“Pulling weeds can be repetitive and redundant, not to mention repetitive and redundant” is a sign hanging in my office to point out the challenges of weed control that we hoped herbicides would solve. The diversity of weed species, coupled with the adaptability of weeds, less crop rotation, reliance on limited classes of herbicides and improper use of weed control products, has led to
fields with ugly weed escapes in 2009.

I am seeing way too many fields populated with partially burnt giant ragweed, common ragweed and lambsquarters.
Are you cringing at the same scenery on your farm?

Let’s look back to how well we did in 2008. In Ohio, 16 counties conducted pre-harvest weed surveys of soybean fields. At least 80 stops were made in each county, which ended up surveying 1221 fields and 57,000 acres of soybeans. We found significant weed escapes of marestail in 43 percent, giant ragweed in 27 percent, common ragweed in 21 percent, common lambsquarters in 16 percent, foxtail in 14 percent and volunteer corn in 12 percent of the fields surveyed. Obviously farmers would have been happy with the effectiveness of control programs in those weed infested fields.
I challenge every farmer and crop protection dealer to drive rural roads from now throughout the summer to gauge effectiveness of weed control programs. Quite frankly, many of us are doing a lousy job.

As an ag Extension agent, I have failed to convince our crop farmers that proper selection and use of herbicides will not only help in the year they are applied, but will also help ensure herbicide effectiveness in years to come.

Farmers have sometimes neglected to note the seriousness of weed resistance to various classes of weed control products, particularly glyphosate products and herbicides classified as ALS inhibitors. Producers too often have sought opportunities to cheapen a weed control program for a single crop year, without recognizing the challenges being created for future years.
Product suppliers are pulled in several directions by farmers and herbicide companies; then try to match weed control needs, product costs and their equipment and labor availability to providing a thorough weed control program.

Who is to blame?  To avoid additional finger pointing, please recall the old Pogo cartoon strip quote, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

How can weed control programs show better results in 2010 and beyond?

Obtain and study a copy of the 2009 Weed Control Guide for Ohio and Indiana. Information related to concerns listed in this column and much more is in this valuable publication. Follow regular online writings such as Ohio State University Extension’s CORN Newsletter (http://corn.osu.edu) and the Purdue Extension Pest and Crop Newsletter (http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/pest crop/2009).

Work closely with your dealer, Certified Crop Advisor and Extension professional to learn more. Then incorporate what you learn into more comprehensive weed management strategies beginning with annual weed control in wheat stubble and fall weed control after soybean and corn harvest. Pulling weeds is no fun!

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Roger Bender may write to him in care of this publication.