Adjuvant Choice and Fall Burndown Success

Behind yield are a variety of factors used to measure the success of the 2024 growing season. One that will play a major role in purchasing decisions next year is herbicide performance. Did growers get the control they payed for from their herbicide program? Before answering that question, Austin Anderson, Brand Manager of Adjuvants with Helena Products Group, encourages growers to consider something else.

“Adjuvants are good, economical ways for us to put our best foot forward,” says Anderson. “We’re getting the most out of our investment, and ultimately, we’re putting ourselves in a place to win.”

Adjuvants are designed to complement herbicide active ingredients in ways that maximize weed control. For example, in fall burndown applications, the right adjuvant can protect valuable residuals and help them limit weed pressure prior to planting the following spring.

“Sometimes in the fall, it tends to get a little bit dry in places,” says Anderson.  “We want to protect [the herbicide] from that photodegradation.”

Anderson recommends Grounded® to help move herbicides into the soil, thereby reducing active ingredient loss to UV light. Grounded is a multi-functional, oil-based adjuvant. Its deposition and adsorption properties keep active ingredients in the weed kill zone longer for more impact.

“When you add something like Grounded into the tank, you're going to get a whole lot more bang for your buck,” says Anderson.

Another way to impact fall burndown is to produce faster activity. Because that can be a challenge as the seasons change, herbicide activators offer the extra support applications need to be successful.  Anderson says Fire-Zone® is an adjuvant that can produce “summer-like results out of products in the winter.”

“As we get into different points of the year, you want products that are working faster, working more consistent, getting that absorption and penetration,” says Anderson.

Fire-Zone is a blend of methylated seed oils and surfactants specially designed for burndown and desiccation. It produces a faster weed killing response and works well even in adverse conditions. Like Grounded, Fire-Zone’s role in the application makes it easier for herbicides to do their job.

If you’re looking for ways to optimize your herbicide program in 2025, work with your local Helena representative to make sure you have the right adjuvant in the tank with every application. For more fall burndown tips, check out Episode 71 of the FieldLink® Podcast on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.