A weed control program needs maximum application flexibility to tackle winter and spring annual weeds in winter wheat.
“Timing continues to be an important consideration in weed management,” says Dallas Peterson, Extension weed specialist, Kansas State University. “Properly timed weed control improves herbicide efficacy, protects yield and reduces future infestations.”
These three tips from Peterson and Dow AgroSciences can help build a powerful weed-fighting strategy through the season.
Protect stand establishment. Actively growing weeds that compete with newly planted wheat can hurt crop stand establishment.
“Quelex herbicide provides good broad-spectrum broadleaf weed control as either a fall or a spring treatment,” says Peterson. “It is quite effective at control of most mustards and henbit. For added residual, tank-mix with herbicides like Rave or Finesse depending on weed targets.”
Achieve early spring control. Fall herbicide applications may not control late fall- or early spring-germinating winter or summer annual weeds. An early spring treatment after summer annuals emerge may be more effective. As the crop comes out of dormancy, apply herbicide with a top-dress fertilizer for minimal wheat stand impac
“Weed-and-feed applications give the wheat a boost and provide weed control at the same time,” says Chad Cummings, field scientist, Dow AgroSciences. “Quelex herbicide is tank-mix compatible and allows growers to mix in a full 100 percent UAN solution.”
Avoid weeds at harvest. Weather and level of weed infestation may delay herbicide applications. Later in the spring when wheat begins to green up, apply herbicides as early as possible for proper spray coverage, especially on winter annual weeds. Winter annuals will become a component of harvest if uncontrolled. With a wide application window, Quelex herbicide can be applied to winter wheat from the two-leaf to flag leaf emergence stage for broadleaf weed control.
