Get a Head Start on Winter Wheat Weed Control
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Annual broadleaf weeds and grasses like Italian ryegrass, foxtail, wild oats, shepherd’s purse, flixweed and henbit will rob available moisture and nutrients from young winter wheat, limiting its ability to establish a solid foothold in the soil. It is smart to always start off with a good burndown to kill existing weeds from the previous crop or fallowed ground. That will give germinating wheat seeds the best chance to vie for that moisture and those available soil nutrients before going dormant and entering vernalization.
“It is always recommended that growers start off with a weed-free field to give wheat the optimum chance to get established,” says Haley Nabors, district leader, Corteva Agriscience. “Not starting clean could lead to an increase in the soil seed bank, which can be a precursor to yield and quality reduction.”
From a thin crop stand and weed size, to application timing/temperature and herbicide resistance, there are many factors that must be considered when developing a successful weed control program. Fall weed applications are more effective because weeds are smaller. Effective winter wheat weed control should really begin with the previous year’s crops.
“I always remind growers that controlling small weeds is much easier than trying to control weeds that have grown to more than four inches. It is so dry in our region, weed control is so important because you want the available ground moisture to be taken up by the crop instead of by weeds,” Nabors says. “Quelex herbicide with Arylex active is a great fit in our area for post-emergence weed control, especially if farmers are fighting ALS- and glyphosate-resistant broadleaf weeds. It also offers a 45-day crop rotation interval in many states, including Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, to no-till soybeans, no-till cotton, no-till field corn and sorghum in the event of a winter wheat crop failure.”
Quelex® herbicide with Arylex™ active provides in-season control of both henbit, marestail and over 25 other nutrient and moisture-robbing broadleaf weeds. The active ingredient Arylex™ active also places an invaluable tool in the hands of farmers in their fight against weed resistance.
One grass weed that continues to challenge most winter wheat weed control programs is Italian ryegrass. While downy brome, wild oats and true cheat are problematic, Italian ryegrass presents a unique challenge because it is often ALS-resistant, and populations have been identified with multiple resistance to four herbicides.
“Italian ryegrass is found across most of the Southern Plains and can inhibit the growth performance of winter wheat. Diligent scouting should always be a priority,” says Wesley Everman, extension weed specialist and professor, North Carolina State University. “A preemergence herbicide followed by a Group 1 herbicide is usually effective, but it’s critical to manage emerging weeds, including Italian ryegrass, before winter wheat goes dormant. It’s not just the number of weeds identified by scouting, it’s the number of seeds those weeds can produce, often doubling the population and compounding the problem in the following seasons.”
Wheat farmers can get that Group 1 herbicide they need for control of grasses like Italian ryegrass, wild oats, and foxtail, and tough broadleaf weeds like kochia, marestail and wild buckwheat with Rezuvant® herbicide with Arylex™ active. From 2-leaf to flag leaf emergence on winter and spring wheat (excluding durum) and barley, Rezuvant herbicide also increases farming application flexibility.
Learn more about the entire portfolio of field-tested and farmer-proven cereals herbicide product solutions from Corteva Agriscience and simplify your winter wheat weed control decisions.
Quelex® and Rezuvant® are 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. Arylex® is a registered active ingredient. Always read and follow label directions.
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