News

Managing weeds this year

The wet growing season has made weed management especially challenging for farmers in the Eastern Corn Belt.

Bryan Young, Purdue Extension Weed Specialist says at this point farmers need to look closely at the infestation in fields.  “Farmers need to determine if weeds are going to reduce yields,” he says.  “Is there enough out there to cause damage?  They also need to figure out if it is a weed that’s been out there for several decades – like giant ragweed or maybe lambsquarters – or is it a weed species that they’ve never seen before like Waterhemp or Palmer Amaranth.”

He says if the problem weed is Palmer Amaranth or Waterhemp it should be treated immediately.  “I think if it is those two species I think farmer need to make every effort to get it out of fields to make sure it isn’t spreading seed and isn’t going to seed,” he says.  “If it’s just lambsquarters or giant ragweed – unless it is glyphosate resistant – farmers can deal with that a little more if it produces seed.”

Depending on the weed species, Young says, fall applied herbicides might be the right option to help manage weeds heading into next year’s growing season.