Weed Control vs. Weed Management
While growers are tying to make every acre count this year in order to capitalize on high commodity prices, they need to evaluate how they manage weeds. When glyphosate-tolerant crops were first introduced in 1996, the system provided an effective, economical and efficient method of weed management. Today many growers are seeing glyphosate-resistant weeds, most recently in Minnesota, challenging the simplicity of a system that became so widely popular, and changing known management practices.
Growers need to manage weeds, not just control them. With the increase in glyphosate-resistant weed populations, management needs to sustain throughout the season to maximize yield potential. Managing weeds means not only keeping fields clean year-long, but looking toward future years as well. A weed management program includes using a pre-emergence herbicide to control early weeds, rather than relying solely on a post glyphosate application when weeds may be too tall and already affected yield. University of Illinois Weed Scientist Aaron Hager discusses the value of managing weeds over controlling them in Glyphosate-Resistant Waterhemp in Illinois: Recommendations for Management. Mike Owen, Iowa State University, also approaches the subject in Weeds, rate and resistance - some things to consider.
The need for season-long weed management and proactive measures for dealing with resistance can be seen easily in the dollars invested in input costs alone. Before glyphosate resistant weeds existed in one grower’s field in Indiana, the input costs to control weeds ranged from $18-20/A. Now working with Purdue University to manage multiple weeds with glyphosate resistance, the grower now needs to spend over $40/A.
To create your own personalized management program, visit Resistance Fighter Solutions.