ARDEN HILLS, MINN. (February 27, 2025) – Each year, WinField United examines data gathered across its research platforms, including its Innovation Center in River Falls, Wis., and its nationwide Answer Plot® field locations, to derive timely agronomic insights to share with retailers and growers ahead of the new season. The insights are focused on helping get the most return on investment (ROI) from every input decision, which is especially critical as the industry faces another challenging market in 2025.
Joe Rickard, crop protection product manager with WinField United, breaks down some of the years’ key research findings, which focused on the role adjuvants can play in herbicide and fungicide applications, as well as new updates to the industry leading WinField United BioVerified™ designation list.
1. Glyphosate not as effective? Try an adjuvant for better control and to use less water.
Many growers use glyphosate in their weed control programs but may be seeing declining effectiveness in weed control. Don’t simply up your rates.
“This past summer, we paired InterLock adjuvant with glyphosate to test changes in performance on some tough weeds like velvetleaf,” said Rickard. “The results showed that when InterLock adjuvant was added to the spray mix, there was a 20% reduction in the size of velvetleaf weeds and their leaf areas were reduced by 26%, indicating more effective weed control.”
Another interesting finding was that less water was used after adding InterLock® adjuvant to the herbicide tank mix – saving up to 11 gallons of water per acre per day in fields with heavy weed pressure. This is a critical consideration for growers managing water usage during drought-prone seasons.
2. An adjuvant will ensure you get glufosinate uptake in tough conditions.
Glufosinate herbicides, especially Liberty herbicide, also are popular in corn and soybeans fields. Like glyphosate, research is showing adding an adjuvant helps get the most bang for your buck. Rickard says an adjuvant will not only enhance weed control but could potentially reduce the need for additional applications.
“In an Innovation Center study, scientists found that Class Act® NG® adjuvant significantly improved the uptake of Liberty herbicide, by as much as 178%,” said Rickard. “This research translates to a more cost-effective way to combat weed pressure, especially in tough conditions that could affect uptake.”
3. Many fungicides can be effective to help manage common corn diseases; but when used in combination with the right adjuvant, you can further limit disease severity and push yields by as much as 6 bu/A.
“With many growers battling increased disease pressure in their corn fields, we know fungicide applications are in disease management plans this season,” said Rickard. “In Answer Plot trials, we looked first at how popular fungicides performed against several of the most common corn diseases, such as Northern Corn Leaf Blight and eye spot. But then, compare that to how plants reacted when those fungicides were applied in combination with an adjuvant.”
One combination rose to the top: Altipro™ funcigicide and MasterLock® adjuvant. The results showed a nearly six-bushel per acre increase in corn yields. Additionally, disease severity dropped significantly 14 days after application and plant biomass increased. These findings reinforce the importance of not only using the right products but using them in combination for maximum benefits.
4. Demystifying biologicals: the newly updated BioVerified designation list is available.
Last season, WinField United introduced the BioVerified designation, a vetting process designed to give ag retailers and growers a clearer reference point when selecting biologicals.
The list has been updated for 2025 and now includes 11 products, including new hopper-box treatments for corn and soybeans, Dash™ PBC and Dash PBS, that have been found to provide lubricity and improve early season growth. These were added based on performance, but also in response to market feedback and demand. The full list can be viewed at www.winfieldunited.com/research-and-innovation/bioverified .
“The BioVerified designation has quickly become a source of truth when it comes to helping determine which biologicals have been shown by research to be effective and could make the most sense to incorporate into crop protection and crop nutrition plans,” said Rickard.
To learn more about any of the insights above, talk to your local WinField United affiliated retailer, or visit winfieldunited.com.
About WinField United
WinField United is the seed, crop protection products, agricultural services and agronomic insights business of Land O’Lakes, Inc. As an industry leader, the business focuses on meeting the needs of nearly 1,300 locally owned and operated cooperative and independent agricultural retailers and its grower-customers across the United States. Through data-backed, insight-driven agronomics, operational excellence and sustainable solutions delivered under the WinField United brand, the business helps retailers successfully meet farmers’ needs.
