Ragweed

Overview

Ragweed, especially common and giant ragweed, ranks among the most troublesome weeds in cornfields. Research suggests that unmanaged ragweed can slash corn yields by up to 50%, making it a major concern for farmers.

Ragweed competes with corn for resources, reducing the availability of nutrients, water, and sunlight for the corn plants. This competition can result in stunted growth, reduced ear size, and ultimately, lower yields.


How to Identify Ragweed

Ragweed plants typically stand 1 to 5 feet tall, while giant ragweed can tower up to 17 feet. The plants feature a rough, hairy stem and deeply lobed, fern-like leaves. The flowers, small, green, and inconspicuous, cluster in spikes at the plant's top.

Ragweed is a prolific pollen producer, which can serve as a strong presence indicator. However, in a cornfield, the plant's presence is the most obvious sign. As a broadleaf weed, ragweed contrasts sharply against the grass-like corn plants.

Geographic Impact of Ragweed

Ragweed is prevalent throughout North America, especially in the Midwest and eastern United States. It thrives in disturbed soils, making agricultural fields an ideal habitat.

Timing of Ragweed Emergence

Ragweed is an annual weed, completing its lifecycle in a single growing season. It usually germinates in the spring, with peak emergence from late spring to early summer. However, it can continue to emerge throughout the growing season, making it a persistent issue.

How to Manage Ragweed in Corn

Early identification and management of this weed in the growing season are crucial to minimizing its impact and protecting corn yields. Farmers must remain vigilant, scout their fields regularly, and implement effective weed management strategies to combat this persistent invader.

Some populations of ragweed may be resistant to glyphosate, ALS-inhibitors and/or PPO-inhibitors. Tank-mixing effective herbicides with multiple modes of action is the best strategy for managing these populations.

Pre-emergence

Post-emergence

Burndown

Disclaimer

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This content was generated with the assistance of Norm℠, FBN’s artificial intelligence (AI) Ag Advisor, based on a dataset of information containing general industry best practices and research. The AI model did not use specific external sources to generate this content. Our process involves using AI to aid human subject matter experts with the initial drafting and/or refinement of content.

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*GCS Atrazine 4L herbicide is a restricted use pesticide.

*Paraquat is a restricted use pesticide.

*RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE Due to acute toxicity. For retail sale to and use by certified applicators only – NOT to be used by uncertified persons working under the supervision of a certified applicator.

Every product that labels RAGWEED as a weed, pest, or disease the product can be applied against is shown below. Click any product for label and more information.
2,4-D Granules4-Speed®4-Speed® XT875 BrushkillerAAtrex® 4L HerbicideAAtrex® Nine-O®Alligare 2,4-D AmineAlligare 2,4-D LV6Alligare Dicamba 2,4-D DMAAlligare Diuron 4LAlligare Flagstaff™ HerbicideAlligare Triclopyr 4Amine 4 2,4-DAmine 6Atra-5® HerbicideAtrazine 4LAtrazine 4LAtrazine 4L (ADAMA)Atrazine 4L (Drexel) HerbicideAtrazine 4L (Helena)Atrazine 4L (Loveland)Atrazine 4L (Tenkoz)Atrazine 4L Flowable Herbicide (Sipcam)Atrazine 4L herbicideAtrazine 90DFAtrazine 90DFAtrazine 90DF (Drexel)Atrazine 90DF Herbicide (ADAMA)Atrazine 90DF Herbicide (Sipcam)Atrazine 90WDGAtrazine DFAxill Solutions Glufosinate 280SLBarrier® 50W Dichlobenil HerbicideBarrier® Ornamental Landscaping HerbicideBase Camp® MCP EsterBattleship® IIIBiteBK 800Boulder 6.3Brahma 44Brawl II™Broadrange® 55 HerbicideBromacil/Diuron 40/40Brushmaster® HerbicideBurnMaster™ HerbicideCaparol® 4LCasoron® 4GCasoron® 4GCasoron® CSChange Up™ Selective HerbicideCharger Basic®Charger MAX®Cinch®Clean Amine®Comet® Selective HerbicideCool Power®Cornbelt® 4Lb. Lo Vol EsterCornbelt® 6Lb. Lo Vol EsterCornbelt® Atrazine 4LCornbelt® Atrazine 90DFCornbelt® SalvanCotoran® 4LCotton-Pro®De-Ester™LV4Desperado® Selective HerbicideDetermine™ 4LDicamba De-Amine®Direx® 4LDiuron 4LDiuron 4LDiuron 4LDiuron 4L (Drexel)Diuron 80Diuron 80 DFDiuron 80 WDG Weed KillerDiuron 80DFDouble Up® B+DDri-Clean® HerbicideDrillDual MAGNUM®E-2 HerbicideElement® 3A Specialty HerbicideElement® 4 Specialty HerbicideElliptical™ HerbicideEndRun®Escalade® 2EverpreX™Evik® DFFancyFinale®Finale® XL F-VM herbicideFinale® XL T&O herbicideForestry Garlon® 4 Specialty HerbicideForestry Garlon® XRT Specialty HerbicideFoundation® Turf HerbicideGarlon® 3A Specialty HerbicideGarlon® 4 Specialty HerbicideGarlon® 4 Ultra Specialty HerbicideGarlon® XRTGCS Atrazine 4LGCS Atrazine 90DFGCS Clopy 360SLGCS Metola Plus 8ECGoal® 2XL HerbicideGoal® 2XL HerbicideGraslan® LGravitas®GrazonPD3™Gunslinger® P+DHamper™ HerbicideHamper™ II HerbicideHelena Atrazine 4F HerbicideHelena Atrazine 90-DGHelmetHelmet SPCHi-Dep® Broadleaf HerbicideHi-Dep® IVM Broadleaf HerbicideHorsepower® Selective HerbicideHyvar® X-LHyvar® X-LImitator® 18% ConcentrateImitator® 25% ConcentrateInfantry™ 4LInfantry™ 90DFIntermoc™K-Pam® HLKarmex® DFKrovar® I DFKrovar® I DF HerbicideKrovar® IVMLademLandmaster® II HerbicideLast Call™ Selective HerbicideLifeline®Lima 6Low Vol 4 Ester Weed KillerLow Vol 6 Ester Weed KillerMaintain® CF 125Manor® Selective HerbicideMCP Amine 4MCP Ester 4 HerbicideMCPA Amine 4MCPA Amine 4 (Albaugh)MCPA Ester 4MCPA Ester 4MCPA-4 AmineMCPE PhenoxyMCPP-p 4 AmineMe-Too-Lachlor™Me-Too-Lachlor™ IIMec Amine-D®Mecomec® 4 Turf HerbicideMedal®Medal® IIMetalicaMetam CLR™ 42%Metam KLR™ 54%Metolachlor 8EMilo-Pro®Moccasin™Moccasin™ II PlusMojave 70 EGMSM 60WDG Select™MSMA 6 PlusMSMA 6.6Nufarm Imazuron™ HerbicideOpportunityOpti-Amine®Orchard Master® Broadleaf HerbicideOrchard Master® CA Broadleaf HerbicideOust® XPOust® XPOustar®Oustar®PacoParallel® HerbicideParallel® PCS HerbicideParrot™ 4LParrot™ DFPasture Pro® HerbicidePatron® 170Perfection® Weed & Feed 21-7-14Phenomenon™PowerZone® Broadleaf Herbicide for TurfPrincep® 4LPrincep® Caliber 90® HerbicidePrincep® LiquidPriority 8EProgeny® HerbicidePrometryne 4L HerbicidePyresta®Q4® Plus Turf Herbicide Grassy & Broadleaf WeedsQuincept®Reckon™ 280SLRelegate® Selective HerbicideRhomene® MCPA BroadleafRifle®-DRometsol®Rowel™ FX HerbicideSaber®Sahara® DG herbicideScorch™Sectagon-42® (RUP)Sectagon-K54® (RUP)Sharda Fluometuron 4SCShredder® MCPESim-Trol® 4L Simazine Flowable HerbicideSim-Trol® 90DF Simazine Dry Flowable HerbicideSimazat™ 4LSimazat™ 90DFSimazine 4LSimazine 4LSimazine 4L FlowableSimazine 90 WDGSimazine 90DFSimazine 90DF (Drexel)Solution Water Soluble®Solve™ MCPA EsterSpeedZone® Broadleaf Herbicide for TurfSpeedZone® EW Broadleaf Herbicide for TurfSpeedZone® Southern Broadleaf Herbicide for TurfSpeedZone® Southern EW Broadleaf Herbicide forTurfSpitfire™ HerbicideSpoiler® HerbicideSpyder® Selective HerbicideStalwart® C HerbicideStalwart® HerbicideStalwart® Xtra HerbicideStalwart® Xtra LiteStarane® Ultra HerbicideStark™ UltraStigmata™Stinger® HerbicideStinger® HLStreliuS™ IIStrike 3®Strike Three Ultra® 2Super Trimec® Broadleaf HerbicideSuperBrush™ KillerSure Power® Selective HerbicideSurge® Broadleaf Herbicide for TurfSurmise®Sweep® HerbicideSynchrony® XPTahoe® 3A HerbicideTahoe® 4E HerbicideTenkoz® Lo-Vol 4 2,4-D Low VolatileTenkoz® MCPA Broadleaf Amine 4Tide MSM 60 DF HerbicideTotal TNVTotal® 2.3Tri-Power® Selective HerbicideTriamine®Triclopyr 3Triclopyr 3ATriclopyr 4ETrimec® 1000 Low Odor Broadleaf HerbicideTrimec® 992 Broadleaf HerbicideTrimec® Bentgrass Formula Broadleaf HerbicideTrimec® Classic Brand Broadleaf HerbicideTrimec® Encore Broadleaf HerbicideTrimec® LAF-637 Broadleaf HerbicideTrimec® Southern Broadleaf HerbicideTriple Shot™Triplet® Low OdorTriplet® SFTrizmet™ LiteTrooper® P+DTruPower® 3 Selective HerbicideTrycera®Turflon® Ester Specialty HerbicideTurflon® Ester Ultra Specialty HerbicideTurret®TZone™ SE Broadleaf Herbicide for Tough WeedsUsha 6Valor® XLT Soybean HerbicideVapam® HLVastlan®Vegetable Pro® HerbicideVengeance® Plus Selective HerbicideVeteran® 720 HerbicideVisor BroadcropVisor® S-MOCWeed & Feed 25-3-5Weed Rhap® A-4DWeedmaster® HerbicideWildCard®