Adjuvants are taken a lot more seriously these days. This is partly due to increased application of dicamba over the top in the past three years as more growers have seen the value adjuvants play in the spray tank—particularly with off-site movement. This opens the conversation farmers have with ag retailers in a new way, notes Brian Kuehl, director of product development for CHS Agronomy.
“In the past, growers may have looked to their retailer to justify and recommend the adjuvant they would include in an application. Now, growers are much more aware of the role adjuvants play in the spray tank,” he says. “It really comes down to functionality. There’s no one-size-fits-all adjuvant.”
Kuehl notes supply chain issues are a huge challenge right now for all inputs including the raw materials used in adjuvant production.
He believes there is adequate supply; however, he’s encouraging retailers to work with farmers now to secure orders, supplies and deliveries.
And with the current supply chain challenges and economics, it’s time to set higher expectations of the spray application.
He advocates to position adjuvants as a tool to help farmers elevate the performance of their herbicide applications and achieve valuable return on the investment.
“Whether it’s a burndown application or post application—now more than ever—it’s important to get the best performance you are going to get,” Kuehl says. “For example, in a burndown, if you were previously getting 80% control, now you want to target 95% control. That’s just so when you come back with a post application, perhaps your timing will be off because of some logistical challenges, and you need that extra efficacy to fend off the weed pressure.”
CHS Agronomy introduces four new adjuvant products to provide greater efficiency and efficacy in spray applications. Available for the 2022 growing season, all four products aim to improve the performance of herbicides.
Last Chance Pro: A nonionic surfactant, water conditioner and deposition aid
Last Chance Pro is formulated to increase the uptake, translocation and efficacy of herbicides compared with many standard adjuvant programs. Last Chance Pro offers a low use rate, excellent handling characteristics and enhanced weed control of many herbicides including both glufosinate and glyphosate.
Verasure: A volatility-reducing agent, drift-reduction agent, water conditioner and surfactant
Verasure is made specifically for the dicamba market and offers an all-in-one solution to meet EPA requirements. Verasure is unique in that it comes complete with a nonionic surfactant, water conditioner, defoamer, drift reduction aids and volatility-reduction aids.
Advatrol: A high-surfactant methylated seed oil concentrate
Advatrol is a high-surfactant oil concentrate that helps to increase contact activity and penetration at a convenient low use rate. This is part of CHS Agronomy’s exclusive line of soy-enhanced adjuvants that are formulated with highly refined soy oil made from the soybeans grown by CHS farmer-owners.
Tapran: A methylated seed oil, water conditioner and deposition aid
Tapran is a multifunctional solution, equipped with a high-surfactant oil concentrate, water conditioning agent and deposition aid to help improve herbicide performance against tough-to-control weeds. This is part of CHS Agronomy’s exclusive line of soy-enhanced adjuvants that are formulated with highly refined soy oil made from soybeans grown by CHS farmer-owners.
Margy Eckelkamp
