The Rural Voice, 2000-09, Page 66Weed tips
for late summer
By Leslie Huffman, Oh1AFRA
Weed Management Specialist
(Horticultural Crops)
There are lots of things that could
be done at this time of year to reduce
weed problems. Depending on your
weed problem. try to fit some of
these into your late summer
schedule:
62 THE RURAL VOICE
Advice
1. Scout your fields for weeds,
and map out the weed patches. Try to
identify any weeds you are unsure of.
2. Destroy weeds in flower before
they shed seeds. This is really
important around field edges, and
along roadsides. Many of our
problem weeds are being blown into
the fields.
3. Plant a cover crop to smother
weeds through the fall.
4. If you are planning to use a
cover crop in a no -till system to
improve weed control, spend some
time establishing it well so the
growth will be even, and weed
suppression uniform.
5. Spray cereal cover crops with
hormone herbicides like 2,4-D to
control germinating winter annuals.
Usually the 3 - 6 leaf stage of cover
crops is the optimum time to spray.
6. Weed regrowth after early
harvest or mowing may soon be at
optimum time for Roundup sprays,
especially of perennial weeds. Use a
spot sprayer or wick wiper to treat
these weeds. Check the label for the
correct rate for the weed. Usually at
least a two per cent solution as a spot
spray is needed for perennial
broadleaf weeds.
7. There is still time to mow off
quackgrass and get the required 4 - 6
leaf regrowth needed for fall
Roundup sprays. Quackgrass can
even be successfully controlled with
Roundup after a light frost in the fall.
Many of our problem weeds,
especially winter annuals and
perennials are becoming more
widespread. As we move to less field
tillage, and reduce weed control on
roadsides, there seem to be more
sources for these weeds. Taking time
now to follow these tips to reduce
your weed sources should reduce
your problem weeds next year and in
the future.0
Are yellow soybeans
a problem with
nitrogen, or
manganese?
From AgriLink, Ridgetown
College, University of Guelph
Approximately half of the early
June plantings of soybeans are
significantly yellow now, according
to Peter Johnson, Soil and Crop
Specialist for Elgin, Middlesex,
Oxford and Lambton. There are
several reasons why, including
excessive moisture, nitrogen
deficiency and manganese
deficiency.
Nitrogen deficiency shows around
the third trifoliate stage, when the