Weed control planning plays a crucial role in the success of your crops. The experts at Saskatoon Co-op ag team offer knowledge and experience to recommend the correct extended weed control products to effectively manage the weeds in your fields.

The Benefits of Fall Weed Control

A fall herbicide application is some of the smartest money you’ll spend on weed control all year.

When the crop canopy is removed during harvest, winter annuals and biennials develop overwintering rosettes, creating strong potential for next year’s unwanted population. Similarly, perennial weeds use the post-harvest period to move and store nutrients in their root systems.

Applying extended herbicides in the fall is a preventative measure that acts on multiple levels.

• Providing crops with an easy head start

Extended weed control products have a long-lasting effect, which allows them to target the weeds at the early stages of their germination. According to Payne, this reduces plant competition for water and nutrients, providing crops with a comfortable head start at the most vulnerable stages of their development.

• Addressing herbicide resistance

Herbicide resistance is a plant’s inherited ability to survive a herbicide application targeted to kill it. Underestimating the weeds’ capacity to adapt can result in an uncontrollable population, weaker crops and poor harvest.

Preventing or reducing the probability of herbicide resistance is of the utmost importance. This can be achieved by using different groups and modes of action. Some popular fall-applied herbicides, such as Avadex and Fortress, for use in wild oats, provide alternative modes of action to help combat resistance.

There are multiple ways to deal with herbicide resistance once it develops, including crop rotation, regular scouting, mechanical or manual weed control practices and correct product application. Extended control herbicides don’t reduce development of herbicide resistance. Instead, they control early-germinating weeds and weeds that grow (or “emerge”) after the herbicide has been applied. This is especially important for tough-to-control weeds like kochia.

• Unloading the spring schedule

Planning the next year’s crops based on data gathered throughout the current harvest cycle is critical for making informed decisions specific to your fields. Similarly, applying extended weed control products in the fall completes one task on an already overwhelming spring to-do list.

Fall Herbicide Selection

When choosing extended weed control products, the first consideration is what crop is currently — or could be — planted on the field. If the grower is unsure, it is best to use a product that offers flexibility in crop choices.

The next consideration is the main weeds you are trying to control. In Western Canada, these typically include kochia, wild oats, lamb’s quarters, stinkweed, shepherd’s purse, cleavers and wild buckwheat.

Another crucial factor is soil moisture. Residual products rely on moisture for activation, and dry conditions might prevent successful product uptake. Luckily, Canadian winters mean snow, which often melts into sufficient moisture. However, if that’s not the case, product selection and application must be adjusted.

Finally, the foundation of any preventative practice, including extended weed control, is informed and systematic planning. Saskatoon Co-op ag team members can assist you with collecting and analyzing the right data for optimal crop rotation, scheduling weed control measures and selecting the right products.

• MORE: Herbicide Layering
  

Extended Weed Control Planning with AgZone FIELD

One of the advantages of using a digital platform such as Co-op’s AgZone FIELD is convenient crop and field data centralization. Digital imagery can be used to compare sections of the fields and identify weeds with these images.

Additionally, the historical records help agronomists identify recurring issues in specific fields and keep track of which products were effective in the past. For example, if a field has a record of persistent kochia, the Grow Team member would account for the plant’s resilience and advise a weed control plan to address kochia in that specific field.

Top tips for incorporating extended weed control into your crop plan:

• Scout your fields in season to understand the weed problems and their intensity
• Get to know your key weeds, including their life cycles and reproduction processes
• Consider the next season’s crop rotation and how it might affect your weed control choices
• Consult with your Saskatoon Co-op ag team member to identify the best strategies
• Plan herbicide applications throughout the year based on your observations and objectives

Stop by your Saskatoon Co-op Agro Centre to go over your fall herbicide options:

• Hwy 16 Ag Centre (1327 North Service Road, Hwy 16 W, Saskatoon), 306-933-3835
• Hepburn Ag Centre (Corner of Grid 785 & Hwy 12), 306-947-1000
• Colonsay Ag Centre (500 Torran Street, Colonsay), 639-207-7100
• Watrous Ag Centre (114 1st Avenue W, Watrous), 306-946-5511