Herbicide Plan for the 2025 Season

 By Monica Jean and Madelyn Celovsky

Already thinking about your herbicide program for 2025? We are too. This article will highlight key resources including problem weeds from 2024, herbicide programs for 2025, restricted used pesticide (RUP) credit opportunities for your license, how to obtain a new license and how to comply with Bulletins Live! Two.

What are the weed management issues for 2025?

Christy Sprague, Michigan State University Extension weeds specialist, joined the In the Weeds podcast to cover weed management lessons learned from 2024 and what to watch out for in 2025. You can listen to and find the latest episodes on Spotify or iTunes.

Takeaways:

• Sprague notes that the 2024 growing season was a great year for waterhemp.
  • Check out this Michigan State University (MSU) Weeds Science fact sheet for keys to managing waterhemp and palmer amaranth in corn, soybean and alfalfa.
• Commodity prices are low but cutting back on your herbicide program can cause losses in profits.
• A new version of the Weed Control Guide for Field Crops will be out starting December 2024. The updated version has information about newly licensed premixes for corn.
  • Included in the 2025 guide are tips for cover crop termination and choosing an herbicide program that won’t damage your cover crop.
• Delaying herbicide application next spring can cause significant yield loss. Scout your fields and have a plan for weed escapes. If you suspect resistance, get your plants tested.
  • Herbicide resistant weeds in Michigan – MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics

How do I comply with Bulletins Live! Two?

Bulletins Live! Two is a web-based resource, including a tool and tutorial, helping you comply with the Endangered Species Act when you are spraying pesticides. These online bulletins are currently a requirement for certain pesticide labels and will become a requirement for all pesticide labels in the future. The bulletin for each pesticide must be obtained no more than six months prior to the intended application. For more information, listen to the podcast recording from In the Weeds, visit MSU Extension's Bulletins Live! Two webpage and check out these MSU Extension articles:

• Agricultural pesticides are undergoing significant label changes that growers should be aware of
• What you need to know about EPA's Bulletins Live! Two

Is your applicator license expired?

You can look up your categories and current credits on the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) pesticide applicator credit report.

The 2025 Pesticide Applicator Core Review and MDARD Core Testing program offers review and testing for private and commercial core, fumigation standard and ariel standard on site. Testing for additional categories will take place at the Metro Institute, with 21 locations throughout Michigan.

To purchase review materials for core and categories, visit the National Pesticide Safety Education Center.

For additional information, see “Michigan Pesticide Applicator Core Review Sessions, RUP credits and testing for winter 2024 through spring 2025” from the MSU Pesticide Safety and Education Program.

Need some credits this winter?

In person:

• Saginaw Bay Agronomy Update – Bay City, MI
• RUP Credits Procrastinators Meetings – Alpena, MI and Frankenmuth, MI
• Seed Treatment Educational Sessions – St. Johns, MI
• Thumb Ag Day 2024 – Huron County
• Integrated Crop and Pest Management Update for Agribusiness 2024 – MSU campus
• 2025 Crop and Pest Management Update Meeting – 6 locations. Get credits and a 2025 Weed Control Guide for Field Crops.

Online:

• Pesticide Applicator Training - 12 credits
  • Private core and commercial core. Price for the course is $75 with pricing considerations for veterans, low-income and group rates.
• Field Crops IPM Course - 4 core credits, free
• Integrated Pest Management Academy - 6 credits
  • $10, credit categories are 1B, Commercial Core or Private Core