Check Herbicide Label Before Using Soybeans for Livestock Feed

Drought conditions in parts of Kansas are forcing farmers to consider harvesting soybeans for forage, rather than grain. Herbicide applications made during the growing season are a factor to consider when making this decision. An herbicide label is the law, and many herbicide labels restrict the use of soybeans as forage. Table 1 summarizes statements related to feeding soybeans.

Table 1. Summary of restrictions for grazing/haying soybeans treated with various herbicides.

Herbicide

Comments related to haying and/or grazing

Anthem Maxx

Do not graze or feed treated soybean forage or hay to livestock.

Assure II

Do not feed forage, hay, or straw from treated areas to livestock unless stated otherwise under the specific crop use directions.

Beyond Xtra

No comments on the label

Classic

Do not graze treated fields or harvest for hay within 14 days after application.

Cobra

Do not graze animals on green forage or stubble. Do not feed treated soybean silage (ensiled soybeans) to cattle. Do not utilize hay or straw for animal feed or bedding.

Dual Magnum

Do not graze or feed treated forage, hay or straw from soybeans to livestock for 30 days following a preplant surface, preplant incorporated or preemergence application.

Do not graze or feed treated forage or hay from soybeans to livestock following a postemergence application.

Engenia

Allow at least 14 days between the final application and the harvest or feeding of soybean hay.

Enlist Duo

Do not graze treated soybeans.

Do not harvest for forage or hay.

Enlist One

Do not graze treated soybeans.

Do not harvest for forage or hay.

FirstRate

Do not apply within 25 days before harvest.

Flexstar/Reflex

Do not graze treated areas or harvest for forage or hay.

Flexstar GT 3.5

Do not graze treated areas or harvest for forage or hay.

Fusilade DX

Do not harvest soybeans for 60 days following the last application.

Fusion

Do not graze or harvest for forage or hay.

Harmony GT XP

Do not allow livestock to graze on, or feed forage, hay, or straw from treated soybean fields.

Intermoc

Do not graze or feed treated forage, hay, or straw.

DO NOT graze or feed treated forage or hay from soybeans to livestock after a post-emergent application.

Liberty Ultra

Do not graze the treated crop or cut for hay

Marvel

Do not graze or feed treated soybean forage or hay to livestock.

Outlook

Do not graze or feed forage, hay, or straw to livestock

Perpetuo

Do not graze treated fields or harvest for forage or hay

Poast

Only processed meal from seed or hay may be fed to livestock.

Prefix

Do not graze or feed treated forage or hay from soybeans to livestock following a postemergence application of Prefix Herbicide.

Pursuit

Do not graze or feed treated soybean forage, hay, or straw to livestock.

Resource

Do not graze treated fields or harvest for forage or hay.

RoundUp PowerMax3

Allow a minimum of 14 days between application and harvest of soybean grain or feeding of soybean grain, forage, or hay.

SelectMax

Do not graze treated fields or feed treated forage or hay to livestock

Sequence

Do not graze or feed treated forage or hay to livestock following a postemergence application.

Stryax

Do not harvest or feed soybean forage until 7 days after application. Do not harvest or feed soybean hay until 7 days after application.

Synchrony

Do not graze or feed treated forage or hay to livestock following a postemergence application

Tavium

Do not graze or feed treated forage or hay to livestock following a postemergence application.

Thunder Master

Do not graze or feed treated soybean forage, hay, or straw to livestock.

Torment

Do not graze treated areas or harvest for forage or hay.

Ultra Blazer

Do not use treated plants for feed or forage.

Warrant

Do not graze treated area or feed treated soybean forage to livestock following application of this product.

Warrant Ultra

Do not graze treated area or feed treated forage to livestock following application of this product.

Zidua SC

No comments on the label


The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.

For more information, see the 2026 Chemical Weed Control Guide at https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/item/2026-chemical-weed-control-for-field-crops-pastures-rangeland-and-noncropland_SRP1194

 

Sarah Ganske, Extension Weed Science Specialist
slancaster@ksu.edu

Sandy Johnson, Extension Beef Specialist, Northwest Research-Extension Center
sandyj@ksu.edu