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U Of M SE Minnesota Dicamba-Tolerant Soybean Yield Results Now Available

Oct 25, 2016
By Fritz Breitenbach
IPM Specialist SE Minnesota
 
Farmer’s interest in planting dicamba-tolerant soybeans continues. There are a number of reasons a farmer may choose to plant dicamba-tolerant soybeans, but a primary one is to potentially be part of their 2017 weed management plan to help in the control of glyphosate-resistant weeds. However, a word of caution, dicamba is currently NOT labeled for application to soybeans at planting or postemergence (read more below). 
 
While a number of dicamba-tolerant soybean varieties will be offered for the 2017 planting season, a limited amount of agronomic information may be available about these varieties. Regardless of the herbicide-resistance trait, growers should consider yield, disease tolerance, and other agronomic traits needed specifically for their farms when choosing a good variety.
 
In an effort to help answer some of these questions, a yield performance trial was planted near Rochester, MN, in a Port Byron silt loam. The study included 14 dicamba-tolerant entries and four glyphosate-tolerant standards for comparison. Trials were planted on May 5, 2016 with a 4-row John Deere 7000 planter equipped with cone units. The seeding rate was 150,000 seeds per acre with seed planted at a depth of 1.5 inches in 30 inch rows. Plots were four rows wide by 22 feet in length and the center two rows of each plot were machine harvested on October 4, 2016. 
 
Soybean yield results
 
Tables 1 and 2 provide the yield for the dicamba-tolerant soybeans entries at 13% moisture by entry and yield rank, respectively. The dicamba-tolerant soybean entries averaged 72.8 bu/a, ranging from 64.4 – 80.2 bu/a, while the glyphosate-tolerant entries averaged 75.1 bu/a, ranging from 70.0 – 80.8 bu/a. 
 
Considerations when planting dicamba tolerant soybeans in 2017
Label concerns
 
Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybean, which is tolerant to both glyphosate and dicamba, is currently available for purchase. While this technology will eventually offer another option for controlling glyphosate-resistant and other tough-to-control weeds, there are still herbicide label concerns for the 2017 growing season.
 
Dicamba is NOT currently labeled for application on these soybeans at-planting or postemergence. Dicamba is currently labeled ONLY for burndown applications prior to planting, with a required wait time of 14 to 30 days before planting, even if the variety is dicamba-tolerant. Any other applications to soybean are in violation of federal and state law and may result in enforcement actions, and additional liability to the producer for off-target movement. One only needs to look at what happened in more southern states during the 2016 growing season, where older formulations of dicamba were illegally applied to dicamba-tolerant soybeans, and drift onto non-tolerant crops occurred. Thousands of acres have been affected, leading to litigation, fines, and proposals for further regulation. 
 
Low-volatility dicamba formulations developed for use with tolerant soybeans are still awaiting approval. It is unknown when this label will be granted approval and if it will be granted in time for the 2017 growing season. 
 
Use an integrated approach and start with a solid foundation
 
Due to uncertainty with the herbicide labeling, growers planning to utilize the dicamba system in the control of glyphosate-resistant weeds in soybean might want to consider alternative strategies. Options might include rotating to a different crop or planting a LibertyLink variety and applying glufosinate to control the problem weeds. 
 
The solid foundation required for all soybean systems, regardless of trait, is to start with a preemergence herbicide. Using a preemergence herbicide that provides residual control of the weeds on your farm is essential due to the widespread presence of early and late emerging weeds and the increase in waterhemp populations that are resistant to multiple classes of herbicides. 
 
As always, an integrated approach that includes both chemical and non-chemical strategies is essential for managing difficult weeds, seedbanks and herbicide resistance. A diversified program is also a key component of an effective weed management – overreliance on any one technology is never recommended for effective, long-term weed control. (University of Minnesota Extension Regional Office, Rochester, and Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN).
 
Table 1. Soybean yield (13% moisture) by entry of dicamba-tolerant compared to glyphosate-tolerant standards at Lawler farm, Rochester, MN, harvested October 4, 2016.

Table 2. Ranked soybean yields (13% moisture) of dicamba-tolerant compared to glyphosate-tolerant standards at Lawler farm, Rochester, MN, harvested October 4, 2016.