Every growing season starts with a familiar goal: get the crop off to a clean, strong start. A well-timed spring burndown is one of the first steps to get there, but it’s only part of a bigger picture. Managing herbicide resistance is the long game that keeps fields productive year after year. And as more weeds adapt, growers must think strategically about every pass across the field.

“When it comes to crop protection and resistance management, commitment from everyone involved is key,” says Tim Ford, HELM Crop Solutions U.S. crop consultant liaison and regional sales manager for the South Delta. “Weed resistance management is complicated. We need engagement from all levels – growers, retailers, suppliers and companies – to ensure best practices are consistently applied.”

A well-planned spring burndown sets the tone for the season, according to Ford. It lays the groundwork for effective resistance management while keeping soil health a priority.

Lay a strong crop foundation

Spring burndown applications are a cornerstone of successful crop production. This pre-planting practice eliminates early-season weed competition and creates a clean slate for planting in three important ways:

  1. It helps seedlings establish quickly, free from weed interference during their most vulnerable growth stage.
  2. It promotes stand uniformity.
  3. It supports higher yield potential.

Understand modes of action (MOA)

Knowing that spring burndown is essential is one thing. Building an effective program is another. Herbicide resistance remains one of the biggest threats to crop performance, which makes MOA diversity a must in every grower’s weed control plan.

Research from Cornell University shows:

  • There are 534 unique cases of herbicide resistance across 273 weedy species and 168 herbicides spanning 21 of 31 MOAs.
  • Herbicide-resistant weeds exist in 98 crops across 72 countries.
  • The United States alone has more than 130 documented cases.

One effective way to manage herbicide resistance is by diversifying MOAs within your program. Reviton®, a powerful PPO burndown herbicide, has shown to be effective against tough weeds like waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, giant ragweed and lambsquarters. It’s easy to tank-mix and works well in pre-plant applications.

Reviton also offers advantages in user safety and crop rotation flexibility. Its label carries the Caution signal word and includes these specific plant-back intervals for a wide range of crops.

 

A table outlining plant back intervals for various crops, specifying days after application for three different application rates (1 fl oz, 2 fl oz, and 3 fl oz). Crops listed include barley, corn, soybean, cotton, and more, with specific intervals noted for each.

Ford advises growers to pay close attention to product labels. As some products come off patent, different brand names may share the same mode of action. The key is to rotate chemistries – not just labels – to reduce resistance risk.

Active ingredients (AI) and application rates matter

Beyond MOA, growers also need to crunch a few numbers. The active ingredient (AI) in a herbicide is the compound that controls weeds. The rest of the formulation includes inert ingredients that aid in application, stability or absorption.

For example, if a label lists 30% tiafenacil, it represents the amount of the weed-killing chemical in the product, not the total liquid volume. This percentage determines how much product must be applied per acre to achieve the target control rate.

“Chemical products usually have rate ranges for proper performance,” explains Ford. “Keep in mind that a product you used two years ago may have had a higher concentration. Using the same rate today could deliver less effective control.”

Applying too low a rate can allow regrowth and encourage resistance. A rate that is too high can risk crop injury or off-target damage, especially near sensitive crops or neighboring fields.

Know your fields

Even the best-designed weed prevention plan won’t work if it’s built on bad information. Keep good records of dominant weed species and track population shifts over time. Field scouting, particularly in late summer and fall, helps identify which weeds will pressure next season’s crop.

Different weeds emerge at different soil temperatures and depths. Knowing those patterns helps fine-tune herbicide timing. It’s also important to track resistance history, seedbank levels and any micro-patterns within fields that could influence control.

Tap into resources

Weed management is a team effort. Growers don’t have to go it alone. Retailers, crop advisors and suppliers each play an important role in building and maintaining effective programs.

“Good retailers and advisors are in the field with their growers, not just behind the counter,” says Ford. “They’re seeing what’s happening firsthand and helping sort through an increasingly complex marketplace.”

While proactive management may sound like extra work, Ford says the payoff is clear. 

“The cost of a rescue program can be steep,” he adds. “Investing a little more time up front delivers a much greater return in the long run.”

 

Contact your local HELM representative or agronomist to learn more about Reviton and how it could work for you.

You can also take one or more of HELM's online learning modules, which cover a variety of topics that include Reviton and other crop protection products.