By Virgil Schmitt
ISU Extension and Outreach program for farmers and retailers will occur in five locations across Iowa
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host the second annual Weeds Week series on herbicide resistance and weed management July 18-22. These one-day programs, tailored to farmers and retailers, will take place in five locations across Iowa: Crawfordsville, Lewis, Nashua, Sutherland and Boone.
“Our goal is to help farmers develop effective weed management plans,” said Virgil Schmitt, field agronomist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Sessions have been developed to provide tools that help farmers and agribusinesses work together to develop long-term weed management plans that identify sites of action, promote timely application of herbicides and avoid the expenses of dealing with herbicide resistance.”
Each session will include presentations, hands-on weed management planning, small group discussion and plot tours presented by extension field agronomists. Attendees will learn how to select herbicides from the herbicide effectiveness table, identify which herbicides to apply and develop their four-year weed management plans for their operation or for customers.
Kellie Blair of Dayton, Iowa attended Weeds Week in 2015 for more of a refresher course, while her husband AJ attended the program for the herbicide use and management information.
“For me, it helped with weed identification and what modes of action are out there,” said Blair.
Blair said the Weeds Week program she attended in Boone, Iowa, reminded her and her husband not to go with the easiest option of herbicide mixes, to look at herbicide labels and to make sure that the herbicide and application matches up with the weed pressure.
“When my husband and I started farming, weed management was pretty simple,” said Blair. “But now, it’s a more complicated program. Weed pressure has gotten worse the last couple of years, so it was beneficial for us to hear information about using appropriate herbicides and doing timely applications for a successful outcome.”
Each location will have a 9:30 a.m. check-in time. The program will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m., with lunch served at noon. The $25 registration fee includes lunch, refreshments and course materials and publications. Attendees are asked to pre-register to assist with facility and meal planning.