Winter Conference 2025 ‣ Next Level Spraying

Don't let Waterhemp escape 

Aaron Herrmann, Research Agronomist, shares the importance of accurate and complete weed control using Waterhemp as an example. See the average cost of overapplying products when spraying and how to regain some of your inputs. 

Why is Waterhemp so difficult to control?

• A single female plant in crop competition produces 28,000-160,000 viable seeds.*
• Waterhemp seed has a 40% annual mortality rate.*
• Waterhemp seed has a 25% annual germination rate.*

The soil seed bank is a real threat to your weed control efforts, proving that weed control is a multi-year war. Follow along as Aaron thoroughly explains a Waterhemp escape scenario, starting at 4:40.

Optimize sprayer performance  

Scott Van Etten, Product Specialist, evaluates spray quality and droplet size, outlining how to dial in the sprayer for optimum weed control. Demonstrations include: 

1. Nozzle Style (13:30)
2. Spray Quality vs. Pressure (19:00)
3. Spray Quality vs. NozzleSplitter (27:00)

NozzleSplitter solves the challenge of maintaining required application rates while improving spray performance. Instead of relying on a single large nozzle that produces bigger droplets and limits coverage, this tool splits the flow into two smaller nozzles. This allows for better spray distribution, improved canopy penetration, and reduced drift, all without changing the overall application rate. It’s an easy retrofit for existing sprayers with nozzle sizes 08 and larger, making it a cost-effective upgrade for better weed control. 

Turn compensation 

Even if you pick the right nozzle, match it to your products, and keep a steady speed, you may still run into problems with turn compensation. Traditional sprayers struggle to keep rates consistent around curves, which can lead to over or under applying product in different parts of the field. If you have fields with bends or tight turns, you’ve probably seen this problem firsthand.

A few years ago, the Precision Planting team tested EM FlowSense on a sprayer to measure liquid flow at each nozzle. They aimed for 15 gallons per acre, but on the inside of a turn, rates jumped to 30 gallons per acre, which was double the target. This led to wasted chemicals and potential yield loss. At the same time, the outer boom dropped to 7 gallons per acre, applying only half the intended rate. This showed how much traditional sprayers struggle with turn compensation.

The power of scouting

Farmers typically plan their chemical weed control programs during the winter, or ahead of pre-pay discount windows, for the upcoming season. But before spraying anything, it's important to scout the fields to make sure the plan will actually work.

When you scout, look for what types of weeds are out there, how tough they are to kill, their size, and how dense they are. Based on what you find, you might need to use higher rates or add an extra chemistry to tackle the bigger weeds. On the flip side, if you scout and the residuals have worked well, you might not have as many weeds, and you could lower the rate or remove a chemistry altogether.

You can dial in your weed control with SymphonyVision camera systems by focusing on weed severity (weed density + weed size). Save on product and time, without compromising on weed control, by adjusting your chemical program to the actual weeds seen in the field. Follow along as Aaron explains his new chemical plan after scouting weeds and how he will use SymphonyVision|Rate to apply it (42:30).

Aaron's original program was Dual Magnum, Calisto, Atrazine, and Roundup. But as he looked at this map, he realized that none of these products were rated to take down Waterhemp larger than six inches. To lower the risk of a weed escape, he added Diflex to the tank mix per the recommendation of his agronomist. It’s a costly option, but instead of blanket applying it, he was able to variable rate with SymphonyVision.

Where weed severity is low or none on the map, the sprayer applied a lower chemical rate at $42/A. As weed severity increased, so did the rate and cost. At high severity, the full tank mix was applied at $56/A. The total cost for a clean 100-acre averaged $42.30/A.

Without SymphonyVision|Rate, a blanket application would have cost $56/A. Adding Diflex cost $17/A more when blanket applying, but the extra chemistry only costed $3/A more when we used variable rate. In the end, it only cost $3/A to ensure full weed control, which is why SymphonyVision is so exciting. It either improves weed control at a similar cost or saves you money while maintaining the same control.

^{Actual savings may vary depending on field conditions, weed pressure, herbicide costs, and other factors. These example scenarios are for illustrative purposes only using prices from the local farmer cooperative and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of savings.}

^{*References:
“Waterhemp - Weed of the Year.” NDSU Weed Science, www.ag.ndsu.edu/weeds/weed-of-the-year-files/waterhemp.
Loux, Mark. “Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp Management: It’s All about the Seed.” Ohioline, Ohio State University Extension, 20 June 2019, ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-76.
Mohler, Charles L., et al. Manage Weeds on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), 2021.
Seipel, Tim, and Lovreet Shergill. “Waterhemp (Amaranthus Tuberculatus): Biology, Identification, and Management.” MSU Extension, June 2022, apps.msuextension.org/montguide/guide.html?sku=MT202211AG.}