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Foxtail

Overview

Foxtail, a grass-like weed, is distinguished by its spiky, brush-like seed heads that mimic a fox's tail. Several species of foxtail, including yellow foxtail, green foxtail, and giant foxtail, can be detrimental to crops.

Image Credit: Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Foxtail, Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

How to Identify Foxtail

Effective control of foxtail hinges on early identification. Foxtail plants boast a bristly "foxtail" appearance at their peak, hence their name. They have flat, coarse leaves and can reach heights of up to three feet. The plant has a sturdy, fibrous root system. 

Foxtail plants tend to cluster due to their prolific seed production. If you spot patches of tall, bushy grass in your field that seem out of place, you may have a foxtail infestation.

Image Credit: Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Geographic Impact of Foxtail

Foxtail is a resilient weed that thrives in a wide range of climates. It can live in a variety of habitats, including agricultural fields, pastures, roadsides, and disturbed areas.

It is commonly found in the Midwest and Great Plains regions of the United States.

It can also be found in various regions of Canada. It is particularly prevalent in the Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), where it can be present in wheat fields, pastures, and other cultivated areas. Foxtail can also be found in other parts of Canada, including Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, although its distribution may vary depending on local conditions and farming practices.

This widespread weed also can grow in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. 

Timing of Foxtail Emergence

Foxtail typically emerges in late spring and early summer. It continues to grow throughout the summer and can produce seeds until the first frost.

How Foxtail Impacts Soybeans

Foxtail primarily targets the lower parts of the soybean plant, competing for resources at the soil level. This competition can stunt the growth of the soybean plants and decrease their pod production capacity.

Beyond resource competition, foxtail can interfere with the physiology of the soybean plant. The weed can shade the lower leaves of the soybean plant, reducing photosynthesis and limiting energy production. Furthermore, foxtail can produce allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of the soybean plants.

How to Manage Foxtail in Soybeans

USA

Foxtail can be controlled with a variety of both pre- and post-emergence grass herbicides typically used in soybeans. 

Pre-emergence

Post-emergence

Canada

Farmers in Canada can use some products containing dimethenamid-p that are labeled for use with soybeans to manage foxtail.

For Western Canada, it is more common to use products like Advantage Trifluralin 10% (a residual product) or Carfentrazone (non-residual product) for pre-seed applications. That can be followed by products like Clethodim and Quizalofop for in-crop.

Willowood Glypho 5 Tote

How Foxtail Impacts Wheat

Wheat, a staple food for millions, faces numerous threats that can compromise its yield and quality. One such threat is foxtail, a common weed. 

Foxtail affects wheat in several ways:

1. Competition: Foxtail competes with wheat for nutrients, light, and space. This competition can lead to reduced wheat yield and quality.

2. Pest and Disease Host: Foxtail can harbor pests and diseases that can damage the wheat crop. For example, the weed can host the cereal cyst nematode, a pest that can cause significant yield loss in wheat.

3. Harvest Interference: Foxtail can interfere with wheat harvest. The weed's seed heads can mix with the wheat, reducing the quality of the harvested grain.

How to Manage Foxtail in Wheat

Early identification and management of this weed is crucial to maintaining high wheat yields and quality. Farmers and agronomists should be vigilant in scouting for foxtail and implementing effective control measures.

USA

Strive for a strong stand to shade out green and yellow foxtail early. 

Pre-emergence

  • In the fall, use Zidua® SC for hard spring wheat and winter wheat. It should be surface applied or soil incorporated. Alternatively, it can be used in the spring from wheat emergence through fourth tiller. 

Post-emergence

Burndown

Canada

Farmers in Canada can use some products containing glyphosate that are labeled for use with wheat to manage foxtail like Advantage Trifloralin 10%, Advantage Triallate 10% + Trifloralin 4%, or Carfentrazone prior to seeding. 

For in-crop, use Clodinafop or Quinclorac, which is a broadleaf product that can control green and yellow foxtail at early stages. 

Disclaimer

© 2014 - 2024 Farmer's Business Network, Inc. All rights Reserved. The sprout logo, “Farmers Business Network”, “FBN”, “FBN Direct” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. This content was written by Norm℠, reviewed and edited by Mikaela Tierney and Stephanie Nikolopoulos.

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. 

The information and content provided is believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. The content is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific agronomic, business, or professional advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Neither Farmer's Business Network Inc. nor any of its affiliates makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or any information contained in the material and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed. If you have any questions or feedback about the content, please feel free to contact us or visit our FAQ (https://www.fbn.com/community/blog/norm-faq).

Every product that labels FOXTAIL 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 GranulesAAtrex® 4L HerbicideAAtrex® Nine-O®Abundit™ Extra (Exclusively Distributed by DuPont)Accord® Concentrate HerbicideAccord® XRT HerbicideAccord® XRT II HerbicideAlligare Diuron 4LAlligare Imazapyr 2 SLAlligare Imazapyr 4 SLAlligare Rotary 2 SLAqua Star®Aquamaster®AquaNeat® Aquatic HerbicideArrow 2ECArsenal® herbicideArsenal® herbicide Applicators ConcentrateArsenal® PowerLine™ herbicideAsulam 3.3Asulam 4FAsulam HerbicideAsulox®Atra-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 DFAuthority® MaxxAuthority® XL HerbicideAvatar™Avatar™ S2™Axill Solutions Clethodim 2ECAxill Solutions Paraquat 3SLAxiom® DFBalan™ DFBarricade® 4FLBarricade® 65WGBarrier® 50W Dichlobenil HerbicideBarrier® Ornamental Landscaping HerbicideBayonet® 2Beacon® HerbicideBeamBensumec™ 4 LF Preemergent Grass & Weed HerbicideBlindside® HerbicideBrahma 44Bromacil 80Bromacil/Diuron 40/40Buccaneer® 5Buccaneer® 5 ExtraCanopy® BlendCanopy® EX HerbicideCanopy® HerbicideCaparol® 4LCasoron® 4GCasoron® 4GCasoron® CSCavalcade® 65WDG HerbicideCeridian™ 2 ECChlorimuron 25 WDGCinco™Classic® HerbicideClassic® HerbicideCleanse®Cleanse® 2ECCleanse™ 2 ECClethodim 2 EC HerbicideClethodim 2ECloak®Cloak® EXCornbelt® Atrazine 4LCornbelt® Trifluralin ECCorvetteCotoran® 4LCotton-Pro®Credit® 41Credit® 41 ExtraCredit® 5.4 ExtraCurio® HerbicideCyclone™ SL 2.0Derive 75 DFDerive® 4LDetermine™ 4LDevour™Devrinol® 2-XTDevrinol® 50-DFDevrinol® DF-XTDimetric® DF 75%Dimetric® EXTDimetric® LiquidDintec Treflan® 4D HerbicideDirex® 4LDiuron 4LDiuron 4LDiuron 4LDiuron 4L (Drexel)Diuron 80Diuron 80 DFDiuron 80 WDG Weed KillerDiuron 80DFDiverge® SilkDiverge™ ECDouble Check™DrillDryphosate 75SGDuetDuet®Echelon® 4SC HerbicideEcomazapyr 2 SLEndurance® HerbicideEssensaEvade® 4 FLEvik® DFExtra Credit 5®FallOut™ HerbicideFirestorm®Flexstar® GT 3.5Foresters'® Non-Selective HerbicideFour Power Plus®Fugitive®Galvan®GCS Atrazine 4LGCS Atrazine 90DFGlory®Glory® 4LGly Star® 5 ExtraGlyfos® Aquatic HerbicideGlyfos® X-TRA HerbicideGlyphogan® HerbicideGlyphogan® Plus HerbicideGlyphosate 4 PlusGlyphosate 5.4Gramoxone Inteon®Gramoxone® SLGramoxone® SL 2.0Gramoxone® SL 3.0HABITAT® herbicideHeadwinHelena Atrazine 4F HerbicideHelena Atrazine 90-DGHelmquat 3SLHelosate® 75 SGHelosate® Plus AdvancedHoss® UltraHyvar® XHyvar® XHyvar® X CropHyvar® X-LHyvar® X-LImitator® 18% ConcentrateImitator® 25% ConcentrateImitator® AquaticInfantry™ 4LInfantry™ 90DFKarmex® DFKleenUp® Pro HerbicideKrovar® DF Crop HerbicideKrovar® I DFKrovar® I DF HerbicideKrovar® IVMLandmark® XPLandmaster® BWLandmaster® II HerbicideLast Call™ Selective HerbicideLineage® Clearstand® HerbicideMad Dog®Mad Dog® 5.4Mad Dog® PlusMakaze Yield Pro®Manor® Selective HerbicideMatador®Matador®-SMauler™ HerbicideMe-Too-Lachlor™ MTZMe-Try-Buzin™ 4LMe-Try-Buzin™ 75DFMetalliS™ MTZMetalliS™ PFXMetribuzin 4LMetribuzin 75Metribuzin 75DFMetricor™ 4FMetricor™ DFMetriflex 4SCMetrixxMetrixx 75DFMetrixx PlusMetrixx SCMoccasin® MTZMojave 70 EGMSM 60WDG Select™MSMA 6 PlusMTZ Co-PackNorthstar® HerbicideNufarm Imazuron™ HerbicideNufarm Polaris® AC Complete HerbicideNufarm Polaris® AC HerbicideNufarm Polaris® HerbicideNufarm Polaris® SPOmni® Brand Clethodim 2 ECOmni® Brand Metribuzin 75 DFOrissa 4Oryzalin 4 A.S. HerbicideOust® XPOust® XPPacoPara-Shot 3.0Paraquat 43.2% SLParaquat ConcentrateParazone® 3SLParazone® 3SLParity™ HerbicideParrot™ 4LParrot™ DFPastora®Pendulum® 2G granule herbicidePendulum® 3.3 EC herbicidePendulum® AquaCap™ herbicidePhoenix Hammerkop™ HydroCapPhoenix Knighthawk®Pin-Dee™ 3.3 ECPin-Dee™ 3.3 T & OPrefar® 4-EPrefix® HerbicidePresidual™ HerbicidePrimeraOne® Prodiamine 4LPrimeraOne® Prodiamine 65WDG HerbicidePrincep® 4LPrincep® Caliber 90® HerbicidePrincep® LiquidPriority® MTZProClipse® 65 WDGProDeuce®Prometryne 4L HerbicidePROSlam™ 4SCPuma® 1ECPurgatory™ 3 SLQuake™ HerbicideQuik-Quat™Rancor™ 4 FRancor™ 75 DFRanger PRO® HerbicideRanger PRO® Herbicide (Monsanto)Razor Burn®Razor®Razor® ProRazor® Xtreme HerbicideResist™ HerbicideResist™ HerbicideResolute® 4FLResolute™ 65WGRiceBeaux®RiceBeaux®RiceEdge® 60 DFRicePro®RiceShot 48 SFRiceShot®RiceShot® LCRo-Neet® HerbicideRodeo® HerbicideRometsol®Roundup Custom®Roundup Custom® (Monsanto)Roundup PRO® ConcentrateRoundup PRO® Concentrate (Monsanto)Roundup PRO® HerbicideRoundup PRO® Herbicide (Monsanto)Roundup PROMAX® HerbicideRoundup PROMAX® Herbicide (Monsanto)Roundup QuikPRO®Roundup QuikPRO™ (Monsanto)RT 3® HerbicideRT 3® Herbicide (Monsanto)Sahara® DG herbicideSatellite® HydroCap herbicideSection® 2EC (1381-204)Section® 2EC (42750-72-1381)Select® 2 ECSelect® 2 EC HerbicideSequence®Shadow®Sharda Fluometuron 4SCSharpShowdown® HerbicideSim-Trol® 4L Simazine Flowable HerbicideSim-Trol® 90DF Simazine Dry Flowable HerbicideSimazat™ 4LSimazat™ 90DFSimazine 4LSimazine 4LSimazine 4L FlowableSimazine 90 WDGSimazine 90DFSimazine 90DF (Drexel)Sinbar® WDGSolanil 80EDFSolicam® DF HerbicideSolicam® DF HerbicideSolitare® HerbicideSonalan® 10G HerbicideSonalan® 10G HerbicideSonalan® HFP HerbicideSonalan® HFP HerbicideSpike® 80DF Specialty HerbicideSpyder® Selective HerbicideSquareOne® HerbicideStalwart® MTZStam® 80 EDFStam® 80 EDFStam® M4Stam® M4 HerbicideStatement™ HerbicideStrategy™Sunphosate 41%SuperWHAM!®SuperWHAM!® 80 DF-CASuperWham!® CASuperWHAM!® CASureGuard® SC HerbicideSurflan® A.S. AgriculturalSurflan® FlexSurflan® XL 2GSweep® HerbicideSynchrony® XPTacoma® 1EC HerbicideTailwind™Telar® XPTelar® XPTenkoz® Trifluralin 4 EC (62719-250-55467)Throttle® XPTide Hexazinone 2SLTide Hexazinone 75 WDGTide MSM 60 DF HerbicideTide USA Clethodim 2ECTouchdown HiTech®Touchdown Total®Touchdown® CTTouchdown® HerbicideTraxion®Treflan® 4 EC HerbicideTreflan® HFP HerbicideTreflan® HFP HerbicideTreflan® TR-10 Granular HerbicideTreflan® TR-10® Granular HerbicideTreflan™ 4L HerbicideTribal™TriCor® 4FTriCor® DFTrifluralin 10GTrifluralin 10GTrifluralin 4 E.C.Trifluralin 4 EC HerbicideTrifluralin 4ECTrifluralin 4EC (Drexel)Trifluralin HFTriflurex® HFPTripzin™ ZCTrizenta™ HerbicideTrust® HerbicideUP-Front™Vaquero®Vegetable Pro® HerbicideVelossa™Velpar® AlfaMax™Velpar® AlfaMax™ (DuPont)Velpar® AlfaMax™ GoldVelpar® AlfaMax™ GoldVelpar® DF CUVelpar® DF CUVelpar® DF VUVelpar® LVelpar® L CUVelpar® L CUVolunteer® Herbicide (42750-72-55467)Volunteer® Herbicide (66330-353-55467)Volunteer® Herbicide (70506-484-55467)Volunteer™ Herbicide (59639-3-55467)Westar®Willowood Chlorim 25WDGWillowood Clethodim 2ECWillowood Metribuzin 75DFWillowood Paraquat 3SLWillowood Propanil 4ECWillowood Propanil 4SCWillowood Propanil 80CHSWillowood Sulfen ChlorimWillowood Thionil ECXL 2GZone DefenseZone HerbicideZone Maxx Herbicide