Drew Mummelthei, an Iowa farmer, takes great pride in his soybean fields. Then suddenly, six or seven years ago, his fields became infested by waterhemp, which seemed to grow worse and become more difficult to kill each year in his area of northeast Iowa.
"I tried chemicals with the burndown, but it didn't control the waterhemp to my standards," he recalls. He planted Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans and conducted a 2017 trial in which he treated several hundred acres with XtendiMax® herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology, a restricted use pesticide.
"Nothing's 100 percent, but we're extremely happy with XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology. It's really helped us win the battle of waterhemp," he says.
"I sprayed it last year and that field was almost weed-free," Mummelthei states. "You had to look really hard to see weeds in 160 acres. Nothing is ever 100 percent effective, but it came very close."
Mummelthei isn't the only one impressed with the effectiveness of XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology — his neighbors are also taking notice.
"They're asking how I liked it and how it worked," he says. "I tell them the system works. If they can manage it properly and train on it, they're going to love it."
The 2018 growing season may be over, but Mummelthei's already planning to plant 100 percent of his soybean acres to Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans next year — and to treat them all with XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology.
"I'm extremely happy with my weed control, and I'm looking forward to seeing my Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans flourish," he says. "As seed-bean growers, clean fields are really important to us. I'm excited for the yield potential this year, and I'm not looking back — I'm going all in again next year."
Mummelthei follows timelines by the book, closely adhering to stewardship guidelines when applying herbicides.
"Guidelines exist for a reason," he says. "You want to hit a plant every time, and you want to hit it before it's up or when it's very small, when you have less canopy."
I tell them the system works. If they can manage it properly and train on it, they're going to love it. Drew Mummelthei / Iowa
I tell them the system works. If they can manage it properly and train on it, they're going to love it.
That early postemergent application of XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology with a residual herbicide laid a strong foundation for his 2018 growing season. "My brother and I walked the fields once a week," he says. "All summer, we noticed that weeds were dying and the beans look great!"
Technology isn't only in Mummelthei's fields — with the RRXtend Spray App, it's also in the palm of his hand.
"I just downloaded it on my phone, and it gives me wind speed, temperature, inversion risk — all the data points I need to help assist with my decision to spray. It's peace of mind; the app is very helpful."
Thanks to technology in his fields and on his phone, Mummelthei once again takes pride in his clean soybean fields.
"Give it a try and you'll never look back," he advises.
By: Nancy Hallahan
No matter the weed challenge, environment or growing conditions, U.S. soybean and cotton farmers rely on Roundup Ready® Xtend Technology.
When you only have a finite number of harvests — limited chances to "get it right" in your career, every decision matters.
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