Post-emergent herbicide supplies can be harder to find this year. Industry professionals recommend making a plan and considering a new approach to weed management to get ahead this growing season.
According to weed experts, farmers may end up using some products for the first time in years, or the first time ever. They say this might be the year to lean more heavily on soil applied pre-emergent products.
“We can start out with a good foundation program,” says Christy Sprague, Michigan State University weed extension specialist. “That will help us to not rely so heavily on those post-emergent herbicides that are probably going to be in short supply this year.”
Retailers say supply issues have shown up across the board, which means this season calls for staying flexible and coming up with a plan A, B or even C.
“We’re telling customers that those 21 days after planting, we need to have that residual post-application out there,” says Co-Alliance’s Protection and Seed Business Manager Scott Stout. “We can’t rely on trying to clean it up like we have in the past.”
These specialists suggest spraying any additional break through weeds early—while just an inch to 4 inches tall—to help keep weeds in check and maximize the effectiveness of the post-emergent pass.
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