Over the years Round-up ready traits in grain crops has led to an increased use of glyphosate which is leading to more and more weeds that are resistant to glyphosate (which is the active ingredient in Round-up).  Since this resistance problem is occurring, producers are having a harder time control weeds in grain crops "the way they have always done" which has led chemical companies to develop new traits and products to try to control these glyphosate resistant weeds.  One product that has been introduced is the dicamba resistant soybean which allows dicamba (a broadleaf weed killer) to be sprayed over the top of soybeans to control broadleaf weeds but not harm the soybeans.  Producers, industry workers, and non-farm individuals in Harrison County have been curious about this product and started asking a lot of questions regarding this product and how it may affect other non-target plants since dicamba has been known in past products to drift and cause off-site issues. Even local ag suppliers are concerned with drift potential and not willing to spray the products commercially for our producers.

Myself along with the Engenia representative Gary Carter, put together a demonstration of dicamba resistant soybeans on a local producers farm and worked with Hinton Mills in Cynthiana to spray Engenia (dicamba product) over the top of the dicamba resistant soybeans to show how well the product could control marestail along with other broadleaves in the field.  At this particular farm, barley was grown over the winter and harvested in the spring for malting barley.  The barley did not dry down as quickly as the producer had hoped, which delayed soybean planting.  With the delay there was no time to wait after spraying a product like 2,4-D before planting soybeans so we worked together to choose a dicamba resistant bean with intentions of spraying Engenia and Glyphosate over the top for control of marestail and any other weeds that may be present.  

About one month after the over the top spray we held a producer field day at Butch Case's farm to show how the product worked and could be used in certain situations with great results.  Many of the producers felt more comfortable with the product after seeing how it was sprayed and handled first hand.  The Ag. supply companies are becoming a little more tolerant of the idea of spraying the product for producers and everyone left the field day liking what they saw and wanted to learn more about the products and how they might be useful on the farms in certain situations.  It was recommended that these products not be used all the time but only in the event where a rescue is needed or in unique situations like what Butch had on his farm.  This field day brought together all Ag. suppliers in Harrison County, many soybean producers in Harrison County and surrounding counties, as well as industry representatives.