Reader catches error in Xtend article

In the July issue of AgProfessional magazine, an article—“Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System”—I included what I thought was a correct quote that contended there hasn’t been a weed showing full resistance to both glyphosate and dicamba herbicides.

It appears that I misquoted the Monsanto representative, although it was my understanding that the quote had been checked as accurate. I say there apparently is an error in the statement because a Kansas reader of the magazine provided real-world experience using glyphosate and dicamba together without achieving full weed control.

“This [claim] is not correct because for the past 3-4 years in northwest Kansas we cannot kill kochia with 44 ounces of Roundup 6 pounds (label rate is 22 ounces) plus 16 ounces of dicamba and AMS if the kochia gets more than 1/2 - 1 inch tall. What use to be Sandoz, then BASF, had been tracking dicamba resistance in kochia since the 60's,” wrote Ryan Inman.

Inman is self-employed with REI Agronomy Services, LLC and for 13 years was with Servi-Tech Inc. “The resistance is based on personal experience as he explained with his detailed account. He said he has observed the problem continue to increase to a wider area. His observation comes from field spray records made by producer clients and him personally operating an applicator “trying different rates and mixes.”

Comments (2) Leave a comment 

If he is getting control on 1/2" - 1" kochia, then the weeds are not truely resistant. Glyphosate won't kill larger lambsquarters here, but it is not a resistance issue. Liberty won't kill a 6" palmer pigweed here, yet it is not a resistance issue. Yet. If the weeds are dying from an application of gly or dicamba at an extremely small size, it can't be classified as true herbicide resistance. No? Lot of "ifs" in my reply.....I know. Thanks

Upon further reflection, and cooling off my sun baked brain, there is not a lot of room left under 1/2" tall weed. Why sould I expect these chemicals to kill a weed smaller than 1/2" if it won't kill a half inch weed in the first place? I have no reason to doubt what the gentleman from Kansas is seeing with his own eyes. Forgive my hasty reply. Good luck!
Bill