Palmer pigweed reigns in Arkansas
A recent trip to Arkansas once again confirmed that Palmer pigweed is the top weed concern for growers in area. This season, those growers and consultants who used residual herbicides are seeing the benefits.
For instance, the photo above shows an effective program; treated with dicamba and Gramoxone Inteon® at burndown, followed by Sequence® at the cotyledon stage. Where as the photos below show Johnsongrass and Palmer pigweed breaking through treatments.
As one grower commented, "You are better off spending money up from on residuals and getting it right so you don't have to spray all summer."
One thing for growers to consider is the importance of developing and practicing a weed resistance management program before resistant weeds permeate their fields. The mindset that "resistance is not a problem until I see it on my field" is one that can put growers on a path of continually catching up and letting glyphosate-resistant weeds become established.. While the prospect of changing to a more complex management system may seem daunting or too expensive to some, the amount saved by protecting fields before there a resistance problem develops can be easily seen in the short term and long term, with a healthy field and productive crop.