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Planning ahead for spring weed control

The agronomic service director for Seed Consultants says many farmers will face increased weed pressure this spring. 

Bill McDonald says early-season weed populations could be above normal which is why weed management must continue to be a top priority.

“There was little to no chemicals put on this fall so we have a lot of fields where we’re going to have chickweed, marestail, and dandelion that’s going to be ready to take off with the warm-up and the moisture,” he says.

He tells Brownfield herbicide applications should be made when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

“When temperatures get cooler in the night that weed will shut down and when that weed shuts down it won’t take the chemical in correctly,” he says. “That means we won’t get the full benefit of the chemical we applied and so we lose a lot of control of those weeds.”

McDonald spoke to Brownfield at a Seed Consultants winter agronomy meeting in northern Indiana.

Audio: Bill McDonald, Seed Consultants