A building is only as strong as its foundation. The same can be said for a weed control program. To defend fields against hard-to-manage weeds throughout the season, farmers act as architects — designing and implementing well-thought-out plans. Preemergence herbicides are the foundation of a successful weed management plan. Jeff Bode, market development specialist with Corteva Agriscience, said preemergence herbicide applications are fundamental to achieving cleaner fields from planting to harvest.
“Farmers can’t afford to miss the preemergence herbicide application window,” Bode said. “Starting clean is the root of any type of weed management program. If you’re able to start clean, that drives season-long weed control.”
To maximize the effectiveness of their weed control plan and prolong the efficacy of crop protection solutions, Bode encourages farmers to implement a program approach to weed control that includes using products with multiple modes of action (MOA) and residual activity. During the preemergence herbicide application window, Bode said, farmers should be taking advantage of these solutions, as it is “easier to prevent a weed from coming up rather than controlling it once it has emerged.”
Bode added that achieving adequate weed control in the first 60 to 75 days is paramount as the crop canopy begins to close out.
For soybean farmers, Sonic® Boom herbicide offers two MOAs — Group 5 and Group 14 active ingredients — for excellent control of more than 35 troublesome weeds. The soybean herbicide has a 2:1 formulation of metribuzin and sulfentrazone to deliver four to six weeks of residual activity, helping farmers achieve early season weed control and putting less stress on postemergence herbicide applications.
“Because preemergence herbicide applications set the tone for the season, farmers should consider investing in residual products like Sonic Boom herbicide,” Bode said. “The residual herbicide fits well into a two-pass system by delivering that long-lasting residual for extended weed control and widening the window for follow-up postemergence applications.”
The convenient formulation of Sonic Boom herbicide also enables farmers to streamline their management practices. Available in a liquid SC premix, farmers who spray Sonic Boom herbicide can tank-mix with a burndown herbicide prior to planting or with other preemergence options, including Enlist One® herbicide with Enlist E3® soybeans, for even more powerful weed control. Because the solution has the flexibility to fit a variety of agronomic and weed control systems, farmers can save time and inputs with Sonic Boom herbicide in their tank.
“Farmers have had an excellent experience with Sonic Boom herbicide since the 2025 launch year,” Bode said. “Not only have they been able to achieve clean fields but they have also found the flexibility allows them to tailor their weed management plan to their operation and unique needs. That’s critical to a successful program.”
Although Bode emphasizes the importance of preemergence applications and ensuring farmers are using products that deliver results, he says farmers should be following those sprays with postemergence residual herbicides in-season for a structurally sound weed management strategy.
“Having a strong start to the season with a preemergence product like Sonic Boom herbicide is a good baseline to start,” Bode said. “After making that preemergence application, it’s crucial to make a sequential application of an in-crop residual. Farmers who follow a program approach are gaining full-season weed control, and it’s driving really good results.”
Visit Corteva.com/us/SonicBoom for more information about Sonic Boom herbicide contact your local ag retailer or Corteva representative.
