Is glyphosate a good weed control option prior to planting wheat?
Jan 23, 2012
Question: I am planning on spraying a pre-emerge herbicide before planting hard red spring wheat. If I use glyphosate, how long should I wait before planting? Do I need to wait at all? I do not have any glyphosate-resistant weeds here (northern Minnesota). Is glyphosate the best choice for me? Grass control is my number one problem with broadleaf control a close second.
Answer: If you’re confident you don’t have any glyphosate-resistant weeds, a single, full-rate application of glyphosate prior to planting is still a sound, cheap weed control option. If you’re no-tilling, using a single disc seeder (which doesn’t disturb much of the soil surface), you could spray after seeding with a pre-emerge herbicide application. If you’re going to use a hoe-drill (that does disturb soil), then an application prior to seeding will be required, as some weeds may be partially covered with soil, reducing weed control. If you plan to use a hoe-drill, I would suggest you make the glyphosate application at least 24 hours prior to seeding to allow the product to be taken up by any weeds present and actively growing, before they are potentially moved within the soil.
