By Brian Hefty
Roundup Ready 2 Xtend (RR2X) Soybeans have now been approved by China! Since this trait was already approved in the U.S., Monsanto has now launched Xtend.
Currently, Clarity (or any dicamba) is not approved for use over the top of these soybeans, but it should be in the near future. If no dicamba receives approval for post-emerge spraying in soybeans this spring or summer, what should you do? Is it even worth it to plant these beans? While this trait is brand new, here are our top 3 reasons why we believe you should still plant at least some of your acres to RR2X this spring.
These beans have the newest, best genetics. Unlike with the introductions of Roundup Ready and Roundup Ready 2 beans, the Xtend beans were expected to be launched a few years ago. Because of that, the breeders got more years to filter out the lower yielding beans and replace them with higher yielding varieties. We raised 7 different varieties over 1150 acres on our farm in 2015, and I can tell you first-hand that the yield is not only fine, it’s good in the RR2X.
If Clarity (or any other dicamba) does get approved in time to spray post-emerge this summer, you will have a tool you’ve never had before for Roundup-resistant weeds in soybeans. Since all the conventional herbicides (Flexstar, Cobra, Cadet, FirstRate, Pursuit, etc.) are marginal at best if you have lots of big, resistant weeds, Clarity would be a nice tool to have. The bonus to all this is since Clarity is not yet approved, most seed companies have lowered their price on RR2X.
Clarity (and several other dicamba products) is already labeled for use in burndown (check the label for the pre-plant interval) and in ditches, fencelines, and pastures. Why is this such a big deal? First, in the burndown situation you may have marestail or several other weeds that normal soybean herbicides don’t control easily. Clarity probably will IF the weather is warm. I know that Clarity is good, but it doesn’t work great until the daytime temperature warms up to 70 degrees. In the non-crop areas (ditches, fencelines, and pastures), Clarity can stop weeds like waterhemp, lambsquarters, and ragweed that will blow into your crop ground. Since these beans are tolerant to Clarity and your corn is, too, that makes Clarity the perfect solution to keep all the areas around your fields weed-free.
I know it’s kind of last-minute now, but because of all the Roundup-resistant weeds we believe Xtend is a nice tool you should at least consider planting a portion of or all your acres to. In the region where we farm, we expect that in 2017 over half the acres will be Xtend. In other words, we suggest you start getting experience with these beans, as many seed companies will go heavy toward Xtend by next year.