Choosing the Right Herbicides

What’s one of the keys to effective weed control? Choosing the right herbicide, of course. And ideally, that means using the best product available for each of the weeds you plan to tackle in your fields. While it can be tempting to choose the cheaper option, such as a generic product, it might not be the best choice for maximizing efficacy to control weeds. The Bayer Corn Herbicide Portfolio features a variety of weed control solutions. In total, the portfolio includes 11 different active ingredients across six site of action groups.

^{Relevant: Bayer PLUS Eligible Herbicides}

Choosing the right herbicides

Choosing the right herbicides is all about finding the product that is the best fit for your operation. Bayer offers a vast portfolio of corn herbicide solutions, so you can easily find effective herbicides to manage problem weeds in your fields.

To find the right products for your operation, first ask yourself the following three questions:

1. What are the weed species I am trying to control?
   Identifying the problem weeds in your field is the first step to finding the right herbicide for your operation. Choose herbicides with active ingredients that are effective against these specific problem weeds.
2. What are the soil characteristics of the field?
   When selecting an herbicide, soil type, pH and organic matter content are all important characteristics to minimize crop injury and carryover to subsequent crops.
3. What is my end goal?
   Select an herbicide based on what you want to accomplish, whether it is prevention or elimination of weeds, or both.

Not all herbicides are created equal

“Is there a big difference between active ingredients in a branded vs. a generic herbicide? Typically, no. However, how the products are manufactured is what really separates the two by affecting quality and performance,” said Michael Weber, crop protection technical development representative at Bayer.

Overall, Bayer products and generics differ in five key ways.

1. Different surfactant package
   While generics and brand name products may contain the same active ingredients, they are not required to have the same surfactant package. Such differences can influence how well an herbicide sticks to the leaf surface and can make a difference in the performance of the herbicide.
2. Different molecular arrangements
   The physical form of the active ingredient can also vary between generic and brand name products. Isomers, or different molecular structures of the ingredients, may exist between different products. Some arrangements will fit the binding site on the plant better than others, which can affect efficacy.
3. Different application rates
   Application rates may also vary between brand name and generic herbicides. Depending on the formulation, you may need to add more of a generic product to get the same rate of the active ingredient that the brand name product provides.
4. Different acid equivalencies
   A generic product may also have lower acid equivalencies than a brand name product. Acid equivalency (A.E.) is a measure of herbicide efficacy. Products with lower A.E. require higher use rates to get the same amount of acid equivalent per acre.
5. Different services included with purchase
   When you purchase a Bayer herbicide, you don’t just get a product to help manage weeds. You also receive access to a full network of Bayer technical experts. With local representation, you can receive customized recommendations for weed control tailored to your operation. In addition, Bayer also offers product warranties and incentive programs, such as Bayer PLUS Rewards, to help ensure grower satisfaction (see Bayer PLUS Rewards website for program details). You are less likely to find such services included with a generic purchase.

“Branded herbicides provide a trust and comfort level over generics,” said Weber. “Branded herbicides also give growers support from local Bayer field sales representatives and they know that if there’s an issue with product quality or performance, our reps will be here to help.”

Bayer solutions

The Bayer Corn Herbicide Portfolio features a variety of weed control solutions. In total, the portfolio includes 11 different active ingredients across six site of action groups. With such an array of herbicide products, growers can easily customize their weed control program to meet the needs of their operation.

Corvus^® herbicide tank-mixed with Harness^® Xtra herbicide at pre-emergence is one of many Bayer solutions that can help you optimize weed control in your fields. This tank mix of proven herbicides provides powerful residual control of weeds for consistent season-long management. When tank-mixed together, Corvus and Harness Xtra provide 95 percent or greater weed control in corn fields, on average, as demonstrated in research trials throughout the Midwest.i

To find the right solution to manage problem weeds in your fields, contact your local Bayer representative or visit https://www.cropscience.bayer.us/products/herbicides for more information.

Learn more about the Bayer PLUS Rewards program and use the online calculator to run through any number of scenarios to see how your smart agronomic choices can be even more rewarding.

If you have not signed up yet, check out the Top 7 Reasons why signing up for Bayer PLUS Rewards could be right for your operation.

<sup>ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Performance may vary, from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields.

Corvus® and Harness® Xtra are restricted use pesticides. Not all products are registered for use in all states and may be subject to use restrictions. The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your local dealer or representative for the product registration status in your state. Bayer, Bayer Cross, Corvus® and Harness® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. For additional product information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.BayerCropScience.us. Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. ©2022 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.</sup>

Sources:

i Bayer Research Trials, 2019.