Farm and Ag News

Confusion over Roundup (glyphosate) products

Crop producers now have many Roundup-type products on the market from which to choose. Generic Roundup products are now available, and Monsanto has released different formulations of glyphosate that makes the issue even more confusing. Acreage of Roundup-ready crops continues to grow, so farmers are looking for help in deciding which is the most cost-effective product.

The primary differences in Roundup products are the surfactants added to improve weed control and acid equivalent (concentration). Surfactants are already included in some of the products such as WeatherMax where additional surfactants are not recommended. The original Roundup that arrived on the market more than 25 years ago needed a surfactant for better leaf absorption. University trials around the Midwest have found nearly identical weed control results when equivalent rates of Roundup are applied with the recommended surfactant.

The other item that usually varies in formulations is the acid equivalent. This is the concentration of Roundup that growers need to compare rather than the active ingredient. It’s measured in pounds per gallon. The new Roundup WeatherMax has the acid equivalent of 4.5 pounds per gallon. Roundup Ultra has the acid equivalent of three pounds per gallon, so it takes only 22 ounces of Roundup WeatherMax to equal 32 ounces of Roundup Ultra.

The bottom line is that growers should expect similar results with all of the glyphosate products if used at equivalent rates and if additives are applied according to label.

Incorporate manure soon and save nitrogen

I noticed in early April fields where manure had been applied but not incorporated. I’m not sure how long the manure had been applied but it’s best to incorporate manure as soon as possible.

Many research projects have focused on manure over the past ten years and we now know that nitrogen is lost if manure is not incorporate soon after application. Approximately fifteen percent of the nitrogen is lost as a gas into the atmosphere by the fourth day after application.

Four new garden chrysanthemums available

Four new U of M chrysanthemums are available in garden centers this spring. Joining “Autumn Red” are “Twilight Pink,” “Coral,” “White” and “Yellow Quill.” These are all My Favorite(TM) series mums, the successor to the MaxiMums series.

My Favorite(TM) mums have a lot going for them. They are winter hardy, butterfly attracting, frost tolerant, large, shrub-like plants, that are self-pinching so there’s no need for debudding in the spring.

All of the My Favorite(TM) series form large plants. Multiple plants, planted together form a perfect hedge habit (clipped in appearance without any pruning or shearing) in the second and successive years of growth. Plant habit is a cushion type, producing plants in the garden that are hemispherical in shape with flowers completely covering all exposed surfaces of each plant.