The Ag PhD Crop Scouting Reports are supplied by contributors to Hefty Seed Co., based in Baltic, South Dakota. Find more online at www.agphd.com and www.heftyseed.com.
ILLINOIS
Georgetown, IL
I am seeing a lot of giant ragweed lately. Growers who have been running Pursuit at a 3 oz rate say it has provided good soil residual and helps clean them up. Post-emerge First Rate is the better option. This, of course, is provided the ragweed is not ALS resistant. — Tyler Smith
Princeton, IL
When scouting some of our lower lying fields, we found fairly moist soils and V2 and V3 stages of development. One small observation noted were spots where nothing was emerging. We took a closer look and found nothing serious, but a few plants leafing out underground. It’s hard to determine if the interruption was a result of soil crusting or possibly from the cloddy timber soil. — Mike Denton
With the late start to planting this year, many growers were hustling to get everything planted. As a result, some pre-emerge chemical applications may have been missed. If this happened to you, a great option is Resicore for residual control in corn. The full rate it 2.5 qt/acre. Also, be sure to add glyphosate in glyphosate-resistant corn. One key note is, Resicore can only be applied to corn up to 11 inches tall. — Matt Anzelc
If you have pre-herbicide down that has an HPPD inhibitor as a component, you may see some white flashing in the corn. It is especially noticeable where the sprayer may overlap. — John Becker
IOWA
Rockwell, IA
Nitrogen has three (3) major enemies: high water volumes, high temperatures, and high soil pH (alkalinity). Treating the soil with active ingredient Nitrapyrin as found in Instinct HL has shown great ROI to the producer by reducing the speed of nitrogen conversion by treating the “bad” bacteria and leaving the “good” bacteria to aid in crop growth. Fall, spring, or summer side-dress are all perfect times for applying the 24 oz/acre rate. It is compatible with many crop protection spray goods and fertilizers broadcast, pre-plant, pre-emerge, or post injected. — Paul Helland
Sheldon, IA
Corn in the area is coming up nicely; however, there are a few areas that are struggling. The cool, damp soil has caused some of the seed to rot or lose its vigor. Get out and scout these areas early so you can get some replants done timely. — Adam Sauer
KANSAS
Garden City, KS
Sorghum planting is starting soon. Starting clean on sorghum is very important due to the limited post herbicide options. Verdict at 8-10 oz is a great burndown option that offers residual. Gramoxone plus S-metolachlor can be effective as well. Both options can be put out for less than $15 an acre. — Chris Lobmeyer
MINNESOTA
Fairmont, MN
With the scattered persistent rain showers, many people haven’t been out to evaluate plant stands after emergence. This is critical to assess not only how your planter performed but also how the corn is coming out of the ground. With the hard rains about a week ago, we have heard of a number of guys getting out the rotary hoe to help emergence. This can really help improve those areas that have crusted over and allow the corn to push through. Take a couple of minutes and do some stand evaluations. — Mike Bates
Hancock, MN
I am seeing the early weeds like lambsquarters and giant ragweed emerge about 2 weeks or so after the last tillage pass. Consider last tillage pass, not planting date for future weed control timing. Without residual herbicides on, fields that have been worked but planting got delayed several days will have weeds emerging about the same time as the crop. This situation could be risky for yield loss and cleanup effectiveness. Adjust your weed control plan accordingly. — Adam Gibson
LeRoy, MN
A good insecticide for spiders, ants, and wireworms around the house is Tempo. It is very safe, but some people can have a reaction if they come in direct contact with it, so it’s still wise to avoid skin contact with Tempo or any insecticide. — Grant Lunning
Olivia, MN
Quite a few growers are having weed escapes in their tillage in front of soybeans. Adding a quart of glyphosate with a surfactant and water conditioner is a great idea to control these escaped weeds. — John Scheibel
We are seeing great response out of seed treatment packages this spring. Make sure you are asking the right questions to get the proper seed treatment on your crop and maximize your ROI. If you have nematodes, Clariva or Aveo are both great additions to what you are already doing. — Brandon Howard
Thief River Falls, MN
If you’re looking for options for pre-emerge products on soybeans, Valor at 2-3 oz per acre is a great single mode of action that is excellent on a wide variety on broadleaves. If you tank mix with a metribuzin and/or a yellow, you will have a great multiple mode of action pre that will get you 4-6 weeks of awesome weed control. — Jordan Swanson
Winthrop, MN
If you are planning on using either Xtendimax or Engenia as a post option in your Xtend beans, go to www.xtendimaxtankrequirements.com or engeniatankmix.com to see which products you are able to tankmix and which adjuvants you should use. — Tyler Gasow
If you raise any silage corn on your farm, consider using RyzUp SmartGrass in the future. Growers who applied it early this year are seeing substantially more early growth. This has led to an increase in average tonnage over the last several years. The use rate from 0.5 to 1 oz per acre can tankmixed with your herbicide program. — Dean Christiansen
MISSOURI
Bertrand, MO
If you are planning an early post application in field corn at the V2 stage, do not use a 2,4-D product. Be aware of such a product getting in the whorl that could cause problems like brittle stalks later. Dicamba or another herbicide would be a much safer option to the corn and just as deadly to the weeds. — Albert Duenne
MONTANA
Sidney, MT
I am hearing some reports out in the central part of Montana of damage from pea leaf weevil. Look for notching of leaf edges. As for a foliar insecticide, Kendo, Mustang Maxx and many others will help control the weevil. The threshold for application is 25-30% damage of the plants. — Chet Hill
NEBRASKA
Laurel, NE
As you finish up spraying your pre-emerge products and begin switching to post-emerge, think about your nozzle selection and make sure to use the proper nozzle for the condition and herbicide. There is no do-all nozzle on the market. — Kody Urwiler
Seward, NE
After the strong winds we experienced this last fall, we will be expecting to see a lot of volunteer corn in our soybean fields this season. If you are beginning to see volunteer corn emerging in your beans, make sure to add 6 oz of Clethodim or Volunteer to your post applications. — Dylan Codr
I have seen some patches of bur cucumber in corn. This is a quick growing annual weed that can be tough to kill if not controlled early and as soon as you identify that your field has it. Suggestion for emerged bur cucumber, in emerged to V2 corn, would be to select a product like DiFflexx at 12 oz/acre with crop oil. If bur cucumber is in larger corn, use Status at 4-5 oz/acre with AMS and COC. Treat these areas of your field before this weed grows larger than 4 inches. Getting control of all emerged bur cucumber is important to preventing spread of this problematic pest. — Brad Meusch
West Point, NE
Crops are anywhere from the V2 stage to just being put into the ground. Now is the time to follow up on the plans to do the “extras” that we talked about this past winter. The timing is very soon for products like AC-97, MegaGro, and Acadia. All of these will help with any early season stresses that may occur. — Mike Wiese
NORTH DAKOTA
Hillsboro, ND
Ragweed and lambsquarters are rearing their ugly heads. By this time next week, I would presume based on the forecast that we will have 6-10” corn as a lot of it is just out of the ground and some at V1. A lot of acres did not get a pre on in our area, so as a reminder, we have until corn is 11” tall to spray Atrazine. Options such as Armezon Pro, Resicore, Acuron, Harness are all options. — Ryan Pierce
Lisbon, ND
There are many farms this year that have planted both Liberty Link and Xtend soybeans. Be sure to remember where each variety was planted on your farm to ensure they are sprayed correctly. — Spencer Schultz
Mohall, ND
A great way to control small kochia pre is adding Aim at 0.5-1 oz/acre to your burndown mix. There are very few planting restrictions and it is a cost-effective option. — Wyatt Thompson
SOUTH DAKOTA
Baltic, SD
Some soybean fields are getting close to cracking the surface. Keep in mind that most soybean pre-emerge products need to be applied before the beans begin to emerge. If you don’t have this done yet, you might have to shut the planter down and get some fields sprayed. — Tyler Koenig
Centerville, SD
We have had some delays in the area with getting pre-emerge herbicides sprayed on corn. A pre-emerge herbicide is important to keep your fields clean right from the start. Products like TripleFlex II, Resicore, and Acuron Flexi can be sprayed up to 11 inches corn. — Travis Petty
Gettysburg, SD
If you are having a hard time killing kochia in your soybean or sunflower acres, consider adding Aim to your burndown at 1 oz/acre with MSO at 1 gal/100. — Eric Butz
Kimball, SD
If your beans have started to emerge, you can still get a residual herbicide down. Warrant, Outlook, Anthem Maxx, or Dual can be applied post. — Mike Erickson
Watertown, SD
If you have some emerged broadleaves when you are spraying your pre on corn, you can add 1 pt/acre of generic dicamba. This will help clean these up. Make sure to check the label for tank mix compatibility. — Jack Beutler
Several local spring wheat fields are seeing wild oat, foxtails, and broadleaves pop up above the canopy. Growers are addressing the issue with GoldSky at a rate of 1 pt/acre for control on these tough weeds. — Russ Werning
WASHINGTON
Quincy, WA
Marestail is continuing to be a major problem weed in chem fallow. It is much easier to kill when it’s small. A good option is to put in some Detonate with your Roundup in the first fallow spraying in the spring. 6-8 oz will help with marestail and prickly lettuce. — Devin Moon
