Extension
Connection
Extension
Connection
Weed Control
By Heather Benedict, Agronomist Specialist
This is Heather Benedict, Regional Agronomy Specialist. I am based out of Bethany Mo. I serve Worth, Gentry, Harrison, Mercer, Grundy, Daviess, Caldwell and Livingston Counties. I will be bringing you today’s program.
For many of the farmers in Northwest Missouri, the crops are being planted. Corn has already been planted in many fields and soon it will be time to plant soybeans. One of the major considerations that must be made by farmers is their pest management plan.
Part of a good pest management plan is weed control. Each year more weeds are added to those that are glyphosate resistant. This makes the task of weed control more difficult. Researchers at the University of Missouri have shown that a pre-emergent herbicide with a long residual can help control weeds more effectively that just using a post-emergent herbicide alone. This will also reduce input costs and increase yield. Pre-emergent herbicides are also good at limiting the amount of herbicides needed which reduces chances of increasing glyphosate resistant weed populations.
Some of the insect pests to be on the lookout for in fields this year are black cutworm, soybean aphid, and green stinkbugs. The economic threshold for insects is an indicator of the amount of insects at which time the cost of treatment equals or is less than the amount of damage the insects can cause. For black cutworm, the economic threshold is 1 to 2 % cutting of corn plants. For soybean aphid the economic threshold is 250 aphids per plant, and for green stinkbugs, it is 1 insect per foot of crop. If these thresholds are reached, it is economically advantageous to treat for the insect pests.
A good pest management plan is a simple precaution for protecting crop yields. If a plan is made in advance of planting, much of the stress can be removed from scouting and caring for fields. Remember to always read and follow pesticide labelsMore information and the research on the practices I have discussed as well as on many more subjects can be found in your local extension office. So if you would like further information on this or any other topic contact your local University of Missouri Extension office. University of Missouri and Extension programs are open to all. Thank you for your time.
(Written May 18 , 2009)
 |
Extension Connection Barb Ubben, Web Manager harrisonco@missouri.edu Last revised: 05/25/04 |