Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
August 30, 2016
When Josh Turner of Missouri applied Enlist Duo® herbicide to his soybeans this summer, his neighbors were pleased with the on-target application.
They say good fences make good neighbors, but these days on-target herbicide applications also can help make growers good neighbors. When planting Enlist™ corn or Enlist soybeans, growers can use Enlist Duo® herbicide with confidence because it stays where it’s applied.
Many farmers growing Enlist corn and soybeans – and their neighbors – are getting an up-close look this year at how Enlist Duo herbicide limits drift and features near-zero volatility. They’re growing Enlist corn through a stewarded launch and Enlist soybeans through the Field Forward™ program in their own fields. They’re seeing no negative effects on nearby fields. 
“I think it’s great that we’re getting more herbicide options,” says David Cox, who farms near Josh Turner in north-central Missouri. Turner is growing Enlist soybeans this year and has used Enlist Duo herbicide postemergence on the crop. “I’ve seen no ill effects on our fields from Josh’s application. We need this new technology that doesn’t drift and is effective on tough weeds.”
Turner says on-target application with Enlist Duo is a key benefit.
“With the volatility of Enlist Duo being so minimal, I’ll be able to spray near neighbors’ crops,” he says. “Nobody wants to damage their neighbor’s crops or affect the relationship. It’s a valuable asset to be able to control weeds throughout the field and not worry about drift issues.”
Impressed by crop tolerance
Cox has visited Turner’s field of Enlist soybeans and has seen the tolerance of Enlist™ soybeans to Enlist Duo® herbicide. “Growers around here are trying lots of herbicides to control resistant weeds, and I’ve seen some stuff that burned crops,” Cox says. “They were set back by the herbicide, although they eventually recovered. I didn’t see any herbicide damage whatsoever to Josh’s Enlist soybeans.”
Greg Landes, another neighbor of Turner’s, says the use of Enlist Duo nearby never really concerned him. “I’ve listened to the presentations, and I understand the drift risk with Enlist Duo is not a big deal,” Landes says. “It’s caused no damage in my fields to my knowledge.”
“Reduced off-target movement means less liability, less issues with your neighbors,” Turner says. “If you sprayed pesticides in the past, you’ve probably had an issue with drift or with odor. This product could really help you maintain your relationships with your neighbors.”
Steve Kliewer of Cimarron, Kansas, is growing Enlist corn for a second year. He reports neighbors have been supportive of his use of the Enlist weed control system.
“There were no problems,” Kliewer says. “I think everyone in the industry is wide open to new technology. We’re all in this together. If we can help gather information on something that will help all of us, that’s awesome.”
Kliewer’s neighbor, Kent Kopper, saw no problems in his field, which was next to the Enlist field. “I haven’t heard of any damage to nearby crops from Enlist Duo,” Kopper says.
How it stays on target
Enlist Duo® herbicide combines glyphosate with new 2,4-D choline. Enlist Duo features Colex-D® technology, which provides several important benefits:
- Near-zero volatility
- Minimized potential for physical drift
- Low odor
- Improved handling characteristics
An important factor in grower acceptance of this landmark formulation is the fact that it stays on target.
“Growers are carefully considering their herbicide choices,” says John Chase, Enlist™ commercial leader for Dow AgroSciences. “They need a registered herbicide that provides a viable, real-world solution to meet their weed control needs. Enlist corn and soybean growers are seeing that Enlist Duo offers improved weed control while significantly limiting the risk of off-target movement.”
The federal label for Enlist Duo herbicide includes no buffer zone requirement for neighboring soybean fields without the Enlist trait and only a 30-foot downwind buffer for sensitive areas. Because of the performance they’re seeing, many growers who are experiencing the Enlist system this year are hoping to expand acres soon.
In fact, some of their neighbors also are interested in trying the Enlist weed control system in their fields. Cox and Landes are anticipating planting Enlist™ soybeans when commercially available.
“We’ll try it,” Cox says. “I always try to stay on top of new technology. We need different modes of action to continue controlling problem weeds.”
Need for herbicide stability
With dicamba drift issues causing substantial concern this year, weed management technologies are under increased scrutiny. Growers need to use practices and products that mitigate drift potential. Enlist Duo minimizes physical drift and offers near-zero volatility to limit worries about off-target movement. A herbicide that stays where it’s sprayed helps growers maintain good relationships with their neighbors.
Growers (and their neighbors) can visit Enlist.com to learn more about Enlist technology, including Enlist traits and Enlist Duo herbicide with Colex-D technology.
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