A winning combination for clean soybean fields
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Farmers must be nimble to overcome seasonal obstacles. With continuous industry advancements and variable environmental factors, they must be flexible and adapt to new ways of getting the job done. This is something sixth-generation farmer Grady Johnson understands well. At 37 Ag, Johnson’s family-owned operation in Phelps County, Nebraska, there are two goals for the farm — profitability and sustainability — and the operation is dedicated to implementing changes to improve and meet those goals.
“Getting to plant a crop in the spring with the hope and optimism to see what it can do in the fall is what gets us up every day,” Johnson said. “We ask ourselves: ‘How can we push to be better? How can we push to be more sustainable? How can we push for higher yields to feed a growing population?’”
One of the biggest hurdles Johnson faces each season is controlling tough weeds, particularly Palmer amaranth. In years past, Johnson used glyphosate on his soybean acres to handle the weed until it developed resistance. Similarly, when Johnson switched to dicamba, he ran into more issues, including drift and volatility, in addition to weed resistance. These challenges left him searching for a new tool to manage Palmer amaranth.
In 2021, Johnson made the switch to the Enlist® weed control system, planting Enlist E3® soybeans and using a program approach starting with a preemergence tank mix that had multiple modes of action and residual followed by a postemergence tank mix that included Enlist One® herbicide.
“Without the Enlist system, I don’t know where soybean production would be in Phelps County,” Johnson said. “If you want peace of mind when you go to sleep at night knowing that you’ve got clean fields without having to respray multiple times, the Enlist system is the only option. It’s the best option.”
Johnson’s experiences with weed resistance had him searching for additional tools to help prolong the efficacy of Enlist One herbicide on hard-to-kill weeds. Johnson was particularly looking for a Group 15 residual herbicide that could offer another layer of protection against weeds.
“A Group 15 herbicide is probably the most important step in our soybean herbicide program,” Johnson said. “If we can’t stop the flushes of emerging pigweeds from coming up, we will never win the battle of killing those germinated pigweeds, especially when they get large. So, if we can lay a Group 15 out and clean up any weeds that haven’t emerged, we’ll have great luck with perfectly clean soybean fields.”
When Enversa™ herbicide came to the market in 2025, Johnson got what he was looking for: a Group 15 with an encapsulated acetochlor that drives to the soil to establish a long-lasting residual barrier against weeds that haven’t emerged yet.
For farmers who plant Enlist E3 soybeans, Enversa herbicide is the preferred tank-mix partner with Enlist One herbicide. The tank-mix compatibility of the two herbicides enables farmers to get clean fields and extend the life cycle of their crop protection products while simplifying their operation, which is a benefit Johnson appreciates.
“Having Enversa and Enlist in the tank takes the guesswork out, and it’s one less decision we have to worry about,” Johnson said. “When we add Enversa in, we can stop weeds from coming up, and that’s half the battle. Then we have Enlist One and glufosinate there to kill the Palmer amaranth that has come up. Nothing is a silver bullet. This program features some of the best tools on the market.”
Looking ahead, Johnson said 37 Ag will continue stewarding its crop protection products so critical solutions are available for the next generation. For Johnson, sustainability isn’t just about what’s going on in the field. It’s also about preserving the legacy of 37 Ag for years to come.
“Farming is a lifestyle, and we take a lot of pride in what we do,” Johnson said. “A lot of the decisions we make today will influence not only one but two generations from me. So, we hope today we’re making the right choices to cultivate a legacy.”
To learn more about Enversa herbicide, visit Corteva.com/US. Discover more about the Enlist® system at Enlist.com.
The transgenic soybean event in Enlist E3® soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies L.L.C. Following burndown, Enlist Duo® and Enlist One® herbicides with Colex-D® technology are the only herbicides containing 2,4-D that are authorized for preemergence and postemergence use with Enlist® crops. Consult Enlist® herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for use or sale in all states and counties; are not registered in AK, CA, CT, HI, ID, MA, ME, MT, NH, NV, OR, RI, UT, VT, WA and WY; and have additional subcounty restrictions in AL, GA, TN and TX, while existing county restrictions still remain in FL. All users must check “Bulletins Live! Two” no earlier than six months before using Enlist One or Enlist Duo. To obtain “Bulletins,” consult epa.gov/espp/, call 1-844-447-3813, or email ESPP@epa.gov. You must use the “Bulletin” valid for the month and state and county in which Enlist One or Enlist Duo are being applied. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency if you have questions about the registration status of Enlist® herbicides in your area. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO USE ANY PESTICIDE PRODUCT OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS LABELING. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. USE OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 2,4-D-CONTAINING PRODUCTS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE WITH ENLIST CROPS, MAY RESULT IN OFF-TARGET DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE CROPS/AREAS AND/OR SUSCEPTIBLE PLANTS, IN ADDITION TO CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES. Additional product-specific stewardship requirements for Enlist crops, including the Enlist Product Use Guide, can be found at www.traitstewardship.com. Enversa™ is not registered for sale or use in all states. Enversa is not available for sale, distribution or use in Nassau and Suffolk counties in the state of New York. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.