Be mindful when tank mixing, an industry rep said
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
When trying to keep fields free of barnyard grass, producers should consider their tank mixes and how it could affect herbicide effectiveness.
Whereas years ago, producers may have solely used glyphosate to control this weed, producers are adding additional products.
This could lead to antagonization, said Rob Miller, the technical development manager with BASF Canada stationed at the London, Ont. research farm.
“We haven’t been seeing resistance, but you do get the potential for antagonism,” he told Farms.com. “When you start adding different products or different modes of action to the tank, you can get a reduction in weed control.”
Barnyard grass can be found in multiple fields.
Cereal crops can do a good job of controlling the weed too, Miller said.
“We see it more in corn and soybeans versus cereals like winter wheat because the wheat is more competitive,” he said. “Wherever there’s not a thick crop canopy is where you’re likely to see barnyard grass.”
With grass weeds, proper identification is crucial to ensure a farmer is applying the right products.
Barnyard grass has certain characteristics which set it apart from other grass weeds, Miller said.
“Not all grasses are the same and it takes a trained eye to identify specific grasses. But Barnyard grass is one of the easier ones to spot,” he said. “Barnyard grass is hairless and there’s no ligule.”
BASF has multiple available products to help control barnyard grass.
Integrity, for example works as a root and shoot inhibitor while Poast Ultra can help control the weed post-emerge, Miller said.
For more information on how to control barnyard grass and other weeds, visit Farms.com’s Field Guide.