Every season brings a different set of challenges for farmers. This year, one of the biggest changes in the market is Syngenta’s upcoming phasing-out of paraquat production, affecting potential future paraquat supply and manufacturer support.
For farmers who have relied on paraquat as a harvest aid for decades, the transition naturally raises an important question: what should they prioritize moving forward? As supply dynamics change, it is a good time to revisit the core goals of desiccation: consistent drydown, operational flexibility and overall harvest efficiency.
Below are four practical considerations leading up to harvest:
Look Beyond Speed
In many operations, the selection of a harvest aid comes down to how well a product can balance speed of activity, application flexibility and overall crop drydown.
“Paraquat’s fit has always been speed. You can spray without any residual carryover,” says Josh Putman, Technical Marketing Manager at BASF.
While paraquat can deliver rapid activity, performance can be highly dependent on thorough spray coverage and favorable environmental conditions.
Sharpen® herbicide by BASF is a premier harvest aid* in crops like cotton, soybeans and corn. It helps accelerate crop drydown, reduce seed moisture variability, and dry down broadleaf weeds that may interfere with harvest operations.
According to Putman, one of the key differences between paraquat and Sharpen herbicide is how the product works within the plant.
“Sharpen herbicide brings systemic activity and moves within the plant, while paraquat is strictly contact,” says Putman. “This can provide a more complete kill, while products like paraquat only control what the herbicide touches.”
For farmers evaluating herbicide options, understanding those differences can help determine which harvest aid best fits their operation.
Evaluate Operational Impact
Harvest aid decisions affect more than crop drydown. They also influence how products are handled, stored and applied throughout the season.
Paraquat comes with significant handling requirements, including restricted-use classification, specialized applicator training, and closed-system handling protocols.
“From an application and use standpoint, paraquat is one of the more challenging products on the market,” says Putman. “Sharpen herbicide offers a simpler, easier-to-manage alternative.”
Sharpen herbicide is not a restricted-use pesticide, does not require closed-system handling and does not require specific training for use.
Use rate is another difference farmers may notice. Paraquat applications often require significantly higher use rates of 10.7 - 40 fl oz/A, while Sharpen herbicide is typically applied at 1 to 2 fl oz/A.
“Operationally, Sharpen herbicide simplifies logistics,” says Putman. “With its low use rate, a few jugs can cover what would otherwise require significantly more product.”
Learn more about Sharpen herbicide today
Maximize Performance in the Field
Environmental conditions continue to play an important role in harvest aid performance.
Warm temperatures and dry conditions generally promote faster crop drydown, while rainfall, cool temperatures and high humidity can slow the process.
Coverage is equally important. Higher water volumes, slower travel speeds, and sprayer setups that improve canopy penetration can help deliver more consistent results throughout the field. Sharpen herbicide is highly rainfast (one hour), providing flexibility when weather conditions become less predictable.
Timing Matters
No harvest aid can overcome poor timing. Applying too early can impact yield potential, while waiting too long may reduce the operational benefits desiccation is designed to provide.
In cotton, Sharpen herbicide is recommended for use after physiological maturity and is commonly used as part of a second desiccation* application. Allow up to 10 days following application for optimum desiccation*.
In soybeans, timing differs between determinate and indeterminate varieties, making accurate crop staging critical. When applied at the proper growth stage, harvest can typically begin within 6 to 10 days under favorable environmental conditions.
Additional Utility Beyond Harvest
While many farmers are evaluating Sharpen herbicide as a harvest aid* option, it also remains a valuable preplant burndown tool.
Sharpen herbicide controls more than 80 broadleaf weed species, including marestail, kochia and waterhemp. It also provides activity on ALS-, triazine- and glyphosate-resistant weed populations, giving farmers additional flexibility throughout the season.
Moving Forward
The changing paraquat landscape is prompting many farmers to reevaluate their harvest aid programs. While herbicide options may evolve, the priorities remain consistent: achieve a more uniform crop, maintain harvest efficiency and harvest when conditions are right.
As you consider harvest aid options for the future, understanding how different products fit those goals can help support a more efficient harvest.
To learn more about adding Sharpen herbicide to your desiccation* program, contact your local BASF representative.
1 Pennsylvania State University - Mandatory Paraquat Training
*Sharpen may be used for harvest aid/desiccation in select field and row crops (barley, wheat, and triticale; chia; field corn; dry edible beans; dry peas; oilseeds canola (rapeseed) subgroup 20A; oilseeds cottonseed subgroup 20C; oilseeds sunflower subgroup 20B; and soybean). Make harvest aid/desiccation applications when crops have reached physiological maturity or according to Extension Service recommendations in the use area.
Always read and follow label directions. Sharpen is a registered trademark of BASF. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of any such trademark does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by its owner. ©2026 BASF Agricultural Solutions US LLC. All Rights Reserved.
