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Every field needs the right crop plan to maximize efficiency and profitability. While there are many elements that make up a complete and successful crop plan, the weed control portion of your plan should be one of your top priorities to ensure you settle on a final approach before the start of the season.
Which weeds created the most problems for you last season? What do you plan to grow in those fields in the upcoming season? Many herbicides can be used with several different crops, but some herbicides are crop specific.
Which weeds were a factor in your final yields last year? Knowing the weed’s life cycle helps you in herbicide selection and application timing.
Estimate the seed bank to be produced this season based on last season’s figures. For example, just one Palmer Amaranth plant can produce 500,000 seeds. Even if you were to get 99.9% control, there could still be 500 remaining Palmer Amaranth plants per acre.
For example, if the weed you are trying to control is resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides, use another mode of action to get acceptable control.
It’s possible that ALS herbicides may still be the best choice to give you good control of the other weed species found in the same field, so you might think about whether tank mixing herbicides could work for you to get more weed control. Make sure you’re also being mindful of the compatibility of the herbicides planned for tank mixing.
[READ: 7 Ways U.S. Farmers Can Delay Herbicide Weed Resistance]
Understanding variety characteristics and their herbicide interactions will help you to determine the best herbicide choice for your particular crop(s). This is an important step, so make sure it’s one of your top priorities in the herbicide selection process.
Were you satisfied with your weed control last season? If your herbicide plan includes more of the same herbicides you used last year, purchasing them now at lower prices could help you save money and eliminate the possibility of searching for them in the spring.
Consider making an application of overlapping residual herbicides for those troublesome weeds that have extended germination periods. This can be a reliable way to achieve good control on difficult, prolific weed species — the goal is to keep the field weed-free until crop canopy.
Some alternative products may help to control your weeds more efficiently. Combining mode of action herbicides can also help to improve your weed control results — this is simply good weed management. Ask yourself if tillage could be implemented to improve weed control.
Always read the herbicide label to be sure it says “control” of the weed. Select a herbicide that states it can help to control the specific weeds you anticipate needing to address.
If the label claims “suppression” of the weed, then you must expect some weed escapes that may be difficult to deal with. With this in mind, selecting the least expensive herbicide is often not the most cost-effective strategy in the long run.
Consider any chemical carryover issues that might be possible from past herbicides you have applied, as well as from the herbicides you’ve selected for this season. Be sure you know the Pre Harvest Interval (PHI) for each of the products you’ve chosen, and make certain that these products fit into your future cropping plan.
Keep in mind that application timing can also affect the price of the herbicide program, depending on when you plan to buy your chosen chem.
Always read and follow the label use directions before using any ag chemical. The label is the law.
By applying reduced rates of herbicide, you should expect reduced weed control – and you may even be building up weed resistance to that herbicide. This can necessitate additional weed treatment application later in the season (which would increase your overall herbicide cost) and give you less effective weed control.
By following these steps, your herbicide plan can help you achieve maximum weed control even from the most difficult weeds. Once you’re ready to start purchasing the crop protection products you need to support your crop plan, here are a few next steps:
View all available herbicides and other key ag chem products from FBN Direct.
Review the differences between branded and generic crop protection products.
Look through the FBN® Crop Protection Guide to see FBN’s broad portfolio of high value, quality crop protection products.
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