Corn is a great rotational crop from an agronomic standpoint, and [atrazine] has been recommended to assist with control of glyphosate-resistant pigweed.
“We can use a lot of different herbicide options and alternative modes of action in corn that aren’t available in other crops,” says Dr. Tom Barber, University of Arkansas weed scientist. “That can lead to a good, integrated management program for pigweed.”
The bad news, he says, is that the EPA is reconsidering atrazine registration. The open comment period closed in early October.
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“If atrazine is taken away, we’ll have to go with more dicamba or 2,4-D for pigweed control. … And if that’s the route we’re forced to take, remember that the Xtend crops are waiting for registration. If those are approved, dicamba will be going onto three crops, and we know where that path leads — just more resistance.
“For our 2017 plots we’re already planning to look at several herbicides we haven’t used on corn for a long time. That’s a response to the possibility of losing atrazine, and I feel I’m already at least a year behind on that.”
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