Dissatisfied with your pre-emergence weed control this year?

Martin explains that the largest factor is the lack of rain the first three weeks of May.

“Pre-emergence herbicides must be moved into the upper inch or two of soil by rainfall, irrigation, or shallow tillage before weed seedlings emerge in order to be effective. The herbicide must be in place in the soil as weed seeds germinate and before seedlings emerge to be effective,” Martin said this week.

"Weeds that have emerged and reached a height of 1 inch or more before rainfall are not likely to be controlled. One exception is that rainfall may result in control of small emerged weeds by Balance Pro and Radius. "

Growers should conclude that weeds that have emerged in fields treated with preemergence herbicides have escaped and act accordingly. Control options at this point are postemergence herbicides and cultivation. For more on this topic, view this week’s Market Journal broadcast.