Use Care When Applying Pre-Harvest Desiccants

Aug 24, 2022

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) is reminding producers using herbicides for pre-harvest desiccation to be mindful of adjacent crops when making their applications. Pre-harvest desiccation refers to an herbicide application that dries the plant and leaves of a crop before harvest. “Take care when applying pre-harvest desiccants to ensure that sensitive adjacent crops are not being affected,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “It is also important to check the label to make sure the product being used is labeled for desiccation of the crop it is being applied to. Failure to use the correct product at the correct time may result in decreased yields, poor germination for seed crops, or the risk of having commodities rejected and potential liability for contamination.” It is a violation of state and federal law to apply a product in a manner not prescribed on the label. Applicators should also be sure to follow required harvest intervals prescribed on the label.

Source : nd.gov

Video: Dr. Fei Yang Discusses Corn Rootworm, European Corn Borer, and Pest Monitoring

What insect threats are Minnesota corn growers facing, and what research is helping farmers stay ahead of them?

At the 2026 MN Ag Expo, University of Minnesota entomologist Fei Yang shared updates on three Minnesota Corn-supported research projects focused on insect monitoring, seed treatments, and pest resistance.

Current work includes statewide monitoring programs that use pheromone, light, and sticky traps to track key pests such as black cutworm, true armyworm, corn earworm, European corn borer, and corn rootworm. Researchers are also evaluating whether high-rate seed treatments provide effective corn rootworm control and studying the development of resistance in European corn borer populations to Bt corn traits.

These projects help researchers better understand pest pressures across Minnesota and provide farmers with practical information to support informed management decisions.