(IARN) — Waterlogged soils last year kept producers from applying essential herbicide applications. Two crop specialists share how to gain a better handle on weeds in the upcoming crop season.
Brandon Walter, U.S. product manager for corn herbicides with Corteva Agriscience, says effective weed control starts with “getting out early.”
“One thing we talk a lot about is getting out there with that pre-emergent herbicide, so we can get strong residual and get out there early when the weeds are small, then be able to follow up with a post-emergent product with additional residual activity,” Gibson said.
“That is when those weeds are most vulnerable to herbicide control,” Gibson said. “Whether we’re talking (about) a program approach in corn or soybeans, we like to make sure we’re having only a 21- to 25-day lapse period between those applications.”
Missing pre-emergent herbicide applications can add unneeded stress on post-emergent herbicide applications, shares Gibson. He also strongly advocates for a strong pre-emergent herbicide upfront.
“We came off a difficult season where we weren’t able to get a lot of pre-emergent herbicides down. It put a lot of stress on our post- programs. In many cases, we didn’t get the control we would have liked to (from) that post-application,” Gibson said. “We may have additional seed banks coming into this year. It’s necessary to take a bit of that off upfront by having a good, strong pre-emergent herbicide and then following it up with a post- program.”
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Photo courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
