Postemergence Soybean Herbicide Options

Due to the volatile spring weather, soybean planting and spraying have been rather erratic. Some have been able to spray burndowns and residuals and plant in a timely manner, while others have yet to spray, but the beans have already been planted. Weeds like dandelion, herbicide-resistant marestail/horseweed, and others will be very difficult to control postemergence in soybean. Also, many of the typical soil-applied residual soybean herbicides (e.g., Valor, Authority, Sharpen, metribuzin, etc.) cannot be applied over the top of soybeans due to injury concerns.

Below is a list of herbicides with foliar broadleaf activity and/or residual activity that are allowed POST, along with their labeled application timings and strengths. Unfortunately, many of these herbicides will not handle dandelion, burdock, curly dock, etc., very well. Keep in mind that products such as Dual Magnum, Outlook, Warrant/Enversa, and Zidua/Anthem Max will not control emerged weeds, so they will need to be tank-mixed with herbicides that have foliar activity. Additional details about these herbicides can be found in Table 2.4-14 of the 2025 Penn State Agronomy Guide. Below is not a comprehensive list and excludes generic products and herbicides that are mostly active on grasses (e.g., clethodim, Assure II, etc.) and/or products not typically applied POST. Tankmix approved products to broaden the control spectrum.

• Anthem Maxx – can be applied either PRE or POST up to the 6^th trifoliate but at least 60 days before harvest. Since it contains Cadet, some annual broadleaves (not marestail) will be controlled during burndown, but it tends to be weak on perennials. The pyroxasulfone (Zidua) portion will not control existing weeds, but will provide residual activity on annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaves.
• Basagran – after emergence but at least 30 days before harvest. Provides general control of small annual broadleaves – good on cocklebur, lambsquarters, smartweed, and velvetleaf.
• Cadet – preplant through full flowering. General control of small annual broadleaves – good on lambsquarters, nightshade, pigweeds, and velvetleaf.
• Classic (or Synchrony) – at least one trifoliate leaf up to 60 days before maturity. General control of small annual broadleaves – good on cocklebur, jimsonweed, pigweeds, and smartweed.
• Cobra – apply PRE or POST up to 45 days before harvest- one to two trifoliate leaves is typical. General control of small annual broadleaves – good on jimsonweed, nightshade, pigweeds, ragweeds, and smartweed.
• Dual Magnum – can be applied POST, but the exact application timing is not specified, but at least 75 days before harvest. It will not control existing weeds but will provide residual activity on annual grasses, small-seeded broadleaves, and nutsedge. Provides residual control of Palmer and waterhemp when applied POST.
• Engenia – can be applied from burndown up through R1 XtendFlex soybean growth stage. It controls many annual and perennial broadleaf weeds.
• Enlist One – can be applied in Enlist E3 soybean varieties only from emergence to no later than the initial flower stage (R1). Controls many annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Enlist Duo contains glyphosate.
• FirstRate – 1st soybean trifoliate through R1 (50% flowering). General control of small annual broadleaves – good on cocklebur, ragweeds, and velvetleaf; will not control ALS-resistant marestail.
• Glyphosate (Roundup Ready or glyphosate-resistant varieties only) - emergence through flowering. Overall, good weed control of many species, but it can be weak on perennials such as dandelion and glyphosate-resistant weeds such as marestail.
• Harmony SG – after 1st trifoliate has expanded fully and no later than 60 days before harvest. General control of small annual broadleaves – good on lambsquarters, pigweeds, smartweed, and velvetleaf. Use the correct rate; otherwise, crop injury can occur.
• Liberty 280/Ultra (Liberty Link or varieties that include glufosinate-resistant traits such as Enlist E3, XtendFlex, and other LL varieties) – emergence up to, not including bloom (R1) and before 45 days of harvest. Broadspectrum control of many small annual weeds (including marestail, Palmer amaranth, waterhemp) but tends to be weak on many perennials.
• Outlook – can be applied POST from soybean cracking to 5^th trifoliate. It will not control existing weeds but will provide residual activity on annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaves. On a side note: Outlook requires less rainfall (approx. 0.25 inch) for activation, unlike most of the others, which require at least a half inch or more. However, it's not as active on Palmer or waterhemp as Zidua or Dual Magnum.
• Perpetuo – can be sprayed from soybean emergence to 6^th trifoliate. It contains Resource, which is excellent on velvetleaf, and provides suppression of certain annual broadleaves (but not marestail, Palmer amaranth, or waterhemp). The pyroxasulfone (Zidua) portion will not control existing weeds, but will provide residual activity on annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaves.
• Pursuit – PRE to before bloom and 85 days before harvest. General control of small annual broadleaves and some grasses – good on cocklebur, pigweeds, smartweed, and velvetleaf.
• Python - PRE and from 1st to 5^th trifoliate. Generally, it will not control emerged weeds, but provide residual control of annual broadleaves.
• Raptor – early POST and before bloom, and 85 days before harvest. General control of small annual broadleaves and some grasses – good on cocklebur, lambsquarters, pigweeds, and velvetleaf.
• Reflex or Flexstar (or Flexstar GT with glyphosate) – PRE to within 45 days of harvest (Prefix also has an early POST label). General control of small annual broadleaves – good on jimsonweed, pigweeds, ragweeds, smartweed, and velvetleaf. Provides foliar and residual control of Palmer and waterhemp.
• Stryax – can be applied from burndown up through R1 XtendFlex soybean growth stage. It controls many annual and perennial broadleaf weeds.
• Tavium – contains the active ingredients dicamba and s-metolachlor and can be applied up to V4 growth stage in XtendFlex varieties only. It will provide foliar control of broadleaf weeds and residual control of annual grasses, small-seeded annual broadleaves (Palmer and waterhemp), and yellow nutsedge.
• Ultra Blazer - soybeans should have at least one to two trifoliate leaves and 50 days prior to harvest. Provides general control of small annual broadleaves – good on jimsonweed, pigweeds, nightshade, common ragweed, and smartweed.
• Warrant/Enversa – emergence to R2; but label recommends application at V2-V3 stage. Will not control emerged weeds but provides residual control of annual grasses and some broadleaves. Warrant Ultra contains fomesafen (Reflex) and is designed to be applied POST (emergence to R2 stage).
• Zidua – can be applied POST from soybean cracking to 6^th trifoliate. It will not control existing weeds but will provide residual activity on annual grasses and small-seeded broadleaves, including Palmer amaranth and waterhemp. Provides residual control of Palmer and waterhemp when applied POST.