BASF Fights Weed Resistance in Colorado

Leah Guffey

12807927604_8316ec035c_qAt the BASF “Science Behind the Advanced Acre” media event before Commodity Classic a few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to learn more about how BASF helps farmers in various parts of the country.

Bob Leisy is a business representative with BASF based in Eastern Colorado. He works with retailers and crop consultants, helping them help local growers, like Alex Rock who we already heard from, to make informed and smart decisions about advanced weed control and plant health.

One of the more interesting things I learned from Bob is the problem that tumbleweeds are in that part of the country. “A lot of our kochia turns to tumbleweeds,” he said. “In the fall, once the plant dies off, the wind breaks it off and then that plant distributes seed as it rolls across the field.” Those tumbleweeds can spread about 100,000 seeds of glyphosate-resistant kochia as they roll, so Bob says they are working with growers to spray for kochia earlier than ever before to try and control it. “We’re looking at using 12-16 ounces of Clarity, a dicamba product from BASF, to put some residual in the ground that will kill the kochia as it begins to sprout.”

You can listen to my interview with Bob here: Interview with Bob Leisy, BASF Business Representative
BASF at the 2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Crop Protection, Herbicide, weed management