Managing weeds at least two weeks prior to planting winter wheat and then controlling winter annuals this fall are important to reducing disease, saving soil moisture, and achieving top yields next summer.
A review of multiple studies conducted on weed management in dry beans in the US and Canada indicated that without weed control, yield losses could be as much as $720 million per year. (Photo by Nevin Lawrence)
A recent study of 10 years of research in key dry bean production areas of the US and Canada showed the value of weed management. Without weed control losses were estimated at $720 million.
Figure 1. Aerial imagery was collected at bean emergence using a drone. All dark green rows correspond to plots with different rates of char (10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 tons/acre).
Several field trials were undertaken in 2017 to look at options for controlling herbicide-resistant kochia, Palmer amaranth, and waterhemp in dry bean, corn, and sugarbeet. In addition over 80 kochia, Palmer amaranth, and waterhemp plants were collected for testing of herbicide resistance. Of these 50% of kochia and 13% of Palmer amaranth plants tested were resistant to field rates of glyphosate. While options are limited in the Panhandle, pairing crop rotations with herbicide programs using PRE and layby treatments provided effective control of key weed species. An article from the Proceedings of the 2018 Nebraska Extension Crop Production Clinics.
An article from the Proceedings of the 2018 Nebraska Extension Crop Production Clinics: Early season stand loss from wind or frost can be severe enough to require replanting of a sugarbeet crop. Three years of field trials at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center were conducted to determine just how much stands need to be reduced to justify replanting.
Figure 1. Downy brome (cheatgrass) is greening up in a pasture in Scottsbluff County due to recent warmer temperatures; photo taken February 20, 2017. (Photo by Cody Creech)
Just a month after double-digit below zero temperatures, Nebraska hit an extended period of above normal temperatures, coaxing weed seeds to germinate early in many fields and pastures and creating the need to tackle the influx early.
Figure 1. Common pigweed species found in the Nebraska Panhandle. Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are ALS-resistant. Images, from top to bottom in each column, are of seed, seedlings, and plants in the vegetative growth stage. (Source Nebraska Extension EC94-138)
Palmer amaranth and waterhemp in the Panhandle are resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. While control of these weeds in dry bean can be challenging, corn, irrigated small grains, and sugarbeet make good rotation options for control. A combined pre/post treatment strategy controls weeds in the early part of the season when crop yield is most impacted and weed species are most susceptible to control inputs.
The development and management of pesticide-resistant kochia in dryland and irrigated systems in the Panhandle including a table of herbicide options for Nebraska.
