Innovation Never Stops: Advancing Weed Control in a Changing Landscape
Effective weed control has always been essential to protecting yield — but as resistance increases, the challenge continues to evolve. What once worked for years no longer delivers the same results, forcing growers to rethink their approach and adapt faster than the weeds themselves.
This episode takes place in southeastern South Dakota with the Potter family, a multi-generational farming operation rooted in nearly 150 years of history. Today, Kenn and Seth Potter manage more than 2,500 acres of corn and soybeans in a market defined by tight margins, volatile prices and constant pressure to make every decision count.
As farming practices change year to year, innovation becomes a necessity. Data collection, field mapping, soil sampling and zone management now play a critical role in guiding smarter decisions — from fertilizer programs to weed control strategies. Through their partnership with Helena, the Potters rely on layered agronomic insight to apply the right product, at the right time, in the right place.
Weed pressure remains one of the most persistent threats to profitability. Resistant weeds like waterhemp and kochia compete for moisture, nutrients and sunlight, reducing yield potential at every growth stage. Addressing those challenges requires more than traditional chemistry — it requires innovation built into the product itself.
Helena’s value-added herbicide solutions are designed to do more with what’s already available. Products like Empyros®, Grounded® and Antares Complete® enhance performance by increasing efficacy, extending residual control and improving consistency in the field. By adding value to existing active ingredients, these solutions help growers maximize weed control, protect yield and gain greater flexibility in application timing — without relying on new chemistries that may never come.
Behind those products is a team committed to problem-solving. From product development and field testing to local agronomic support, Helena teams work alongside growers to adjust strategies as conditions change — season after season.
At its core, this story is about progress. About adapting to resistance, managing resources more efficiently and continuing to move forward in an industry where standing still isn’t an option. It’s about combining people, data and product innovation to help every acre perform at its best — today and for generations to come.
Because at Helena, Innovation Never Stops — and neither does the drive to help growers overcome what’s next.
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Connect classroom learning with modern agricultural innovation through our Innovation Never Stops classroom series. The Classroom Guide — created specifically for teachers, ag instructors and FFA leaders — contains hands-on activities, discussion prompts and practical insights that extend each video in the series into meaningful, real-world lessons.
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