Drought conditions and extreme heat throughout Kansas are forcing farmers to consider harvesting soybeans for forage, rather than grain. Many factors should be considered when making this decision and some are discussed in a companion article in this Agronomy eUpdate, Drought and heat stress in Kansas soybean fields.
Herbicide applications made during the growing season are an additional concern that has been raised by farmers. The herbicide label is the law, and many herbicide labels do restrict the use of soybeans as a forage. It will be critical to know the waiting period that must be followed between the application of a given herbicide and the grazing or harvesting of the soybeans for use as a forage. Table 1 summarizes statements related to feeding soybeans.
Table 1. Summary of restrictions for grazing/haying soybeans treated with various herbicides.
|
Herbicide |
Comments related to haying and/or grazing |
|
Anthem Maxx |
DO NOT graze or feed treated soybean forage or hay to livestock. |
|
Assure II |
Do not feed forage, hay, or straw from treated areas to livestock unless stated otherwise under the specific crop use directions. |
|
Classic |
Do not graze treated fields or harvest for hay within 14 days after application. |
|
Cobra |
Do not graze animals on green forage or stubble. Do not feed treated soybean silage (ensiled soybeans) to cattle. Do not utilize hay or straw for animal feed or bedding. |
|
Dual Magnum |
DO NOT graze or feed treated forage, hay, or straw from soybeans to livestock for 30 days following a preplant surface, preplant incorporated, or preemergence application. DO NOT graze or feed treated forage or hay from soybeans to livestock following a postemergence application. |
|
Engenia |
Allow at least 14 days between final application and harvest or feeding of soybean hay. |
|
Enlist Duo |
Do not graze treated soybean. Do not harvest for forage or hay. |
|
Enlist One |
Do not graze treated soybean. Do not harvest for forage or hay. |
|
FirstRate |
Forage or Hay: Do not apply within 25 days before harvest. Soybeans: Do not apply within 70 days before harvest. |
|
Flexstar/Reflex |
Do not graze treated areas or harvest for forage or hay. |
|
Flexstar GT 3.5 |
Do not graze treated areas or harvest for forage or hay. |
|
Fusilade DX |
Do not harvest soybeans for 60 days following the last application. |
|
Fusion |
Do not graze or harvest for forage or hay. |
|
Harmony GT XP |
Do not allow livestock to graze on, or feed forage, hay or straw from treated soybean fields. |
|
Intermoc |
DO NOT graze or feed treated forage, hay, or straw. DO NOT graze or feed treated forage or hay from soybeans to livestock after a post-emergent application. |
|
Liberty 280 SL |
DO NOT graze the treated crop or cut for hay |
|
Marvel |
Do not graze or feed treated soybean forage or hay to livestock. |
|
Outlook |
DO NOT graze or feed forage, hay, or straw to livestock |
|
Perpetuo |
DO NOT graze treated fields or harvest for forage or hay |
|
Poast Plus |
Only processed meal from seed or hay may be fed to animals. |
|
Prefix |
Do not graze or feed treated forage or hay from soybeans to livestock following a postemergence application of Prefix Herbicide. |
|
Pursuit |
DO NOT graze or feed treated soybean forage, hay, or straw to livestock. |
|
Raptor |
No comments on label |
|
Resource |
Do not graze treated fields or harvest for forage or hay. |
|
RoundUp PowerMax3 |
Allow a minimum of 14 days between application and harvest of soybean grain or feeding of soybean grain, forage or hay. |
|
SelectMax |
DO NOT graze treated fields or feed treated forage or hay to livestock |
|
Sequence |
DO NOT graze or feed treated forage or hay to livestock following a postemergence application. |
|
Synchrony |
DO NOT graze or feed treated forage or hay to livestock following a postemergence application |
|
Tavium |
DO NOT graze or feed treated forage or hay to livestock following a postemergence application. |
|
Thunder Master |
DO NOT graze or feed treated soybean forage, hay or straw to livestock. |
|
Torment |
Do not graze treated areas or harvest for forage or hay. |
|
Ultra Blazer |
Do not use treated plants for feed or forage. |
|
Warrant |
DO NOT graze treated area or feed treated soybean forage to livestock following the application of this product. |
|
Warrant Ultra |
DO NOT graze treated area or feed treated forage to livestock following application of this product. |
|
XtendiMax |
Livestock Grazing or Feeding Permitted. |
|
Zidua SC |
No comments on label |
The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.
For more information, see 2023 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland, K-State publication SRP-1176.
Sarah Lancaster, Extension Weed Science Specialist
slancaster@ksu.edu
Sandy Johnson, Extension Beef Specialist, Northwest Research-Extension Center
sandyj@ksu.edu
Frannie Miller, Pesticide Safety and IPM Coordinator
fmiller@ksu.edu