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Weed management remains top priority for farmers  

A product manager with Seed Consultants says weed management should continue to be a priority for farmers as they prepare for the next growing season.

Matt Hutcheson says weeds compete with crops and lead to yield losses.

“Making sure we’re doing a fall application of herbicides and going out in the spring with a burn down that includes residuals will help make sure we start weed free and end weed free all season to eliminate that competition and keep from losing yield,” he says.

He tells Brownfield timing matters when trying to control weeds in the spring.

“The key is to get out there in the spring and get control of the weeds when they’re at the 4-6 inch height or about the same height as a pop can,” he says. “Once they get much taller than that they can be really hard to control or we might not be able to get any control at all.”

He says many farmers are seeing palmer amaranth, marestail, and ragweed.

Huteson spoke to Brownfield at a winter agronomy meeting in Hagerstown, Indiana. Seed Consultants has hosted 18 meetings in three states since the beginning of the new year.

Audio: Matt Hutcheson, Seed Consultants