Despite that fact that there is no dicamba herbicide product approved for commercial in-crop use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans, Cliff Seward is eager to try out this new technology in his Missouri farm fields.

"We always like to have the latest technology on our farm," Seward says. "We want to see if it is going to yield and what the new germplasm can do. Then once we can get dicamba we will see its full potential."

NEW TECHNOLOGY: Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans are making their way to farm fields across Missouri. It is the industry's first biotech product with tolerance to both glyphosate and dicamba herbicides providing more options for weed control for farmers. However, they will have to wait on EPA approval for in-crop use of dicamba.

Seward of Monroe City, Mo., received his first delivery of the new Asgrow brand Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans last week. Considered a major advancement in soybean trait technology, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans are tolerant to both glyphosate and dicamba. It allows for the use of dicamba herbicide over the top of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans to help control problem weeds. The technology has been highly anticipated by farmers and is now available in the U.S. and Canada in time for the 2016 season.

Monsanto's Asgrow, Channel and regional brands, along with Corn States licensees, expect to introduce more than 70 soybean products across eight maturity groups with agronomic traits including resistance to nematodes and phytophthora root rot. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans are broadly licensed to more than 100 seed brands.

Limitations and opportunities

Although Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans are tolerant to glyphosate and dicamba herbicides, the use of dicamba remains in late stage of Environmental Protection Agency review and is not currently approved by the EPA. But that does not slow growers from trying out the latest technology.

FIRST BAG: Quinn Farm Supply owner Gerry Quinn loads the first bag of Asgrow Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans into customer Cliff Seward's farm truck in Monroe City. While Seward will not be able to spray dicamba in-crop, he is hoping to see a yield advantage.

Ashley Berthold, district sales manager for Asgrow, says farmers in her area pre-ordered the product. Gerry Quinn, owner of Quinn Farm Supply will have 10 customers planting the new soybean variety. In all 400 unites of Roundup Read 2 Xtend soybeans will be planted in the region.

"For the first year, they want to watch and see how it works on a commercial farm scale," Berthold explains. "They want to get comfortable with the variety, so when it does receive the final EPA approval, they already have an idea of how the variety works in their individual field." She expects her region, which extends from eastern Missouri to Kansas, to plant Roundup Ready 2 Xtend. "It will be mostly in eastern Missouri where we have weed control problems."

The row crop farmer who has acreage in Monroe, Ralls and Marion counties is trying to combat waterhemp and marestail. "It is tough," he notes. "These are the biggest of the resistant weeds and we have tried everything to control them."

What to expect from Xtend soybeans

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Built on higher-yielding Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield technology, farmers who plant Asgrow Roundup Ready 2 Xtend can count on the same strong yield potential. In addition, these new soybean products provide resistance packages against nematodes and Phytophthora root rot.

The Asgrow brand is offering the largest selection of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean products for planting in 2016, with 25 products spanning all eight maturity groups.

Seward will plant AG38X6 brand this spring. He has been planting Asgrow beans for a number of years and says they have performed well on the farm. "I'm planting Asgrow brand Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans this year to get the latest genetics they have and the best yield possible from our ground." He is hoping for a yield bump seen in trials. "(Research) shows that they are able to produce 55 bushels per acre compared to the 40 bushels on average in this area," Seward notes.

"Today represents an exciting milestone for the Asgrow brand and farmers," said Dipal Chaudhari, Asgrow brand manager. "This new technology provides the leading genetics and yield performance farmers have come to expect from the Asgrow brand."

To help more farmers experience the benefits of these new Asgrow Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans in 2016, there was an introductory discount of $5 per unit.

Heed the warning labels

Asgrow warns Roundup Ready 2 Xtend buyers not to apply dicamba herbicide in-crop in 2016 unless you use a dicamba herbicide product that is specifically labeled for that use in the location where you intend to make the application. While no in-crop use of dicamba is currently approved, some dicamba products may be labeled for weed control prior to planting a crop and subject to minimum plant back restrictions.

The company reminds growers that it is a violation of federal and state law to make an in-crop application of dicamba herbicide product on Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans or any other pesticide application unless the product labeling specifically authorizes the use.