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Soybean fields becoming overrun with weeds

Many soybean fields are becoming overrun with weeds.

Jeff Gunsolus with the University of Minnesota says in his state, herbicide applications were limited by adverse weather conditions ahead of a restriction date for dicamba technology.

“Despite the June 20th cutoff date, the days from that time to the present I didn’t see a lot of field-working days possible even if that technology still existed up to say June 30th.”

He tells Brownfield the combination of rain, wind, and high temperatures has severely reduced the amount of days suitable for spraying, and weeds are flourishing.

“I’m hearing reports of ragweed 2 to 3 feet tall.  Waterhemp mixed from very small to very big.  You’re just not going to get those big plants with any of the herbicide technology that we currently have.”

He says there’s no silver bullet for farmers dealing with these circumstances, but recommends any treatment take the health of the soybean plants and size of the weeds into account.