Adjusting Herbicide Programs for Late Planting

Wet weather is slowing planting across the entire mid-west. As of last Monday, 4-25-11, the USDA reported that only 10% of the Illinois corn crop was planted compared to 67% on the same date in 2010. Iowa is only 3% planted compared to 61% at this time last year. Wisconsin and Minnesota are near zero acres in the ground. With the cold wet weather it might not be all bad to have the seed in the shed instead of in the ground.

Another area that is not getting much press coverage is the weed growth in the field while we sit and wait. Tillage will help to control these weeds before planting as long as growers make sure they till deep enough to tear out the weed roots. Weeds that are stunted from tillage but not killed are even harder to control with a later herbicide application. One reason is that they have been stressed so they do not take up and translocate herbicides as well. Another is that they are more mature than plant height alone might suggest, so growers often do not apply proper rates for control.

If your fields are looking like the one above, make sure you take the time to get them clean at planting time. From here out it gets more difficult and usually more expensive to achieve adequate weed control. Talk to you Trelay DSM if you have questions.

Here is more info from Ohio State on Adjusting Burndown Programs