An innovative spray tank additive called SATCHUR8 is increasing herbicide efficacy and helping Mid-Atlantic growers avoid respraying, saving them time and money in their fields.
“The biggest benefit I saw was on large-seeded, broadleaves,” said Joshua Towson of York County, Pennsylvania. “They were getting big fast, and we paired glyphosate, SATCHUR8, and Enlist, and within a week, those big weeds melted to the ground, and they were dead.”
Prior to using SATCHUR8, Towson explained that he’s had to go back with a second trip to rescue crops from runaway weeds — and the cost can add up.
“If you’re talking about another trip with the sprayer, that’s another $15 an acre, plus the time to do it,” he says, adding that time to spray is tough to find. “You’re making that extra trip and spending the day bouncing around different fields, and it becomes a pain. So, yeah, I’ve had the experience of having to go back and respray. But not with SATCHUR8, and that means a better ROI.”
SATCHUR8 was originally developed in the healthcare field to keep cancer drugs adhered to tumors for maximum effect, and this same characteristic makes the herbicide fuse to weeds for increased effectiveness
Larry Fiene, agronomist and founder of Planet Earth Agronomy, formulator of SATCHUR8, has found that while the burndown activity is impressive, it’s not the only benefit he’s seen from the technology.
“It also makes pre-emerge herbicides last longer,” he said. “Residual weed control is lasting longer because the active ingredient is being retained in the soil upper profile longer. In side-by-side trials, the SATCHUR8 tank mix lasted four to six weeks longer than the standard herbicide application.”
SATCHUR8 hits the market after several years of testing in the Willard Farm Performance System, a portfolio of tools, products, and services offered by Willard Agri-Service, based in Frederick, Maryland. Mike Twining, VP of Innovation at Willard, says the Farm Performance aims to help customers maximize farm profitability through leading technology and amplifying environmental stewardship.
“SATCHUR8 is a great example of what we are working to do for farmers with FPS. When we avoid re-sprays, that’s real money. And it’s real money that goes back into the pockets of our farmer customers,” Twining says. “I can tell you without reservation that what we experienced last year was that where we used SATCHUR8 in historically tough weed control scenarios, our number of spray passes dropped by over 50 percent.”
“Agriculture is complex, and we need a more rigorous, systematic approach to evaluating innovative technology of all kinds,” said Billy Willard, Willard CEO. “When we apply high standards of evaluation, we can avoid misfires and help our customers realize a better return on their investment. We’re a truly local and independent company and that allows us to be objective on what works and what doesn’t.”
