You already know that weeds can be tough, and that they’re nothing but trouble when it comes to soybean production. But it’s important to remember that an upward trend in herbicide-resistant weeds has become a problem for many producers. So here’s an update on weed management.
In IP soybean production, weeding is primarily done 3 to 5 days after seeding. These pre-emergence herbicides prevent weeds from germinating and keep fields clean.
Here are some important considerations for your final weed inspection:
- There was very little rain in May. The first thing you should keep in mind is that there has been very little rain in recent weeks. When there’s not enough precipitation, herbicides are much less efficient. This year, producers that seeded before the May 16 rainfall should see strong results from their herbicides, while those who seeded after the rain might have more weed escapes.
- Herbicides don’t seem to be reaching their full potential. With recent heat waves and little rain, a lot of weeds will come up quickly. The best thing to do is figure out what kinds of weeds are growing in your field and respray with the right product according to what you find. The most common weeds in soybean fields are grass and broadleaf weeds.
- It’s important to figure out if you have volunteer corn in your field. If volunteer corn is germinating in an IP soybean field, it needs to be eliminated during the growing season. Last year, there were extremely difficult threshing conditions on the cornfields. During seeding this year, we noticed that there was still a significant amount of corn ears and kernels on the fields. So you might need to get rid of more corn than usual this year. Considering that round corn kernels are the same size as soybeans, it can be difficult to separate them at the sifting stage. It’s important to act quickly!
- Don’t forget about the June 24 deadline. For IP soybeans, it’s important to do the second weeding around Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, just before flowering.
Note: If you seeded corn containing the herbicide-tolerant Enlist E3™ gene last year, contact your Prograin representative. These seeds resist certain herbicides that target grass weeds and which are commonly used to control volunteer corn in IP soybean fields.
In short, it’s important to inspect your fields for weeds, but it’s even more important to keep in touch with your Prograin representative! They’re in the best position to help you find a solution.