WSSA Advocates for Weed Controls That Protect Soybean Export Value
Experts from the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) attended the 2018 Farm Progress show in Boone, Iowa, to highlight system-wide strategies for protecting soybean export values by reducing weed seeds in harvested soybean crops.
The U.S. is a major exporter of soybean, which represents more than half of the nation’s $39 billion in annual grain exports. When weed seeds are detected in exported crops, the importing country may impose additional inspections or treatments, or may reject or destroy the shipment. Recurring violations can lead authorities to suspend exports from a given region or to close their import markets entirely.
“Herbicide-resistant weeds have led to a rise in the number of weed seeds finding their way into harvested crops,” says Lee Van Wychen, Ph.D., executive director of science policy for WSSA. “We need a proactive, system-wide strategy to reverse this trend and protect economically important foreign markets.”
WSSA representatives attending the Farm Progress show promoted a system-wide approach developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to reduce weed seeds in harvested soybean crops. WSSA is among nearly two dozen public agencies, scientific societies, industry organizations, grower groups and trade associations to endorse APHIS’ recommendations, which span weed control during planting, harvesting, storage, handling and transport.
Examples include:
• Remove late-season weeds that have escaped.
• Adjust combine settings to remove weed seeds.
• Regularly clean storage bins, augers and legs, transport vehicles and farm equipment to prevent weed spread and cross-crop contamination.
The full list of recommended best practices is available for download at the USDA APHIS website
Picture: Contribution from Sergio Morichetti, Aceitera General Deheza, Argentina. one pound soybean sample with Palmer Amaranth seeds taken from a truck before unloading its content into the elevator.
Date: August 27, 2018
