Did you know that many pre-emerge herbicides are now less expensive per acre than an application of Roundup? In soybeans, for example, using 2 oz of Valor down pre-emerge costs less than 22 oz. of Roundup WeatherMAX for the first time in years.

Did you know that due to increasing weed tolerance, our average customer is now using between 28 and 32 oz of 6# Roundup per application? That's about 42 to 48 oz per acre on a 4-pound basis. At today's glyphosate prices, even using generic, that'll cost over $10 per acre!

Did you know that university studies have shown higher yields when using a pre followed by Roundup compared to 2 applications of Roundup in corn AND soybeans year after year after year? Think of it this way, even if you only gain 1 bushel of soybeans, if beans are worth $12 a bushel and using the pre instead of an extra shot of Roundup saves another dollar, you just added $13 to your bottom line, you did a better job of weed control, you broke the weed resistance cycle, you spread your workload out (because now your Roundup application doesn't need to be as timely), AND if a respray is necessary after using Valor followed by Roundup, it's free!

There are many different options for pre-emerge herbicides in corn and soybeans. Since most of the farmers we deal with are already using a pre in corn, let's talk more about pre's in soybeans. I've mentioned Valor a couple of times already for one main reason…it stops the weeds that Roundup is weakest on. Valor is OK on grass, but its real strength is broadleaves. It's very good on waterhemp, lambsquarters, kochia, and many other broadleaves. Certainly, there are other good options out there including Domain, Sonalan, and Prowl. If you don't want to use Valor, at least use something. I know you CAN get by with Roundup alone, but after seeing literally hundreds of complaint fields the last couple of years where a quart of 4# glyphosate did not control all the weeds, it really strengthens my belief in using a pre.

This winter I got to talk to Kip Cullers…he's the Missouri farmer who raised 150+ bushel soybeans in 2007. He had a few things he does to improve yields that are good ideas, and one of the things he mentioned was using pre-emerge herbicides. He told me "If you let weeds get up an inch or two, you've already lost 10 to 15% of your yield that you can never recover. Why would you do that?"

Once again, using a pre-emerge herbicide could save you money over another shot of Roundup. It will help you stop resistant weeds, and it will spread your workload out. On our farm, I am a huge believer in using a pre in corn and soybeans. I believe it improves our weed control and adds yield and profit to the bottom line. Of all years to switch back to using pre-emerge herbicides, this is the year. Some people say great weed control is most important when you have a lot of weeds, but I say great weed control is most important when commodity prices are at record high levels!