A Fall Weed Management Conversation
Utilizing a Season-Long Approach for Weed Management
By John Pawlak, Ph.D., Valent Senior Product Development Manager
As resistance issues continue to challenge growers with tough-to-control weeds like Palmer amaranth and waterhemp, it’s critical to implement a plan to control weeds all season.
Listen to John Pawlak, senior product development manager, discuss recommended weed management as a three-step approach.
3 Steps for Effective Weed Management
- Plan a fall burndown program with a Valor® brand herbicide. A burndown in the fall is critical in controlling weeds like marestail in the spring.
- Consider a strong preemergence application of a Fierce® brand herbicide for Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and ragweed control.
- And lastly, add a post-applied herbicide like Perpetuo® Herbicide to provide extended residual control until canopy.
Valent believes that quality weed management happens throughout the season—not just in postemergence. Growers should utilize multiple modes of action and follow the label to effective weed management.
Contact your retailer or Valent rep about your weed management program. To find your local rep, visit https://www.valent.com/find-the-rep.
Audio transcription:
Chip Flory: Talking now with John Pawlak. He is a Senior Product Development Manager for Valent. John, as always, there are challenges in weed management. What’s available from Valent for post-emerge applications?
John Pawlak: Well, thanks, Chip. Valent recommends a season-long approach to control difficult weeds such as marestail, waterhemp, palmer and ragweed.
There’s a three-step approach here. First, this includes a fall burndown program with Valor® brands for marestail control in reduced-tillage fields. Marestail is easier to control in the fall than next spring after it has become well established and overwintered. We should use Valor® where occasional flexibility is important for next season’s crop and Valor® XLT in fields that we know are going to go to soybeans next spring.
The second point in this integrated approach is to use a spring application of a Fierce® brand for preemergence palmer, waterhemp and ragweed control. We have three offerings: Fierce®, Fierce® XLT, and Fierce® MTZ – all of which contain a minimum of two effective modes of action for palmer and waterhemp. We probably use Fierce® XLT or Fierce® MTZ in areas with heavy ragweed pressure. All of these brands provide up to 8 weeks control of a broad spectrum of grass and broadleaf weeds.
Strictly an in-season application of Perpetuo® as an overlapping residual for amaranth control should be used to provide extended residual control until the soybean canopy can take over providing weed control, especially in wide row beans and in areas with heavy pressure.
Valent is a strong believer in weed management stewardship. We should always rotate effective modes of action and use full label grade of the herbicides.
Chip Flory: Wow, John. That’s a lot of great information right there. But if we need more, where do we go to get it?
John Pawlak: Chip, you can go to www.valent.com/soybeanherbicides or contact your local retailer or Valent sales rep.
Chip Flory: Excellent, thank you, John. That is John Pawlak, senior product development manager for Valent.