As growers finalize spring plans, one theme keeps resurfacing: Weed control can’t be treated like an afterthought; it is necessary to plan ahead to combat these challenges. At Commodity Classic 2026 in San Antonio, Dr. Michael Cox, Herbicide Brand Manager with Helena Products Group, and Paul Sauer, Helena Product Manager covering Minnesota and parts of the Upper Midwest, discussed Helena’s latest innovations in herbicide technology — Testament™ and Sinister® Nexus — and how timing, coverage and stewardship are at the forefront of tackling the weed resistance growers face today.
The harsh reality of today’s weed resistance is requiring growers to rethink their strategies.
No longer are we living in the Roundup®generation; a single pass is not going to cut it for the entire season. Resistance and shifting weed spectrums are changing previously successful weed control strategies, pushing programs toward layered residuals and multiple complementary modes of action. There is a new playbook as weeds continue to get smarter, and growers must protect their investment. Sauer says that early-season weed control is critical to yield protection.
“When we’re looking at controlling weeds early on, it’s 100% about competition on the crop,” he says.
Competition can become costly fast. Waiting until the first post-emergence pass to regain control may already mean lost yield potential.
“If you're not counteracting those weeds by the time you get to that first post pass, you could be decreasing your yield by 25%,”
Paul Sauer, Helena Product Manager
Waiting a full year is even more damaging, leading to 50% reduction in yield. A herbicide program is more than just a cost — it’s an investment to retain the yield you’re trying to produce. Growers today must be proactive instead of reactive to manage resistant weeds and longer emergence windows. A successful pre-plant burndown is key to beginning the season with a clean field. Applying residual herbicides at preemergence timing and then again with the first post-emergence pass greatly enhances the chance of reaching canopy with minimal weed competition. Layered residuals are also crucial in reducing the risk of weed breakthroughs later in the season, when control measures can be expensive and weeds are difficult to control.
Multiple modes of action are essential and the backbone of Helena’s herbicide programs. Dr. Cox says using a single mode of action only helps resistant weeds continue to populate.
“Every time you only use a single mode of action, you’re applying selection pressure, and resistant weeds to that single mode of action will survive,”
Dr. Michael Cox, Herbicide Brand Manager
By using multiple modes of action, you get a more thorough kill of the entire weed population at that time, lessening the chance that resistant weeds survive. If the weed doesn’t survive, it doesn’t produce seed and become a larger problem in the future.
“You need to rotate and use multiple modes of action to make sure that you're achieving a thorough control across your entire field. It’s especially important to take out those weed species that are likely to form resistance to some of the newer modes of action you've begun using,” he says.
Beyond active ingredients and modes of action, Helena continues to invest in formulation technologies designed to improve consistency and efficiency in the field. Helena’s herbicide pipeline keeps growers and weed resistance at the forefront of product development. Providing growers with versatility means giving them multiple modes of action across a couple different products so they can choose the best fit for their farm.
“We look for versatility, more modes of action and more specific herbicides to cover that broad spectrum of weeds that they're going to encounter.
Dr. Michael Cox, Herbicide Brand Manager
Testament is Helena’s newest corn and soybean herbicide, launched in fall 2025, featuring three active ingredients, saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone and dimethenamid-p, which deliver two modes of action. This product will be an excellent choice as growers make spring decisions, providing good burndown and strong residual protection early so they aren’t continuing to fight weeds as the season goes on. Helena also has a third iteration of the Sinister herbicide line, Sinister Nexus, set to debut later this fall. With recent Environmental Protection Agency approval, Sinister Nexus will be an important addition to the soybean portfolio, offering three active ingredients and three modes of action.
As growers look ahead to the 2026 season, effective weed control starts now. Early burndown, layered residuals and the intentional use of multiple modes of action are essential to managing resistant weeds. Supported by advanced formulation technologies and new product options, Helena is at the forefront of providing solutions that control weeds all season long. In today’s weed management environment, successful control is no longer about finding an “easy button” but about building disciplined, proactive herbicide programs that work from planting through canopy.
Contact your local Helena representative to learn more and build your season-long herbicide program.