More in Herbicides

The eastern Corn Belt's early corn crop has started to – and so have the weeds. So now is the time for growers to consider postemergence herbicide applications, says Travis Legleiter, a Purdue Extension weed specialist. In the northern part of the Corn Belt, some of the crop is as far along as the V3, or third leaf, growth stage. Development is even further along in some fields in the southern part of the region. That means corn farmers need to prepare to apply the right postemergence herbicide at the right time, likely within the next few weeks....More

It’s been another abnormal spring and many farmers have had to adjust some of their management practices. Specifically, the combination of the unusual weather and a need to get control of glyphosate-resistant weeds has increased the need to more closely scrutinize weed-management programs....More

"In general, postemergent applications should be made before weeds get taller than 2-4 in., because that's when competition can begin to impact yields," says WinField Regional Agronomist Steve Barnhart. "Plus small weeds are a lot easier to control than larger ones." Because every field is different, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to turn to when it comes to planning postemergent herbicide applications....More

University of Illinois associate professor of weed science Aaron Hager says that the below-freezing temperatures last week damaged some emerged corn in some parts of Illinois. “While the damage appears not to be widespread, it is very likely that some growers will opt to replant damaged stands,” he says. Losses of the initial corn stand could range from complete to partial, so farmers may need to control existing corn plants before replanting....More

Although the calendar shows it's March, many Midwest farmers are preparing their fields for spring planting like it's the middle of April. That's not necessarily a good thing, says Purdue Extension Weed Specialist Bill Johnson....More

There was considerable flooding along the Missouri River in summer 2011, leaving many fields scarred and bare, without a crop. Producers should make field repairs as needed and seed a cover crop to help protect the soil and start rebuilding soil life before the 2012 cropping season. Cover crops benefit flood-damage soils in several ways....More

A list of cover crop benefits came easily for more than 50 farmers at the Iowa Crop Advantage workshop: erosion control, weed control, improved soil organic matter, nutrient retention, better water infiltration and reduced nitrogen losses....More

Farmers have been given more time to terminate their cover crops after the excessively wet spring of last year prevented many of them from doing that in time to meet a crop insurance deadline....More

You know the villains – waterhemp, marestail, pigweed and other pilferers of water and soil nutrients. They’re the plants you spend $50/acre to kill, yet zestfully return, especially if these prolific weed-seed producers like waterhemp are allowed to spread 300,000 herbicide-resistant seeds per plant at harvest....More

A population of common waterhemp has developed resistance to postemergent application of HPPD-inhibiting herbicides (e.g., Callisto, Laudis and Impact). This resistance occurred in a seed-corn production system where these HPPD-inhibiting herbicides were repeatedly used over the last five years....More

  “It’s tough to convince someone in Minnesota that they need to do something to improve the water quality in the Gulf of Mexico.” That profound statement from Bill Honker, from the Dallas EPA regional office, illustrates the critical need for multi-state cooperation in attempts to manage nutrient runoff that can cause hypoxia – or the dead zone....More