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Strengthen the link between herbicide application timing, effective weed control and yield potential
When warmer temperatures trigger postdormant wheat growth, the spring’s first weed flush will most likely follow. The timing of a herbicide application impacts effectiveness throughout the growing season much more than you might think.
“Although weed control may be a priority for farmers as spring ushers in that first flush, they should also review the range of forecast local temperatures and schedule optimum application windows to help ensure a herbicide’s effectiveness,” said Eric Jones, Extension weed management specialist with South Dakota State University. “Weeds must be actively growing for good efficacy. With farming margins so tight, the last thing that’s needed is burning more fuel making a second herbicide application, because the first was ineffective due to bad timing.”
After emergence, weeds also compete for available sunlight, water and critical nutrients such as nitrogen. Inadequate weed control resulting from poor application timing can begin to reduce yield potential and contribute to suboptimum plant health, as well as lower plant resiliency.
Delayed weed control efforts will not recover lost yield potential, so growers should try to avoid improper application timing, because it can cause crop response.
“The better crop response is managed, or lessened, the healthier the crop should be as it continues development toward maturity,” said Grant Harms, market development specialist with Corteva Agriscience. “I compare crop response to a person having the flu. The body begins using most of its energy to battle the illness and not building strength. When a plant is trying to recover from crop response, plant energy is directed to other areas of the plant rather than making grain.”
Weed identification, coverage, multiple MOA
It is always beneficial to review notes from previous seasons or current scouting reports as a reminder of the weed species present in fields, so you can more accurately target herbicides labeled for those broadleaf weeds or grasses. With widely confirmed resistance of weeds, such as kochia and ryegrass, applying the wrong herbicide may lead to ineffective control, stunting young wheat, delaying maturity and possibly reducing yield potential.
Jones recommends farmers double-check their water-to-herbicide calculations to help avoid this frequent error, which can lead to inadequate coverage and reduced weed control.
“First of all, I always recommend spraying weeds when they’re between that 2- and 4-inch height range,” Jones said. “Secondly, to get the effective disbursement of active ingredient through water droplets, the herbicide needs to be mixed to the recommended volume of carrier to get the benefit of better coverage. I personally like to see a minimum of 15 gallons of water per acre.”
More cereal farmers are realizing that Tolvera® herbicide can strengthen their herbicide programs because it offers the following:
- Effective broadleaf and grass weed control in spring and winter wheat, durum and barley
- A range of rotational options to other economically beneficial crop options
- Two active ingredients, one new to the cereals market
Cereal farmers embracing a new herbicide
“Since registration, Tolvera herbicide continues to be embraced by cereal farmers,” Harms said. “It has excellent systemic activity from tolpyralate and quick contact activity from bromoxynil, so it’s important to take full advantage of both active ingredients by accurately timing the application and getting good herbicide coverage across fields. Heat or cold stress becomes irrelevant if application coverage is poor.”
After one year of using Tolvera herbicide, a North Dakota farmer explains how it strengthened his herbicide program and controlled even the toughest weeds and grasses across his operation.
To learn more about Tolvera herbicide, other cereal herbicides or the complete portfolio of Corteva Agriscience crop protection solutions, visit Corteva.us/Solutions.com or talk to your local Corteva Agriscience sales representative.
Watch North Dakota farmer Brooks Heer’s video to see and hear more about Tolvera herbicide and how it could strengthen your weed control program this year.
Wheat Will Rock You | Brooks Heer on Clean Fields and Tough Weeds
Brooks Heer shares why clean, weed free fields matter and how tools like Tolvera® herbicide help him tackle tough kochia while staying flexible with rotation. Farming is fast paced, unpredictable and full of passion, and Brooks shows what it takes to raise a strong crop year after year.
Wheat Will Rock You | Brooks Heer on Clean Fields and Tough Weeds
Brooks Heer shares why clean, weed free fields matter and how tools like Tolvera® herbicide help him tackle tough kochia while staying flexible with rotation. Farming is fast paced, unpredictable and full of passion, and Brooks shows what it takes to raise a strong crop year after year.
Tolvera® is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.
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