Enlist E3 Soybeans for the US
On Feb. 21, 2019, Corteva Agriscience (Agric. Div. Of DowDupont) and MS Technologies announced the US launch of Enlist E3 soybeans for 2019 planting.
Enlist E3 soybeans are a triple-stack herbicide-tolerant line of soybeans that have tolerance to 2,4-D (Group 4) choline herbicide in Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides, as well as glyphosate (Group 9) and glufosinate (Group 10) herbicides. Enlist Duo herbicide is a combination of 2,4-D choline and glyphoste, whereas Enlist One herbicide is a 2,4-D choline product that can be tank-mixed with myriad other herbicides, including glufosinate products.
The Enlist herbicides can be applied to Enlist E3 soybean varieties from burndown through post-emergence (PE). This means that these varieties will have tolerance to PE herbicides with three distinct modes of action. Earlier reports indicate Enlist E3 varieties will be available in MG’s 0 through 5.8.
According to the developers, the Enlist herbicides have near zero volatility and reduced potential for physical drift. Thus, they are designed to stay on the targeted site. The confirmation of this on a widespread basis will likely come after Enlist E3 varieties are grown on a significant acreage over a wide area and the Enlist herbicides are applied to them on that acreage.
Click here for allowable tank-mix partners with each of the Enlist herbicides. It is important to know that glufosinate, which the Enlist E3 varieties will be tolerant to, can only be tank-mixed and applied with Enlist One herbicide and not with Enlist Duo herbicide according to the information on the above-linked site. Thus, even though these varieties will be tolerant to 2,4-D, glyphosate, and glufosinate, two applications will be required to subject these varieties to all three modes of action represented by the three herbicides. That is, 2,4-D and glyphosate can be applied simultaneously by applying Enlist Duo herbicide, while 2,4-D and glufosinate can be applied simultaneously in the labeled tank mix of these two herbicide active ingredients. Again, check the list on the Enlist tank mix website to verify allowed tank mixes. Note that Enlist One herbicide has more tank mix flexibility than does Enlist Duo.
A word of caution. Both 2,4-D and dicamba are Group 4 auxin herbicides. However, Enlist E3 soybean varieties are sensitive to dicamba herbicides, and Xtend soybean varieties (tolerant of dicamba herbicides) are sensitive to 2,4-D. This adds another layer of concern for producers having to keep up with which soybean varieties are planted in which fields to ensure that the correct herbicide is applied to the appropriate herbicide-tolerant varieties.
Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Mar. 2019, larryheatherly@bellsouth.net