Weed Control in Iowa
My colleague recently visited Iowa and saw first hand the benefits of soil-applied residual weed control in both corn and soybeans. Planting progressed on schedule, but wet weather left few good days for herbicide applications. Some growers were left wishing Mother Nature hadn’t prevented them from getting a pre-emergence herbicide down. And, glyphosate applications were put on later letting some weeds get some height on them and making it more difficult to control. Not only do growers have to worry about glyphosate resistance in these situations, but also ALS, PPO, etc.
Those who used a reduced rate in a planned two-pass program with glyphosate benefited from early weed control, but the weather may have prevented an in-crop glyphosate application. Thus resulting in the same scenario described above with taller weeds and reduced season-long weed control.
Now is an excellent time for growers to take note of what they wish they would’ve done differently this growing season in regard to their herbicide programs so they will remember what changes they’d like to make for 2010.
Flooded Iowa Corn Field (photo taken week of June 22)
Weedy Iowa Soybean Field (photo taken week of June 22)