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DuPont™ Finesse® Grass & Broadleaf (mp) herbicide has been granted Federal registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The action makes the product the only herbicide available to wheat growers for effective control of broadleaf weeds, plus an array of troublesome grasses, including cheatgrass, annual ryegrass, and wild oat.
According to Marty Wojcik, DuPont cereals product manager, wheat growers can now get cost-effective, season-long control of a broad spectrum of troublesome broadleaf weeds and grasses in one multi-pack application.
"Because Finesse® Grass and Broadleaf effectively targets wheat growers' toughest weed problems in a single product, they save money on the initial cost of their herbicides, plus they eliminate the labor and machinery costs of tank mixing and multiple applications. One-pass weed control can make a big difference in the efficiency and profitability of small grains production," he said.
Wojcik also said that the convenience of using a single multi-pack product for grass and broadleaf weed control will eliminate the "confusion factor" associated with identifying and treating two very similar weeds.
"The cheatgrass and annual ryegrass complexes are easily confused with each other," Wojcik said, noting that Finesse® Grass & Broadleaf is the first single solution that controlls both complexes. "With Finesse® Grass & Broadleaf, you get the control you need in a single, easy to use multi-pack that is more cost effective than comparable tank mixes today. Plus, because the product controls both the cheat and ryegrass complexes as well as wild oat, you don't have to worry about whether or not you've identified the right weed. You know you've got the right product."
"Two other ways this product cuts expenses are the residual control and contact action it offers, plus the capability of applying it with up to 100 percent liquid fertilizer," Wojcik added. "These features mean growers can make a single application of Finesse® Grass & Broadleaf with liquid fertilizer in the fall."
Wojcik explained that the single fall application gets grasses when they're young and more easily controlled. Additionally, the residual control handles later-germinating broadleaf weeds like wild buckwheat—and eliminates the need for additional herbicide or fertilizer applications.
According to Wojcik, Finesse® Grass & Broadleaf herbicide can be applied to winter wheat in the fall or spring. It also can be applied anytime in the winter when daytime temperatures reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The product should not be applied when the ground is covered with snow or ice.
For more information, visit the finessegrassbroadleaf.dupont.com website.
When Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman tendered her resignation in November, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said, "We applaud Secretary Vene-man's service to American agriculture. During her tenure, we have faced a variety of complex issues, some of which were crises, and she handled them adeptly."
Veneman headed USDA through the discovery of the nation's first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) last December; implemented the 2002 farm bill; and worked on free trade agreement.
Said to be on a short list of possible replacements for Veneman are outgoing Texas Congressman Charlie Stenholm, a veteran House Ag Committee member; Allen Johnson, chief agricultural trade negotiator for the White House; and Chuck Connor, the president's agricultural adviser.
If the bumper cotton crop holds up in Texas, Cotton, Inc. expects cottonseed prices could fall to historical lows. That's good news for livestock producers wanting to supplement feed rations with an economical source of fiber, protein and energy. To capitalize on low prices, industry experts recommend booking as much as 100 percent of their cottonseed needs no later than December or January.
"Even the hurricanes that ravaged the southeastern U.S. this summer did little damage to the cottonseed supply," said Tom Wedegaertner, director of cottonseed research and marketing, Cotton Incorporated.
This year's cotton crop is expected to tilt the scales at a record 7.7 million tons—a 15 percent increase over last year's 6.7 million tons.
Transportation will play a bigger role this year with more commodities competing for fewer truck and rail options.
World trade patterns remain another important consideration. Increased imports of Australian cottonseed, which are expected to arrive in the United States this May, could have an impact on the market. However, steady cottonseed exports to Asia, Saudi Arabia and Mexico now through April may balance the influx.
Depending on how well cottonseed competes with other commodities, it stands a good chance of entering the beef feedlot market, which will cause supplies to disappear quickly.
"By reducing and eliminating barriers to trade, a comprehensive FTA with the UAE and Oman will generate export opportunities for U.S. companies, farmers, and ranchers, help create jobs in the United States, and help American consumers save money while offering them more choices."
—U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick, announcing Nov. 16 the Bush administration's intent to create free trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
