University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

October 13, 2006

Fall weed management in winter wheat

 With all the rain this fall, winter wheat growers will want to check their fields for weeds. Of the three winter annual grass weeds (downy brome, jointed goatgrass and feral rye), downy brome can be controlled in conventional wheat varieties with an early postemergence application of Maverick® or Olympus™ herbicides. Control is improved if rain is received after application.

In the Panhandle, control of downy brome declines rapidly as fall applications are delayed past mid October, while in southwest Nebraska control usually declines rapidly at the end of October. The control of jointed goatgrass with these herbicides is usually poor to fair. If a Clearfield winter wheat variety is seeded, the herbicide Beyond can be applied in the fall, usually with good to excellent control of jointed goatgrass or downy brome. Only fair to good control of feral rye can be expected with fall treatments of Beyond on Clearfield varieties of winter wheat. Usually little or no control of feral rye is obtained when using Maverick or Olympus herbicides in winter wheat.

Several herbicides are labeled for control of winter annual broadleaf weeds in winter wheat in the fall. To examine the available herbicides, levels of control and approximate costs, see pages 74, 76 and 77 of the 2006 Guide for Weed Management in Nebraska (EC130), also available from local Extension offices. Do not apply growth regulator herbicides such as 2,4-D or dicamba in the fall unless wheat plants have at least four tillers fully emerged, or serious crop injury can occur. This injury may not be noticeable until the following spring when heads may become trapped in the boot.

Robert Klein
Cropping Systems Specialist
West Central REC
Drew Lyon
Dryland Crops Specialist
Panhandle REC

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Copyright 2006 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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