Friday, April 4, 2014

22 Facts About Herbicide Resistant Weeds


In an article on Agriculture.com the break down 22 things you need to know about herbicide resistant weeds.  I thought I would give you the quick rundown of what they found for you.  You can read the article if you want to go into more depth.

1. Nothing New is Coming
     Have you seen those ads for the new herbicides?  Don't listen to them.  There is nothing new on the market right now and nothing in the foreseeable future.  Don't fall for that ploy.

2. You Can't Diversify Enough
     Just like a financial profile, you must use different herbicides.  This needs to be in every farmers head.  If all farmers diversify there herbicide use, the likely hood of herbicide resistant weeds should decrease dramatically.

3. Pre's Don't Always Get Applied
     Apply early.  While this may seem like a no brainier, it doesn't always happen.  It's usually not an intentional mistake.  Lots of times we wait til the right moment to apply.  Sometimes that doesn't happen and the farmer moves on with other things and never comes back to it.  Make sure and stick with it.  It's worth it in the long haul.

4. Preemergence Benefits Are Limited
     Just because you applied in April doesn't mean you've completely killed the weed.  Some weeds have numerous germination periods.  Some as late as June.  So don't count on early applications to get you through the year.

5. Fall Applications Don't Always Work
     Don't think because you applied in the Fall you can skip the Spring application.  While those south of I-80 should do Fall applications, don't think it's all you need to do.

6. You Can't Use Liberty Like Roundup
     The best way to use Liberty is wait til the weed is 4 inches tall.  The reason you may want to use Liberty is it's good at fighting herbicide resistant weeds.  However, if you use it like you would Round Up you won't see any improvements.

7. Weed Control Via Cover Crops is Mixed
     Cover crops can kill off all those winter weeds that have grown.  However, by the time a second round in the late season starts to grow, most of those cover crops are gone.  So don't count on them solely.

8. Weeds Have a Weakness
     You just have to figure out what weed you're dealing with and exploit it.

9. Your Combine is a Giant Planter
     In a highly infested field your combine could act as a spreader.  If you have an issue it may be best to mow the field before harvest.

10. You Can Bury Waterhemp Seed
     They don't emerge from soil depth of 6 to 8 inches.

11. Palmer Amaranth Should Be Feared
     This weed will become resistant to what you're using at some point.  When that happens you must spray them postemergence before they reach 4 inches in height.  If not, you'll have a big problem on your hands.

12. Pigweeds are Tough to Distinguish
     Waterhemp is a leggy plant with lots of space in between its leaves.  Palmer Amaranth has a much thicker cover like a canopy.

13. Pigweeds can be Coed
     This means they have both male and female plants.  And, unfortunately, the male plant can pass its resistance on in the pollen.

14. Pigweed Hybrids are too Common
     Think about it this way.  A crossbreeding cattle produces better producing and a stronger calf.  Pigweeds are no different.

15. It's Harder to Kill Late Emerging Waterhemp
     Waterhemp that germinates later in the year tends to be more waxy and harder to kill.

16. Waterhemp Has One Perk in Your Favor
     Waterhemp is not has competitive has Pigweed.  It won't hurt your yields nearly as much.

17. Overlapping Residuals Give Better Control
     Hit those weeds at preemergence and post emergence.  Yes it costs more but it will better help in your control of weeds.

18. Resistant Weeds Can Wreak Rental Havoc
     As a land owner you must get control of weeds.  If you don't, no farmer will want to work your field.

19. Waterhemp is the Weed to Beat in the Midwest
     Palmer Amaranth is mostly a Southern plant.  Although it can be found as far North as Michigan sometimes.  So for the most part, especially in Missouri, Waterhemp is the weed you'll be fighting.

20. Herbicide Rates Can Not Be Sliced.
     All this will do is give the weeds a chance to become resistant.  Don't do it.

21. You'll See More Crop Injury
     You have to know your field.  Understand its pH level and know what herbicides may carryover from the last year.  Knowing this will help you to know when to plant on which field.

22. You May Need to Cultivate
     No you won't have to cultivate your whole field.  You may not have to do it at all.  Just if you have an area with a high infestation.

No comments:

Post a Comment