Client Objective

The US soybean herbicide market had seen rapid changes in recent years with the shift to dicamba tolerant varieties and then to 2,4-D tolerant varieties. Our client wanted to understand the resulting impact on the use of residual herbicides at the pre- and post-application timings and predict future changes.

Our Approach

• Drawing from our extensive grower database, we conducted an online survey targeting 600 soybean growers in the Midwest and Southern regions of the US.
• Respondents described their past, present, and future plans for soybean herbicide traits, and explained the reasons for their planting decisions.
• Respondents also described their past, present, and future plans for herbicide programs in each trait.
• Herbicides were classified as residual and non-residual. Data from respondents was then analyzed for trends in the use of residual and non-residual herbicides at each application timing in each trait.
• Reasons for use/non-use of residual products were explored.

The Results

The study clearly illustrated:

• Trends in soybean herbicide traits.
• Differences in herbicide programs in each trait over several years.
• Factors driving changes in grower practices.
• Factors impacting the future use of residual herbicides in soybeans.

Our client was able to use this information to identify the right strategies for their soybean herbicide business.