7 Ways U.S. Farmers Can Proactively Delay Herbicide Weed Resistance

FBN Network

May 24, 2024

The number of herbicide-resistant weeds continues to grow every year, putting crop quality and yield at risk. To date, there are more than 270 species of herbicide-resistant weeds around the world that impact a wide variety of crops.

To proactively delay resistant weed development, farmers should prioritize creating and implementing a weed-resistance management strategy across every acre they plan to plant. 

The strategy should include the following considerations: 

  1. Use herbicide group numbers strategically

  2. Know adjuvant requirements

  3. Include tillage as a weed management tool

  4. Enhance the crop canopy

  5. Clean your equipment 

  6. Rotate crops

  7. Rotate herbicides

Continue reading to learn how to implement each of these considerations. 

1. Use Herbicide Group Numbers Strategically

Each herbicide group number corresponds to a site of action of an active ingredient. When multiple herbicide groups are applied to control a targeted weed, the weed is less likely to escape a spraying, as it must tolerate many different functional disruptions. 

An example of this would be a weed in your area that is known to resist both glyphosate (Group 9) and ALS inhibitor (Group 2) active ingredients. To effectively address the weed pressure, you could apply herbicides from other groups such as GCS Metola Plus 8EC (Group 15) and Willowood Sulfen 4SC (Group 14).

2. Know Adjuvant Requirements

Proper adjuvants can increase the efficacy of your burndown and preemergence herbicides. Consult your chem label to see which adjuvants are required or recommended for use. 

Whether you need a surfactant like IN-Zorb ADV, a crop oil like FBN Crop Oil Concentrate, or a drift inhibitor like Miller Mist-Control®, take the time to familiarize yourself with the products that can help you get the most out of your herbicide shot while limiting unintended impacts. 

3. Include Tillage as a Weed Management Tool

By controlling emerged weeds and burying non-germinated seed, tillage can help reduce seed banks as part of an integrated weed management program with herbicide applications. 


Is tillage right for your ag operation? Find out what different tillage operations can do for your fields in this blog post.


4. Enhance the Crop Canopy

Changing planting and fertilizer strategies through experimentation with narrower rows and banding fertilizer could hasten the growth of a crop canopy, which is effective for shading out competitive weeds. Additionally, a crop canopy can help moderate stress and minimize disease. 

5. Clean Your Equipment 

Avoid spreading weed seeds by cleaning equipment before leaving each field. Plus, the work that you do to control troublesome weeds in the fence rows adjacent to your fields will also reduce the spread of weeds.


Cleaning equipment is also recommended for both your spring and winter equipment maintenance. Get your free Spring Equipment Maintenance Checklist and Winter Equipment Maintenance Checklist to learn more. 


6. Rotate Crops

In addition to improving soil health and increasing crop yields, crop rotation can also help break weed cycles. Rotating crops, including row crops, small grains, and cover crops, on a regular basis can prevent certain weeds from becoming dominant.

7. Rotate Herbicides

While there are many herbicides labeled to control the same weed species, using the same herbicide year after year may initiate resistance and decrease your ability to control the weeds. Herbicide diversity plays an important role in fighting weed resistance.

Shop for Herbicides on FBN

FBN offers a diverse product portfolio to provide a wide range of herbicide options for growers to develop an integrated weed management strategy.

Top Preemergence Herbicides at FBN

Herbicide Group

Crop

FBN Product

Group 9

*Preemergence Corn/Soybeans

AgSaver™ Glyphosate 53.8%

Group 10

*Preemergence Corn/Soybeans

Willowood Glufosinate 280SL

Group 15

Corn & Soybeans

GCS Metola Plus 8EC

Group 5

Corn ONLY

Atrazine 4L Value Pick**

Group 15, Group 27, Group 5

Corn ONLY

Meto 1.7+Meso 0.22+Atrzn 1.66 **

Group 14

Soybeans ONLY

Willowood Sulfen 4SC

Group 14, Group 2

Soybeans ONLY

Willowood Sulfen Cloran

*Group 9 Postemergence on Glyphosate-traited crops ONLY

*Group 10 Postemergence Glufosinate-traited crops ONLY

Related Resources


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**Atrazine 4L Value Pick is a restricted use pesticide.

**Meto 1.7+Meso 0.22+Atrzn 1.66 is a restricted use pesticide.

**RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE Due to acute toxicity. For retail sale to and use by certified applicators only – NOT to be used by uncertified persons working under the supervision of a certified applicator.

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FBN Network

May 24, 2024

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