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Managing weeds, pests this growing season

A Channel agronomist says many growers will face increased weed and pest pressure this growing season.

“These weeds are taking off and we haven’t had perfect temperatures to be doing spring burndown, so I am worried as we go into these spring months that we’re going to see an influx of pests like cutworm,” she says.

Whitney Monin says her advice to growers is to get into the field as soon as possible and use multiple modes of action to control weeds.

“My advice to them would be timely making these applications in front of their planter and making sure they get a good kill on these winter annual weeds,” she says. “The last thing we want is the black cutworm to come lay eggs in their field and also we don’t want weeds to continue to grow and ultimately take water and nutrients from a newly-emerging crop.”

But, she tells Brownfield many growers are having difficulty catching up on fieldwork after continued wet and cold conditions.

Monin covers southern Indiana and Kentucky for Channel Seed.

Audio: Whitney Monin, Channel