Ramey Stiles has grown Enlist® cotton for more than a decade near Marianna, Arkansas, after glyphosate-resistant pigweed put him on a search for better weed control. Stiles said the Enlist® weed control system is the clear choice for his cotton fields, with Enlist One® herbicide as the cornerstone.
Cotton producer Ramey Stiles has always been open to trying new things on his farm near Marianna in the Arkansas Delta. Growing up, Stiles saw his father embrace new technologies on the farm, and that adaptability stuck with him through the years.
“My dad was one who always wanted to try new things, so I learned to be comfortable with farming that way,” Stiles said. “Technology has changed agriculture a lot over the years, and we have tried to keep up with new innovations and farming methods.”
Nearly a decade ago, that willingness to try something new led Stiles to the Enlist® weed control system and PhytoGen® cottonseed. He was looking for a solution to control the mounting challenge of glyphosate-resistant pigweed, but he didn’t want to sacrifice yield potential. When he heard about PhytoGen® brand varieties with the Enlist cotton trait, he was eager to try the Enlist system on his farm.
“I've been using the Enlist system since its inception. We had a trial plot the year before it was introduced, and it worked well for us, so I increased my acres the next year,” Stiles said. “The last few years we’ve planted all our cotton acres to PhytoGen and used the Enlist system – Enlist One has helped us have a strong weed control program.”
When Stiles was first evaluating the program, he asked questions, learned about the Enlist system, and weighed the benefits of making a change. In the end, he knew the direction he needed to go.
“The choice was clear to use the Enlist system because we were convinced that the crop safety was there, we could control our weeds, and we didn't have to worry about Enlist One moving off target. It was really kind of a no-brainer — it was a clear choice to use Enlist.”
— Ramey Stiles
A decade of driving sprayers across fields of Enlist cotton has proven that decision a good one and bolstered Stiles’ confidence in the Enlist weed control system. Glyphosate-resistant pigweed continues to be the No. 1 target weed, and he uses a program approach to keep them in check.
Enlist One® herbicide is the foundation of his program, which also includes starting clean and layering modes of action through tank mixes and residual herbicides. Enlist One is a good fit because of the near-zero volatility and low physical drift, which means it lands and stays where applied.
“We get good weed control with Enlist One, and the fact that we can apply it without having to worry about off-target movement is important to me,” Stiles said. “There’s a peace of mind knowing that the product stays in the field and performs well when used according to label directions.”
A walk through his fields after application confirms what he’s come to expect from Enlist One herbicide. He finds brown, twisted-up pigweed crisping up in the July heat.
“That’s what a farmer wants to see — those weeds are not coming back,” he said. “Enlist One does a good job for us.”
Stiles said tank cleanout with Enlist One is simple, and it’s an especially good fit when he’s going back and forth between cotton and peanuts. When he sprays Enlist One on his cotton, he doesn’t have to worry about residue from glyphosate or dicamba left in the tank that could damage his peanuts.
“It’s a big benefit that we can clean our sprayer so easily and not worry about that carryover,” Stiles said. “I think Enlist One is a good fit for cotton in the Delta because of other crops like peanuts and rice.”
Another major benefit to better weed control comes at harvest. If he keeps weeds at bay, cotton pickers move through the field easier — and it helps him at the gin as well.
“Excellent weed control helps you at harvest with fiber quality and yield. Harvest is more challenging if you have a lot of weeds in the field, and it’s hard on your equipment,” Stiles said. “Plus, good weed control this season helps for future seasons. There are a lot of advantages to using the Enlist system.”
In the future, Stiles plans to plant Enlist E3® soybeans alongside PhytoGen® W3FE varieties, something he believes will simplify weed management even more.
“It’s going to be a game-changer when we start growing Enlist E3 soybeans in the South with PhytoGen varieties side by side — it’ll make our life a lot easier,” Stiles said.
While the Enlist weed control system has been a win for Stiles with effective weed control, he’s also seen high yield performance through the seasons with PhytoGen cottonseed, with many fields tipping the scales at 3-plus bales per acre.
“I've been very satisfied with the yield and fiber quality over the years, and I’ve wanted to keep PhytoGen varieties on my farm for that reason. PhytoGen is breeding traits into these varieties like nematode resistance, which helps the cotton — and when you rotate to soybeans,” Stiles said. “We’re seeing good yields and fiber properties, and we get the convenience of the Enlist technology. It’s a win-win to grow PhytoGen.”
Stiles currently plants PhytoGen® brand PHY 411 W3FE for its top-end yield potential and resistance to both root-knot and reniform nematodes. PHY 415 W3FE is another consistent performer that he said picks very clean. He’s also keeping a close watch on two new varieties for 2026 — PHY 357 W3FE and PHY 433 W3FE — that are in his PhytoGen Horizon Network (PHN) trial this season.
“I’m excited about the new varieties in the PHN plot this year and to see how they perform,” Stiles said. “I fully expect the new varieties to perform above the highest-yielding varieties that I’ve seen on my farm.”
The transgenic soybean event in Enlist E3® soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies L.L.C. Enlist Duo® and Enlist One® herbicides are not registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Enlist Duo and Enlist One are the only 2,4-D products authorized for use with Enlist® crops. Consult Enlist® herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Always read and follow label directions.
