From labels and weed guides
Best herbicides for russian thistle in sunflower
For russian thistle in sunflower, the weed guides list 7 active-ingredient groups rated good or excellent, after checking that the products are labeled for sunflower.
Russian Thistle control in sunflower
Every listed product is labeled for sunflower. Ratings are shown when each weed guide that rates this weed stays at good or excellent for the active-ingredient group. If a guide gives a range, the weaker end of the range has to be good or excellent.
Based on 2 weed guides, 7 active-ingredient groups are rated good or excellent for russian thistle in sunflower.
| Example product | Active ingredients | MOA group | Ratings checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antares EPA 82534-5-5905; same active ingredients on 20 other branded products | sulfentrazone | 14 | ND Weed Guide 2026: G-E (PDF); WinField Crop Protection 2026, sunflower safflower: G/E (PDF) |
| Bonedry EPA 82557-1; same active ingredients on 13 other branded products | paraquat | 22 | ND Weed Guide 2026: E (PDF); WinField Crop Protection 2026, sunflower safflower: G (PDF) |
| Authority Elite EPA 279-3442; same active ingredients on 8 other branded products | metolachlor and sulfentrazone | 14, 15 | ND Weed Guide 2026: G-E (PDF); WinField Crop Protection 2026, sunflower safflower: G/E (PDF) |
| ANNIHILATE EPA 279-3601-55467; same active ingredients on 3 other branded products | pyroxasulfone and sulfentrazone | 14, 15 | WinField Crop Protection 2026, sunflower safflower: E (PDF) |
| Maxunitech Carfentrazone + Sulfentrazone SE EPA 95009-3; same active ingredients on 1 other branded product | carfentrazone-ethyl and sulfentrazone | 14 | ND Weed Guide 2026: G-E (PDF); WinField Crop Protection 2026, sunflower safflower: G/E (PDF) |
| Sequence EPA 100-1185 | glyphosate and metolachlor | 9, 15 | WinField Crop Protection 2026, sunflower safflower: E (PDF) |
| Victory EPA 71368-75 | tribenuron-methyl | 2 | ND Weed Guide 2026: Ea (PDF); WinField Crop Protection 2026, sunflower safflower: E (PDF) |
Rating legend: E=excellent, G=good, F=fair, P=poor, N=no control. A range such as G-E means the guide gives a range; 'a' after a rating (e.g., Ga) means the guide assumes its recommended additive.
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Sources
Data from current labels and weed guides. Last source update: 2026-07-14.