seed left in the field after harvest to prevent it from entering the soil seed bank. Burning weed seed is a common method to get rid of it.
  5. Before taking your harvest to the elevator, be sure to examine corn and soybeans for weed seed upon arrival and to separate weed seed through mechanical cleaning or other means.
  6. An application of a harvest aid like Gramoxone® SL 3.0 herbicide can help keep the combine running smoothly by eliminating remaining weeds in soybean fields.

Taking these actions to minimize contamination from weed seed will help ensure your hard work pays off and will help prevent weeds from growing on your farm in the future.

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June is National Safety Month — an annual observance sponsored by the National Safety Council to remind all of us to stay safe in the workplace and in our daily lives.

When it comes to safety, Syngenta focuses on the proper use of its products, according to Caydee Savinelli, Ph.D., the U.S. stewardship team and pollinator lead at Syngenta. Numerous educational opportunities are available to help users learn about product safety.

Online Trainings Ensure Compliance

Syngenta provides webinars to help fulfill the paraquat training requirements put forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “For paraquat users, EPA requires training every three years. Each state tracks the trainings to make sure users are in compliance,” Savinelli says. “Syngenta conducts atrazine training with farmers as well to ensure that the product stays on the field and does not reach waterways. We also support the Growing Matters’ BeSure! campaign for the proper use of neonicotinoids.”

An illustration of a laptop with a honeybee on the screen and a notepad, with text that reads "Online trainings help ensure compliance."

Additionally, the stewardship team works with university pesticide safety education programs, supports the National Pesticide Safety Education Center, participates in the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, and helps county extension agents.

“Each of these groups provides important pesticide safety education to farmers, applicators and other users,” Savinelli says. “Without this infrastructure, it would not be possible to reach all of the people who use our products.”

Correct Product Disposal Enhances Farm Safety

While using products safely is critical, properly disposing of containers following use is also important. Through its decades-long collaboration with the Ag Container Recycling Council (the Council), Syngenta is helping customers do just that.

According to Scott Birchfield, manager of environmental stewardship and emergency response at Syngenta, the goal of the partnership with the Council is to help customers properly dispose of product containers while keeping their properties, workspaces and the environment safe.

“With the recent focus and deeper understanding of the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, many companies are looking for solutions to reduce their environmental footprint,” Birchfield says. “Syngenta has been on the forefront of this effort for over 20 years.”

An illustration of ag containers accompanies the text: Correct product disposal enhances farm safety."

Syngenta recognizes the importance of sustainability and is committed to providing customers with simple ways to contribute to a healthier environment. From proper application to mindful disposal, Syngenta encourages all customers to participate in environmental stewardship.

“Because this program is free, participation is easy and helps customers achieve their environmental goals,” Birchfield says. “We all want to do everything we can to help ensure our environmental footprint is as small as possible.”

Farm Kids Get Specialized Trainings

As part of its commitment to farm safety, Syngenta also supports the work of Progressive Agriculture Foundation®, whose mission is to help keep farm children safe. Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® is recognized as the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America.

An illustration of a farmer with his arm around the shoulders of a child looking over the fields. The text reads: "Farm kids get specialized training."

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day provides age-appropriate, hands-on educational lessons primarily designed for children ages 4 to 13 years old. Since the program’s inception in 1995, it has reached more than 2 million individuals in 45 states, two U.S. territories and nine Canadian provinces.

Farming is a serious profession with numerous safety considerations. Syngenta is committed to collaboration, education and stewardship practices to help keep everyone safe, both during National Safety Month and all year long.

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Despite the dynamic nature of weed communities, the discovery of new species is uncommon and can spell trouble for growers. This year, Iowa farmers should keep their eyes peeled for an emerging weed threat: Asian copperleaf.

Discovered in 2016, Asian copperleaf has been found in corn and soybean fields in six counties in North Central Iowa (as of June 2024). It’s unclear how the plant was introduced, but Iowa farmers have seen it emerge in dense patches late in the season. While other weed species typically stop growing once corn and soybeans reach canopy closure, Asian copperleaf is shade tolerant and actually thrives under the canopy.

Should I Be Concerned About Asian Copperleaf?

A USDA Risk Analysis found that Asian copperleaf shows no strong invasive or weediness characteristics, but researchers still classified 57% of simulations as high risk due to a high amount of uncertainty. To make matters worse, Asian copperleaf threatens row crop yields and has developed resistance to several herbicide groups in its native range.

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As with any weed, we would expect some yield loss if it’s left unchecked. This particular species has definitely caused yield loss in its native range and is certainly something that we want to keep an eye out for.

Jesse Grote Agronomy Service Representative at Syngenta

“As with any weed, we would expect some yield loss if it’s left unchecked,” says Jesse Grote, an Iowa-based agronomy service representative at Syngenta. “This particular species has definitely caused yield loss in its native range and is certainly something that we want to keep an eye out for.”

Scouting and Identifying Asian Copperleaf

Scouting this weed can be tricky. Grote recommends scouting in July, around the time growers look for corn rootworm, and continue through harvest.

“Here in Iowa, growers primarily notice it at harvest since it stays below the canopy,” says Grote. “If you’re harvesting your field and come up on a weedy patch that you weren’t expecting, hop out and see if you can identify it as Asian copperleaf.”

To determine if a weed is Asian copperleaf, first rule out other spurges by breaking the stems of suspicious weeds. Unlike other common spurge species, Asian copperleaf does not have milky sap inside the stem.

From there, rule out other species like Virginia and rhombic copperleaf by examining the bracts. “It really comes down to the bracts,” says Grote. “If you’re going to look for anything, the heart-shaped bracts are the one characteristic that distinguishes this from other copperleaf species.”

A close up photo of the bracts of an Asian copperleaf plant.
Asian copperleaf has unique heart-shaped bracts that set it apart from other spurge species.

What to Do if You Find Asian Copperleaf

There are still many unknowns when it comes to managing Asian copperleaf. Following the principles of proper weed management as researchers uncover more information is critical. That means starting clean by using strong rates of residual herbicides and following up with overlapping residuals.

As harvest approaches, special considerations should be made to manage Asian copperleaf. “If you’re combining and identify Asian copperleaf that has gone to seed, be extra cautious to prevent transporting seed or anything that could potentially propagate in another field,” says Grote. Be sure to clean equipment between fields and be mindful of what’s going into the combine.

“Something to consider for this type of weed, because it’s living below the canopy and we may not find it until harvest, is a fall application of a burndown herbicide or a tillage pass to make sure it doesn’t get to seed,” says Grote. Although these methods may not be typical for the region, the extra precaution may pay off when dealing with a new threat.

Researchers are still examining the impact and spread of Asian copperleaf. If you suspect Asian copperleaf on your farm, please contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at 515-725-1470.  Reach out to your local Syngenta retailer or representative for more information about tackling tough and emerging weed threats.

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The folks at the Syngenta manufacturing site in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, have made it standard practice to forge ahead in their endeavor to help farmers feed the world and improve it for future generations. This is accomplished through the theme of giving back and protecting the environment.

Recently, the St. Gabriel manufacturing facility was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership program as a top 100 green power user in the country. The program works with businesses across the country to promote the voluntary use of green power, defined as being generated in the U.S. from renewable resources, which include solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass and eligible low-impact hydroelectric sources. Syngenta is the only organization from the agricultural sector to be named to the Green Power Partnership’s top 100 list, a recognition they are both honored and humbled by.

“Why green power? At Syngenta we’re trying to build sustainability into everything we do,” says Alan McMurry, site sustainability lead at the St. Gabriel facility. “A lot of our sustainability goals revolve around renewable agriculture practices that generally help feed the world in the most sustainable way. One of our priorities is sustainable operations; so, with the products we make at St. Gabriel, we want to walk the talk and have our operations run as efficiently and sustainably as possible.”

Implementing Sustainable Practices

St. Gabriel formulates and packages liquid and powder forms of Syngenta products like Acuron® corn herbicide, Halex® GT herbicide, Gramoxone® SL 2.0 herbicide, Lexar® EZ corn herbicide, and Sequence® herbicide, along with more than a dozen others. To keep up its constant production of so many trusted products, the Syngenta plant employs about 350 full-time employees and another 450 independent contractors.

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A lot of our sustainability goals revolve around renewable agriculture practices that generally help feed the world in the most sustainable way. One of our priorities is sustainable operations; so, with the products we make at St. Gabriel, we want to walk the talk and have our operations run as efficiently and sustainably as possible.

Alan McMurry Site Sustainability Lead, St. Gabriel Facility

With so much production happening in one place and doing so much to make the American farmer more sustainable and efficient than ever, it’s understandable the site would have a rather large carbon footprint. But being okay with that justification and sticking with the status quo isn’t in the DNA here. Syngenta has made enormous strides in decarbonizing its operations, and the St. Gabriel site is the poster child for that effort.

“Syngenta has really made sustainability a core function,” says McMurry. “So, we asked the question, ‘How do you decarbonize your own operation?’ We came up with a number of strategies, but one of the biggest ones is using renewable electricity.”

About 30 percent of the site’s carbon footprint can be attributed to electricity usage — some 151 million kilowatt-hours a year, roughly the equivalent of the power consumption of 14,000 American homes.

Once the commitment was made to pursue green power, the question became, Where do we get this green power? Precious few solar or wind farms exist in eastern Louisiana, so the sustainability team at the site had to do some shopping. Of course, the question of where raised several more questions: What’s the right type of power for our operation? How do we get the power here? How do we best implement it at our site? Should we build our own solar and/or wind farms? Ultimately, Syngenta used a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) purchasing strategy for solar and wind power, much of it from power producers in Arizona’s high desert country and the plains of West Texas.

And in 2023, the St. Gabriel site happily reported REC purchases for every single one of those 151 million kilowatt-hours from renewable power sources, what the EPA calls ‘green power.’ “Syngenta wants to lead the way with agriculture manufacturing in the U.S.,” says McMurry. “We really dove into that and are proud that we were able to achieve 100 percent of the site’s electricity moving to green power.”

Though electricity is currently the biggest piece of the pie, McMurry and his team are also making strides in decarbonizing the plant’s heat production, using fewer utilities and cutting back on waste.

McMurry is also excited about a more recent development outside the company that should have a major impact on the St. Gabriel plant’s ability to utilize green energy in its operations. In early 2024, the Louisiana Public Service Commission approved construction of two large solar farms in the state. Both are already under construction, and Syngenta intends to utilize green tariffs, which are optional programs offered by utilities to allow commercial and industrial customers to purchase bundled renewable energy, to obtain some of the electricity from those farms once they go online.

“We’re excited to buy local and to support the ones who are ‘growing’ the renewable power,” McMurry says. “Louisiana is starting to build more of that now and there’s room to grow, so we’re trying to support it. We’ve committed to being part of those solar farms.”

Giving Back Through Community Outreach

Another important Syngenta pillar is community involvement. While the manufacturing site is only a half-hour’s drive from the state capitol building in Baton Rouge, St. Gabriel maintains a close-knit, small-town feel. A large portion of the plant’s employees were hired from within the existing community of 6,500, and company leadership doesn’t take lightly the impact the facility has on all the residents — more than its role as one of the area’s largest employers. Syngenta makes a point to contribute time and resources to the areas where its employees live and work. Employees actively host and participate in several educational and community activities throughout the year.

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Reagen Simpson (standing) and Eldred Stewart (sitting) keep a close eye on the plant’s reactors.
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Josh Domingue, plant superintendent (left) and Reagen Simpson, lead process engineer/FF&P (right) are two of the 350 full-time employees working at the St. Gabriel plant.
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St. Gabriel Multi-Purpose Facility Unit, where two Syngenta products are made.
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Syngenta St. Gabriel employees donate time and resources to the community of St. Gabriel by helping senior citizens, donating to the food bank, mentoring high school students, and much, much more.
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St. Gabriel Community Center, used by St. Gabriel employees for staff meetings and community events for the children and senior citizens of St. Gabriel.
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Syngenta, St. Gabriel Plant. Annually, 950 railcars and more than 18,000 tanker trucks filled with Syngenta products depart the facility for distributors and farms across the country.
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Syngenta employees enjoy coming together to volunteer on clean-up day for the town of St. Gabriel, mentoring high school students on their career paths, and interacting with students on Moving Forward Mondays.

Kim Argrave, executive administrator at the St. Gabriel site, plays a primary role to get the St. Gabriel team involved in the surrounding community. When asked about some of the projects she’s worked on, Argrave excitedly starts ticking them off on her fingers.

“We have a career awareness program with the two local schools. Syngenta provides and organizes STEM projects during the school year and during summer camps for the students,” she says. “We also have events with senior citizens. We donate to local causes, try to hire local residents, and we offer scholarships to local students. We’re just really involved in the community.”

Syngenta also has a mentorship program that provides basic professional training to high school students entering college and job markets. Here, employees teach participants skills such as filling out an application, practicing interviews, even the proper way to tie a necktie. Tours of the site are also offered not only as a recruiting tool, but as a token of transparency with the neighbors.

“We try to encourage people — especially students — at these career awareness programs, to give them confidence,” Argrave says. “We want them to be involved in their community and their own education and development.”

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Encouraging Employee Efforts

Of course, that strong desire to be a part of the community lends itself to a strong sense of community within the company and the plant itself. The passion for sustainability has embedded itself in a large portion of the plant’s workforce — not just those on the sustainability team.

“We have a little slogan around here: ‘Doing your part with small steps makes a big impact,’” McMurry says. “Employees regularly ask me, ‘Can you tell me what we’re doing?’ People want to know what they can do in their roles [to help with our sustainability efforts].”

Every team at the St. Gabriel site, from engineering and manufacturing to custodial work, office staff and logistics are getting closer to being on the same page in the sustainability book. McMurry also sees progress throughout the entire agriculture industry; there is a growing sense of unity and idea-sharing that he welcomes wholeheartedly. The EPA recognition of Syngenta, he believes, is a strong indicator of agriculture’s leadership in the sustainability realm going forward.

“That vision is expanding,” McMurry says. “Sustainability isn’t just some circle off to the side of our manufacturing. We have a good start, but it should really grow into everything we do.”

The people at St. Gabriel would be doing what they’re doing regardless of any kind of recognition. They’ve never needed someone else to tell them they’re making a difference; they’ve known it all along.

“We’re doing this completely voluntarily because we want to say with authority that we’re making our own products more sustainably,” McMurry says.

And that makes all the difference in the world.

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Gray leaf spot is one of the most yield-limiting corn diseases in the Corn Belt. The pathogen that causes gray leaf spot, Cercospora zeae-maydis, thrives in extended periods of warm, humid weather. Its only known host is corn and it overwinters in crop residue. This makes gray leaf spot especially concerning for farms that operate with corn-on-corn planting and minimum tillage.

The University of Minnesota Extension describes the first sign of the disease as small, pinpoint lesions surrounded by yellow halos. Further along in development, lesions become long, narrow and rectangular, and can vary from brown to gray in color.

Growers can differentiate between gray leaf spot and Northern corn leaf blight by examining the underside of affected leaves. Unlike Northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot lesions are typically limited to the veined side of leaves.

Although scouting is a crucial part of disease management, the incubation period for gray leaf spot can be 27 days or more, so crops can be infected well before lesions appear in the weeks leading up to tasseling. This can lead to significant unexpected yield loss.

Severe gray leaf spot infections hinder photosynthesis and therefore decrease yields in two ways:

  1. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension research shows reduced photosynthesis limits the number of kernels produced by each ear.
  2. When corn plants can’t draw enough energy from the sun for grain-fill, starches are drawn from the stalks, which can increase lodging at harvest.

Proactive disease management is key to minimize the risk of damage and yield loss. There are several steps growers can take before finding gray leaf spot in their fields.

  • Plant tolerant hybrids. No current corn hybrids or inbreds have complete resistance to gray leaf spot, but some more tolerant hybrids can do well in moderate to high disease pressure.
  • Consider conventional tillage and crop rotation. This strategy can help reduce the amount of pathogen buildup in your fields.
  • Apply a reliable foliar fungicide with proven activity against gray leaf spot. Miravis® Neo fungicide delivers broad-spectrum preventive and curative control to protect corn yields and help boost your bottom line. Trivapro® fungicide delivers long-lasting residual control of gray leaf spot and other key diseases. Miravis Neo and Trivapro both also deliver plant-health benefits to help better preserve potential yield under high or low disease pressure.

A combination of these practices can help maximize yield and ROI potential even under heavy disease pressure. For more information about Miravis Neo, Trivapro and gray leaf spot, reach out to your local Syngenta representative or retailer.

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