Stop Chasing Weeds: Why It’s Time to Rethink Early-Season Weed Control
If it feels like weed pressure keeps getting worse, you aren’t imagining it. Across the Corn Belt, more growers are seeing escapes even after applying programs that have worked for years. Waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, giant ragweed, and other tough grasses and broadleaf weeds continue to adapt, slipping through a control window that used to hold strong.
It’s not just a few fields anymore. It’s a trend — and an expensive one. In 2021, U.S. corn growers spent more than $2.2 billion managing weeds.1 That number isn’t going down, and resistance is a big reason why.
The weed pressure has changed. The weather has changed. And now, the tools growers rely on need to change too.
How We Got Here
For decades, the backbone of weed control has been a reactive approach: spraying postemergence once weeds are visible. But as resistance has evolved and weather patterns have become more unpredictable, that “chase and spray” cycle has become less reliable and more costly.
Modern weed species don’t just compete with crops early; they recover faster and produce more seeds when left uncontrolled. Missing the preemergence window due to weather, labor or logistics can mean fighting escapes for the rest of the season.
We’ve learned that the most effective weed control strategy isn’t reacting after the fact. It’s being proactive — stopping weeds before they emerge with strong, residual herbicides that provide long-lasting protection and multiple modes of action.
That’s where Surtain® herbicide from BASF, now available through Titan Pro, comes in.
An Innovative Solution for Tougher Weed Pressure
Titan Pro is excited to offer growers Surtain herbicide, one of the latest corn herbicide innovations from BASF, designed to help corn growers start clean and stay clean.
Surtain herbicide is a first-of-its-kind PPO herbicide, combining two trusted active ingredients — saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) — to deliver broad-spectrum, long-lasting control against 79 grasses and broadleaf weeds.2
Unlike traditional formulations, Surtain herbicide uses encapsulated technology to control the release of each active ingredient, helping to ensure a consistent, predictable performance across a wide range of soil and weather conditions. The result? Dependable control when growers need it most.
Why Proactive Residual Control Matters Now
Early-season weed competition is more than just an aesthetic problem. Weeds that emerge alongside young corn plants can rob yield potential before the crop has a chance to establish itself.
Even small early-season weeds can steal yield before they’re visible. Research shows even 6-inch weeds can cause a 7% yield loss in corn3, and once those weeds are established, even a timely post-application can’t undo the early damage.
Residual herbicides are designed to bridge that gap, buy growers more time, and protect yield potential until post applications can be made. But as resistance expands, not all residuals are equally effective. That’s why new formulations and multiple sites of action are critical to long-term success.
Surtain Herbicide: Built for Modern Weed Control Programs
Surtain herbicide was developed to bring next-generation performance to preemergence and early postemergence programs. It provides the kind of flexibility, endurance and consistency that growers need to stay ahead of resistant weeds.
Here’s how it stands out:
Residual Endurance
Surtain herbicide delivers up to 8 weeks of residual control against 79 grasses and broadleaf weeds, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and giant ragweed.2 It attacks weeds when they’re most vulnerable — before they emerge — helping growers maintain clean fields through critical early growth stages.
Resistance Management
By combining Groups 14 and 15, Surtain herbicide delivers two sites of action for strong, diversified control. It’s an ideal fit for resistance management strategies, helping slow the spread of increasingly growing resistance technologies such as HPPD Inhibitors (Group 27).
Application Flexibility
Weather delays happen. And, with Surtain herbicide, they don’t have to derail your weed control plan. It can be applied preemergence through early postemergence (up to V3), giving growers a wider window to stay on schedule even when conditions are less than ideal.
Proven Performance and Trial Data
Bancroft, Iowa. Photo taken 26 DAT. Surtain herbicide applied at 14 fl oz/acre on 06/24/2024.
Tracy, Minnesota. Photo taken 35 DAT. Surtain herbicide applied at 14 fl oz/acre on 05/15/2024.
Photos submitted by customers as part of the 2024 demo program.*
*Outcomes shown are based on individual grower experience, may be the result of combining Surtain
herbicide with other products as part of a recommended program and are not guaranteed by BASF.
Use rates and programs followed are grower-reported. For a list of grower-submitted product uses
and rates, please contact your BASF representative.
Fitting Surtain Herbicide Into Your 2026 Program
Surtain herbicide fits seamlessly into two-pass weed control programs. For growers who already run a pre- and postemergence system, it adds stronger protection upfront, making post passes more efficient and reducing the number of escapes that require costly rescues later.
Surtain herbicide can be used alone or tank-mixed* with a wide range of herbicides for expanded control of grasses and broadleaf weeds. Its chemistry provides compatibility across many existing corn programs, giving growers flexibility without forcing them to overhaul their approach.
Operational Advantages That Make a Difference
Beyond its agronomic strength, Surtain herbicide is also designed for ease of use in real-world conditions.
• Low use rate: The concentrated formulation means fewer gallons to handle, easier storage and simplified logistics during busy spring operations.
• Liquid fertilizer compatibility: Surtain herbicide mixes with most liquid fertilizer systems, allowing for efficient single-pass applications and saving valuable time and fuel.
• Ease of mixing: The solid-encapsulated formulation reduces the risk of clogging and ensures uniform mixing and spray consistency.
The Bottom Line
Weed resistance isn’t slowing down and weather isn’t going to get easier to predict. But with Surtain herbicide, growers have a tool built for today’s realities with powerful residual endurance, two proven modes of action, and flexible application timing that fits the way real operations run.
For growers ready to take a more proactive approach in 2026, Surtain herbicide checks all the boxes.
Want to see how Surtain herbicide can fit into your 2026 weed control program?
Talk to your local Titan Pro dealer to learn more about program fit, tank-mix* options and savings opportunities.
Start clean. Stay ahead.
Because chasing weeds is no longer enough.
* Before mixing components, always conduct a compatibility jar test. Always consult respective product labels for specific mixing instructions. The most restrictive label applies.
1. Extrapolated market share from third-party market data.
2. BASF sponsored research, 2016–2022, 161 trials, primarily in the Midwest, Zidua® SC herbicide and Sharpen® herbicide labels.
3. Gower et al., 2003. Effect of postemergence glyphosate application timing on weed control and grain yield in glyphosate-resistant corn: results of a two-year multistate study, Weed Technology, 17: 821-828.
Always read and follow label directions. Sharpen, Surtain and Zidua are registered trademarks of BASF. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of any such trademark does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by its owner. © 2026 BASF Agricultural Solutions US LLC. All rights reserved.
